Nutritional or therapeutic compositions to increase bodily glutathione levels

Abstract

Nutritional or therapeutic compositions containing glutamic acid, cystine, glycine and a selenium precursor and methods for their utilization to increase glutathione synthesis and thereby enhance the immune system are described.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A composition for increasing the level of glutathione in a mammal consisting essentially of:
 (A) an anabolic precursor of glutathione, consisting of glutamic acid or a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof, cystine or a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof and glycine or a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof, which collectively convert to glutathione; and   (B) a source of selenium, in an amount that is non-toxic to the mammal on a daily total unit dosage delivery basis; wherein said source of selenium is selenium methionine, selenium cystine, a mono-seleno carboxylic acid with seven to eleven carbon atoms in a chain, or a di-seleno carboxylic acid with seven to eleven carbon atoms in a chain.   
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 13  in unit dosage form. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 13  in bulk form. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 14  wherein the dosage unit is for oral administration. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 14  wherein the dosage unit is for nasal administration. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 14  wherein the dosage unit is for sublingual administration. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 14  wherein the dosage unit is for buccal administration. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 14  wherein the dosage unit is for anal or vaginal administration. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein one or more of said glutamic acid, cystine, and glycine are in the form of a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the glutamic acid is in the form of a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the cystine is in the form of a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the glycine is in the form of a salt, an ester or an anhydride thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A method of increasing the level of glutathione in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of:
 (A) an anabolic precursor of glutathione, consisting of glutamic acid or a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof, cystine or a salt, an ester, or an anhydride thereof and glycine or a salt, an ester or an anhydride thereof, which collectively convert to glutathione; and   (B) a source of selenium, in an amount that is non-toxic to the mammal on a daily total unit dosage delivery basis; wherein said source of selenium is selenium methionine, selenium cystine, a mono-seleno carboxylic acid with seven to eleven carbon atoms in a chain, or a di-seleno carboxylic acid with seven to eleven carbon atoms in a chain.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein cystine converts to cysteine in the intracellular formation of glutathione. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the source of selenium provides a unit dosage on an elemental basis of from 1 μg to 7.5 μg of selenium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the source of selenium is in a mucosal-membrane transportable form. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition of for oral administration.