DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column every day in my local Arkansas paper. Your recent column talked about the antioxidant vitamins C and E; however, nothing was mentioned about the most powerful one of all — glutathione — that we were born with and decreases with age. Can you discuss this little-talked-about antioxidant?

DEAR READER: Glutathione is reported to be the body’s master antioxidant. It is produced in the liver and plays an important role in metabolism. It is composed of cysteine, glutamic acid and glyceine, and is purported to help human cells function normally. It is found naturally in numerous meats, eggs, fruits and vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, avocado and spinach, unprocessed whey protein and milk thistle; however, the absorption rate of glutathione from all food sources in the gastrointestinal tract of humans is apparently low.
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