Rosacea has too many variables to pin one substance or chemical on its pathogenesis and progression; however, one thing has been clearly established.... facial skin cells, blood vessels and nerves are overwhelmed by free radicals and their destructive nature.

Inflammatory immune cells, peptides, proteins, hormones and flushing all trigger the release of damaging free radicals that feed the vicious inflammatory cycle and the heart of the rosacea beast.

Glutathione, one of our most powerful antioxidant enzyme systems in the body and facial skin cells is key to reducing rosacea symptoms, triggers and progression. It is a powerful antioxidant that quenches nearly a dozen different free radicals. Rosacea clinical studies have demonstrated that one of two things may happen in rosacea skin that make it more susceptible to damage and inflammation:

(1) Glutathione is overwhelmed by too many free radicals produced by numerous sources.

(2) Glutathione is not working properly - there is some basic defect in the enzyme's structure or function

Whatever the reason, boosting Glutathione skin and vascular levels should help reduce rosacea symptoms and triggers. The main drawback is that you cannot take Glutathione directly; do not purchase Glutathione tablets as you will waste $40 to $50, because glutathione is completely inactivated by stomach acid. Thus you need to stimulate its production by taking supplements that act as precursors and substrates to increase natural production of Glutathione.:

NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) is the best kid on the block for boosting glutathione levels and normalizing free radical quenching.


Preliminary studies using Pharmaceutical grade NAC (600 mgs 3 times a day --or-- 1,000 mgs once a day in a time-release dual layer base) show promise in reducing rosacea flare intensity and duration. If the preliminary studies and subsequent biopsies show a positive outcome, press releases by the Nutraceutical company will be released and long-term, high dose NAC will be evaluated in a double-blinded, placebo controlled study.

NAC - normal half-life is 1.5 hours

NAC Extended Release - normal half life is 6 hours

Definition of Half-Life: A supplement's half-life is the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to reach half of its original concentration. More simply put, the half-life of a drug is how long it takes for half of it to be eliminated from the bloodstream.



Cheers.

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__________________
_

Best,
Geoffrey

Dr. Geoffrey Nase
Ph.D: Neuro-Vascular Physiologist

Email: drnase1000@hotmail.com
Bibliography: http://drnase.com

All posts are for informational purposes only. Please visit our Home Page to view our Medical Disclaimer.

Two abstracts suggesting a defect in the rosacea antioxidant defense system:



Cutis. 2004 Sep;74(3 Suppl):17-20, 32-4.
Reactive oxygen species and rosacea.

Jones D.
Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract

Although the fundamental pathogenesis of rosacea remains unknown, inflammation is a central process in this disorder. Recent evidence suggests that this inflammation is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are released by inflammatory cells such as neutrophils. In vitro studies suggest that certain core therapies for rosacea, including metronidazole and the tetracyclines, show antioxidant effects, and this may be one aspect of their mechanism of action.





Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2006 Aug;22(4):208-10.
Glutathione Pathology in Rosacea:

GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes as possible heritable factors of rosacea.

Yazici AC, Tamer L, Ikizoglu G, Kaya TI, Api H, Yildirim H, Adiguzel A.
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Zeytinlibahce-Mersin, Turkey. aycacordan@yahoo.com
Abstract

PURPOSE: Rosacea might be related to an increased activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deficient function of the antioxidant system. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play a primer role in cellular defense against electrophilic chemical species and radical oxygen species. We hypothesized that increased ROS activity or decreased antioxidant potential, possibly induced by GST gene polymorphism, might have a pathogenic role in rosacea. METHODS: The study group consisted of 45 patients with rosacea and 100 control subjects. DNA samples were isolated from blood samples using high pure polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Template preparation Kit. The GSTM1, GSTT1, and P1 polymorphisms were detected using a real-time PCR and fluorescence resonance energy transfer with a Light-Cycler Instrument. Associations between specific genotypes and the development of rosacea were examined using logistic regression analyses to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes were found to be statistically different from control (P=0.005, P=0.009, respectively), and associated with an increased risk of rosacea (OR [95% CI]: 2.84 [1.37-5.89]; OR [95% CI]: 2.68 [1.27-5.67], respectively). There was a statistically significant relationship between both null combination of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotype polymorphisms and rosacea (P=0.003, OR [95% CI]: 4.18 [1.57-11.13]). There were no statistically significant differences between patient and control groups for the GSTP1 Ile/Ile, Ile/Val, and Val/Val genotypes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a significant association between the GSTT1 and/or GSTM1 null genotypes and rosacea. However, the potential role of GSTs as markers of susceptibility to rosacea needs further studies in larger patient groups

Although much too early to tell, the 1,000 mg NAC time release looks to work better on facial redness and skin health (as measured by TEWL, skin thickness and epidermal inflammation quenching)

_

__________________
_

Best,
Geoffrey

Dr. Geoffrey Nase
Ph.D: Neuro-Vascular Physiologist

Email: drnase1000@hotmail.com
Bibliography: http://drnase.com

All posts are for informational purposes only. Please visit our Home Page to view our Medical Disclaimer.