Medicine

Volunteers sought for antioxidant study

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute’s John P. Richie Jr., Ph.D., is studying if supplementation of diet with glutathione can help enhance immune function and prevent a specific type of damage to cells and tissues (oxidation) that can lead to the development of numerous chronic diseases. Glutathione is the major natural antioxidant in the body, a substance that slows oxidation and protects the body from free radicals, highly reactive, unstable molecules that can damage cells.

Oxidative damage occurs as a result of the aging process and other environmental exposures and is believed to be involved in the development of many diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Healthy individuals, both male and female, of different ages are being recruited to participate in this seven-month study. Participants will be asked to take over-the-counter glutathione supplements or a placebo for six out of seven months. Six visits to the medical center are required during the study, where blood, urine and buccal (cheek) cell samples will be collected.
Compensation is provided.

To be eligible, a participant will be a healthy non-smoker between 30 and 79 years of age and can visit the medical center six times over seven months.

To see if you are eligible for this study, contact Wanda Neidig at 717-531-1002.

Co-director of this study is Joshua Muscat, Ph.D., Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute.

Last Updated February 3, 2010

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