Glutathione for Asthma?: There’s an... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

21,690 members24,470 posts

Glutathione for Asthma?

Matman profile image
8 Replies

There’s an interesting (Phd Qualified) Health Educator who some of you may already have come across on YouTube, called Chris Masterjohn.

My Wife’s a Chemist (not Pharmacist) and runs several Testing Labs in the UK. She seems to have a fairly positive view of the guy which adds to my confidence in mentioning him to you.

He normally publishes very in-depth, lengthy videos on issues related to health and nutrition. And, while he also promotes the odd Supplement too, he places greater emphasis on Natural Nutritional Regimes. (By the way, I’d stress that neither I - nor the Mrs - have any connections whatsoever, financial or otherwise, with this chap. Though I’m mightily impressed with his Content, and am planning to subscribe to his YouTube Channel).

He’s done a few shorter - less challenging - videos on ‘Asthma related’ topics that I found interesting (and thought you might too). A good starting point for these is one called Glutathione for Asthma. He’s done a couple on this Nutrient (links below).

As indicated, a lot of his ‘other’ videos are long. For example, deep technical-dives into the molecular structure of vitamins. However, his videos that I’m referencing on ‘Asthma’, form part of what he calls this ‘Lite’ series, each one of which typically last less than 10 minutes. He’s also done at least one of these on Nitric Oxide which, as many of you already know, has a close tie-in to lung health, and also to Glutathione (which Chris describes as the lungs ‘natural’ bronchodilator) that’s generally found to be very low in Asthmatics, apparently.

Below is the link to the Asthma Glutathione Videos (if of interest) but the Nitric Oxide one’s Chris has also done are interesting too. (Obviously, all Chris’ stuff comes up on YouTube if you search under Chris Masterjohn).

Best to watch the ‘Glutathione for Asthma’ one first. Note, at one point Chris mentions avoidance of acetaminophen (that’s paracetamol to you and me).

m.youtube.com/watch?v=KJOVd...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qf5A...

Written by
Matman profile image
Matman
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
Cast_Adrift profile image
Cast_Adrift

I'm more inclined to 'drill into' him... In my book anyone who isn't a clinician, that presents themselves to the public as 'Doctor' in relation to health topics, at best gets off on the wrong foot. However it's twisted, they're misleading the public from the off. - Let's remember the lessons leaned from 'poo sniffer' 'Dr' Gillian McKeith and her ilk...

Next; cold hard fact is that this guy is flogging ' diet supplements ' - that's the business he's in; in his own words...

"In the fall of 2016, I made the decision to leave academia and pursue entrepreneurship a transition I completed on January 1, 2017."

So, he basically admits that he's there to sell things... As for the rest? Well, as someone who worked in TV production for 40 years, and is now only semi-retired (mainly due to poor health - Asthma) ... What I see here is just the typical, low quality, badly made 'webcam licking' that has replaced the old-style wagons of the 'merican travelling shows! - cheap, nasty, deceptive...

I think I'd prefer to listen to an experienced medical doctor - these are, in my opinion, just advertisements for snake-oil.

Is that Cher tuning up in the background?

Matman profile image
Matman

Sorry to hear you seem less than impressed.

Other than his short ‘Lite’ Videos for busy people, the molecular chemistry detailed in his more ‘in-depth’ Master Class Series seems to suggest he knows what he’s talking about.

I guess having a PhD Doctorate, does mean he’s kinda entitled to call himself a Doctor.

Saw - someone else’s - (2019) emedicinehealth.com Google Search entry (Quoted below) on Glutathione and Lung Health, when making a ‘’last 12 Months only’’ Google for up-to-date, recent opinions on Glutathione. Although that third-party’s ‘entry’ does not specifically mention Asthma, it does talk about Glutathione for Lung Diseases and immune system in other contexts, so seems Chris is not entirely alone in his view that it can helps those with Respiratory Issues.

Here’s the emidicinehealth Quote mentioned above (plus link to same).

‘....Glutathione is also used for maintaining the body's defense system (immune system) and fighting metal and drug poisoning. Glutathione is breathed in (inhaled) for treating lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and lung disease in people with HIV disease.18 Jun 2019...’ emedicinehealth.com › ...

Chris does except Sponsors to cover his Videos Messages (as he openly admits, and as indicated in my Post) p. I gather quite a few You-tubers do that in order to fund there broader message.

If you want to take look at one of his more detailed masterclass videos on the same topic, here’s a link below:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-i2...

jdylm profile image
jdylm

I did some quick Googling and found, per the NIH National Cancer Institute, Glutathione is:

"A tripeptide comprised of three amino acids (cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine) present in most mammalian tissue. Glutathione acts as an antioxidant, a free radical scavenger and a detoxifying agent. Glutathione is also important as a cofactor... in the synthesis of leukotrienes. ... Glutathione is also involved in the formation and maintenance of disulfide bonds in proteins and in the transport of amino acids across cell membranes." (Some wording left out for brevity's sake.)

Regardless of what one may think of Masterjohn (I did not view his video(s)), Glutathione may be worth checking out. There are also several sites explaining how to naturally boost your own Glutathione via healthy foods, exercise, and avoidance of the usual culprits. I'm not advocating for or against Glutathione, but your post has peaked my interest in it. "Leukotrienes" particularly jumped out at me.

Js706 profile image
Js706 in reply to jdylm

I will admit to not having done a lot of looking into this but while glutathione is very important for normal body function and is important in a number of diseases I’m less convinced with regard to asthma.

Particularly given that it appears to be important for producing nitric oxide and leukotrienes - both of which are implicated in worsening asthma symptoms

Matman profile image
Matman in reply to jdylm

Thanks. My initial Google Search Result was headlined by a Site Return that said there was excessive Glutathione in the lungs of the Asthmatics who were the subject of a piece of research. The conclusion then (2011) seemed to be that Glutathione was a negative indicator for Asthma.

When I restricted my Google Search to the most recent 12 Months, I started to come across some alternative ideas, like the emedicinehealth one I also referenced.

My original interest was triggered from a long-time-previous glance at it, that I recall touched on it being one of the body's primary antioxidants.

My current strategy is to try to increase use of more holistic / life-style changes such as fasting, diet, exercise, supplements (like D3) etc, and to try to reduce medication dependence.

I’ve gone from using Ventolin weekly over a few difficult months last year, to only half a dozen times this year. So things are looking up.

Will do some more ferreting, but in the Google Scholar Search Engine this time.

Cast_Adrift profile image
Cast_Adrift

"I guess having a PhD Doctorate, does mean he’s kinda entitled to call himself a Doctor."

Mine certainly does - in a limited number of relevant academic circles (certain 'silos' basically) and on professional junk mail. But were I to produce a TV programme (mine is in an aspect of television programme production) on medical matters, it would be entirely misleading - and considered an abuse of the title by my peers. - Most of whom stick to their post-nominals if they indicate their academic status at all!

Which is another faux-pas... the 'Dr Mickey Mouse PhD' stylee; it's just not what you do - you stick to one or the other.

"Other than his short ‘Lite’ Videos for busy people, the molecular chemistry detailed in his more ‘in-depth’ Master Class Series seems to suggest he knows what he’s talking about."

What? ...In much the same way as a gas fitter, who has some knowledge of the electrical side of boiler installation might know how to rewire factory? Many fields of science, technology and business are inter-related and have common ground. But, "as any fule knowe", expertise in one field does not indicate expertise (or even a breadth of knowledge) in any other.

For example... One of the things my own academic journey taught me is that I know relatively little about making films for the cinema. That's because my qualifications and experience are in a related but different field. I probably know than most people about it - but actually, I've never made a film for the cinema - only crewed on one or two minor ones in my youth. So, I wouldn't be in a position to dictate technique to another 'Doctor' who had actually studied and practiced in that field! - Certainly not in a position to starte teaching 'film' to the public...

"Chris does except Sponsors to cover his Videos Messages (as he openly admits, and as indicated in my Post) p. I gather quite a few You-tubers do that in order to fund there broader message."

Which is entirely consistent with running a wild-west style 'patent medicine show'; not with making any legitimate point. - And something of a red herring as you frame it. - Is he a credible scientist or a 'professional' [sic] 'you-tuber'?

If he is the former, why is he unable to afford (or lacking in the self awareness/communication skills) to present to a credible academic/commercial standard? - "Quite a few You-tubers" (the vast majority actually) are amateurs and/or absolute shysters feeding off the credulous; which has given YouTube a certain 'profile'...

Credible professionals with a message to promote might well avail themselves of the YouTube platform - but will be at pains to ensure they are not confused with those types. We're well past the stage where the media was the message, and audio-visual literacy is a defining factor in professional presentation.

You'll be familiar no-doubt with comically spelled scam letters...

You know; the sort that claim they're from the representative of some overthrown eastern potentate who requires a ' trusted contact ' to receive millions of pounds etc. etc. etc. etc...

Do you think they're badly spelled because the people in places like Nigeria are illiterate idiots that have no mastery of English? Or because the target audience are the sort of clowns who think people in places like Nigeria are illiterate idiots that have no mastery of English? - It's the latter, I can assure you. And the reason why these scam letters are so badly written is to (try to at least) filter-out the non-credulous that might well raise immediate alarm with authorities - or just waste the scammers time.

The same principle applies to platforms like YouTube...

So...

Do I want to take a look at another childishly-amateur video from this individual who - by his own admission - abandoned academia a relatively short time after completing his doctorate (suspicious in itself) to become a supplements salesman? - And let's not beat about the bush, that is the business he is in.

No...

And with that said - I think I'll 'disconnect ' from this forum altogether... Clearly, it requires policing and professional input which seems absent. Alternatives I do want to hear about... But my opinion and assessment of this man is that he's a complete Snake-Oil salesman... Oh; there will be a tiny grain of truth in what he's saying; there always is, that's part of the borro. But otherwise?

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and QUACKS like a duck!

Bye y'all!

Matman profile image
Matman

Seems to have got a bit off-topic.

The Post was intended to start a discussion about Glutathione, not Chris.

Will continue to look into it’s possible benefits.

Cast_Adrift profile image
Cast_Adrift

Was it? Was it really? Is that why the original post quite clearly started off with...

[quote] "There’s an interesting (Phd Qualified) Health Educator who some of you may already have come across on YouTube, called Chris Masterjohn." [/quote]

...and goes on and on and on about him!

Rhetorical question; it does nothing for the forum's credibility when it facilitates such blatant advertising. We have an old saying in Glasgow about not having just sailed up the Clyde in a banana skin!

You may also like...

Respiratory Consultant wants me to come off asthma meds!

wheezing - I can’t understand where he’s coming from! Nitric oxide test is normal, eosophinils are...

Does asthma severity tend to reflect that of sinuses?

the inflammation. I don’t have asthma but my dad developed both asthma and polyps when he was 40,...

Biologicals for Asthma

asthma and the seaside

struggle in the summer with my asthma, have tried all sorts such as Xolair which didn't work for me...

In hospital with asthma

really sure what I am posting for but...I have had asthma all my adult life but have steadily...