All diagrams in energy and cellular support
Redox balance and glutathione
Glutathione participates in redox chemistry; balance matters. This normal redox system does not establish oxidative stress as an ADHD cause.
Redox balance and glutathione
Scoped educational mechanism
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Glutathione synthesis combines glutamate and cysteine, then glycine, in ATP-requiring steps. Peroxidase reactions can oxidise reduced glutathione to GSSG while reducing peroxides. Glutathione reductase uses NADPH to regenerate GSH. Reactive species have normal signalling roles as well as damaging effects when regulation fails. The cycle is an educational simplification and not evidence that an individual has oxidative stress, requires an antioxidant or has ADHD because of a redox abnormality.
- Amino-acid supply → Reduced glutathione: GCL then GSS
- Reduced glutathione → Peroxide handling: GSH use
- Peroxide handling → Oxidised glutathione: oxidation
- Oxidised glutathione → Glutathione reductase: NADPH
- Glutathione reductase → Reduced glutathione: reduction
What the diagram shows
Glutathione synthesis combines glutamate and cysteine, then glycine, in ATP-requiring steps. Peroxidase reactions can oxidise reduced glutathione to GSSG while reducing peroxides. Glutathione reductase uses NADPH to regenerate GSH. Reactive species have normal signalling roles as well as damaging effects when regulation fails. The cycle is an educational simplification and not evidence that an individual has oxidative stress, requires an antioxidant or has ADHD because of a redox abnormality.