Pentose Phosphate Pathway made simple. This pathway has two major jobs: Generate NADPH Produce ribose 5 phosphate NADPH protects cells from oxidative stress and supports fatty acid, cholesterol, steroid, nitric oxide, and respiratory burst 15 Glutathione in the Nervous System: Roles in Neural Function and Health and Implications for Neurological Disease Springer Nature Link 9. Oxidative Stress SimpleMed Learning Medicine, Simplified Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase Are Equally Active in Detoxification of Hydrogen Peroxide in Human Erythrocytes ScienceDirect