Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency The Medical Biochemistry Page Hepatic Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) plays a pivotal role in the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, generating NADPH for antioxidant defense and supporting nucleotide & amino acid biosynthesis. G6PD Deficiency causes Haemolytic Anaemia Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase is an enzyme in the hexose monophosphate shunt that synthesizes NADPH. The NADPH is used to convert oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione ( In G6PD deficiency (XR), we have increased oxidative damage to RBCs, leading to intravascular hemolysis with decreased serum haptoglobin. We have decreased NADPH production, which means decreased conversion of oxidized ( S S ) glutathione Pathology of G6PD deficiency Pathology Made Simple