What is Glutathione?
Glutathione (GSH) is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell in the body as well as in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea.
Chemically speaking, it is a tripeptide made up of 3 amino acids: Glutamic Acid, Cysteine and Glycine. When these amino acids are combined into glutathione, they gain the power to detox dangerous free radicals, toxic drugs, and heavy metals. As a result, this mechanism protects your entire body from dysfunction and disease
In addition, it is called the “Master Antioxidant” being the body’s strongest antioxidant. It has an enormous capacity to combat oxidative stress and neutralize harmful free radicals.
Aside from these functions, GSH has several important functions, including:
- regenerating Vitamins C and E
- improving certain enzymes function
- helping the liver and gallbladder deal with fats
- removing mercury out of the brain
- assisting programmed cell death (a process known as apoptosis)
- producing DNA (the building blocks of proteins and cells)
- improving immune function
- producing sperm cells
- breaking down some free radicals
Glutathione Supplementation
Interestingly, our body can make its own glutathione. It just needs the right building blocks. However, researchers found a relation between low levels of glutathione and some diseases. That’s why some people opt to to increase glutathione levels through oral or intravenous (IV) supplementation.
Another option is to consume supplements that activate the natural glutathione production in the body which includes:
- milk thistle (herbal supplement extracted from the milk thistle plant, known as Silybum marianum; comprised of three active compounds, collectively known as silymarin)
- N-acetyl cysteine (a prodrug of glutathione)
- superoxide dismutase (a decisive antioxidant enzyme in aerobic cells)
- Curcumin (derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family; sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring)
- Selenium (an essential mineral and glutathione cofactor)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
Accordingly, glutathione levels seems to decrease as you get older, have poor health and having certain health problems, such as:
What Are The Health Benefits of Taking Glutathione?
1. Fights Infections
When glutathione levels are depleted, it causes:
- oxidative stress due to inflammation
- poor immunity and an increased rate of infections as immune cells lose their ability to fight infections
- in older AIDS patients, weakens their already fragile immune systems and decreases insulin sensitivity
Therefore, increasing glutathione levels may help improve symptoms and reduce the incidence of bacterial infections.
2. Improves Skin Health
- Lessens acne – Increasing glutathione levels may clean your acne by neutralizing oxidative stress and promoting skin regeneration.
- Lightens skin – Glutathione lightens the skin in healthy women. It reduces the activity of skin cells that make dark pigments (melanin).
- Reduces dark spots – Glutathione may help even out the appearance of dark skin patches that appear with aging.
3. Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Abilities
Glutathione is a very strong antioxidant which helps counteract free radicals and protect the body from their damaging effects.
Cells depleted of glutathione are susceptible to damage. With less glutathione, free radicals may harm the body and accelerate the aging process and cognitive decline. In women, its levels drop at the beginning of menopause and remain lower after. While in older people, it can make the bones more fragile and contribute to osteoporosis.
4. Fights Oxidative Stress
Glutathione reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS). If ROS levels are increased, this may result in significant damage to cell structures and DNA, cumulatively known as oxidative stress.
Essentially, oxidative stress is associated with cancer, inflammation, brain damage, and a range of other health problems.
5. Relieves Inflammation
Glutathione blocks the production of most inflammatory cytokines which helps people suffering from chronic health issues, to keep them in a state of constant low-grade inflammation.
6. Improves Mental Health
- Anxiety, Depression & Stress – Research discovered that people with depression have low glutathione levels.
7. Improves Health of Different Body Organs
- Gut – Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition where people have decreased activity of the enzymes involved in glutathione synthesis, the same enzymes that help to renew and strengthen the gut lining
- Heart – Cardiovascular disease is caused by oxidative stress in heart tissues. Glutathione can reduce free radicals which may prevent stroke or heart attack.
- Kidneys – Oxidative stress in the kidneys can also cause mild kidney problems as well as kidney failure. In a research implemented for 20 people with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis, glutathione essentially improved kidney function and reversed anemia.
- Eyes – Glaucoma and cataracts can gradually lead to blindness. Since oxidative stress underlies both, boosting glutathione may protect the eyes. A clinical study have looked into this benefit for people having primary glaucoma.
8. Helps with Other Serious Illnesses
- Cancer – Some researchers found out that glutathione has a role in preventing the progression of cancer, however, they also found out that glutathione may also make tumors less sensitive to chemotherapy, which is a common cancer treatment. Therefore, the effects of glutathione on cancer will definitely require more research.
- Liver Diseases – Reduces cell damage to the liver by neutralizing the oxidative stress that can lead to liver diseases such as hepatitis, alcohol abuse, fatty liver disease. It also plays an important role in detoxing the liver and protecting its sulfur-rich antioxidant pathways.
- Type 2 Diabetes – By improving insulin sensitivity. Two studies in 2013 and 2018 concluded that people with insulin resistance tend to have lower glutathione levels, particularly if they have experienced complications, such as neuropathy or retinopathy.
- Parkinson’s Disease – According to a study, maintaining glutathione may reduce its symptoms. While another study, a drug (3,4-dihydroxy-benzalacetone) prevented Parkinson’s disease by increasing glutathione levels.
- Alzheimer’s Disease – Antioxidants may help prevent or slow down the progression of the disease since, in part, it is also caused by oxidative stress.
- Ulcerative Colitis – A condition which is also linked to oxidative stress just like other inflammatory diseases. However, determining the effects of glutathione on this condition requires further research.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – There’s some evidence that children with autism and ADHD have lower levels of glutathione and high oxidative stress levels than children without it. In addition, a study in 2011 found that oral glutathione supplements or injections might reduce some effects of autism. While another study found that a natural GSH booster called pycnogenol, normalized glutathione and overall antioxidant levels in children with ADHD.
- Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Schizophrenia – People with OCD and schizophrenia have low glutathione levels. Increasing glutathione levels may improve the symptoms on both diseases by improving antioxidant defense, stress resilience and overall symptom severity.
- Cystic Fibrosis – Low glutathione levels and high oxidative stress are found in people with cystic fibrosis which impairs breathing and triggers airway damage, and therefore, glutathione inhalation may help improve its symptoms.
How Can You Get Glutathione Naturally From Food?
Your body doesn’t seem to fully absorb glutathione from foods, but certain foods high in amino acids that contain sulfur may help boost GSH levels such as:
- Unprocessed meat
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Spinach
What Are The Side Effects of Taking Glutathione?
Due to a lack of research, the side effects of using GSH supplements has not been proven yet. However, there’s some concern that the use of GSH supplements may cause:
- Cramping and bloating
- Allergic reactions that causes a rash
- Flatulence
- Loose stools
- Flushing
- Weight gain
- Asthma attacks (e.g wheezing) for people who have asthma
- In people with cystic fibrosis: chest tightness, diarrhea, and fever
Additionally, according to The New York Times, in the Philippines, where intravenous glutathione treatments are very popular in spas and beauty salons, there have been reports of serious skin disorders, thyroid function impairment and kidney dysfunction.
Before taking any forms of glutathione, it is recommended to consult your doctor first to determine whether it will be safe or effective. Also, consider:
- Taking GSH supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding is NOT recommended.
- Avoid taking glutathione if you’re sensitive to it.
- Glutathione supplements are not regulated by the authority the same way that medicines are. They are treated as foods and do not have to prove that they are safe or effective before being sold on the market.
Conclusion
Glutathione is a very strong antioxidant which the body produces and uses every day for it to function properly. While supplements may be appropriate and effective for some people, they may not be safe for everyone, and they could counteract with other medications. Always talk to your doctor first before taking any supplements.
As an example, a TV show in the Philippines aired an episode, which is now available to watch in Youtube, wherein a Filipina died after getting a second dose of glutathione through IV for the purpose of having a fairer glowing skin. The real cause of death was not yet confirmed however, another guy who got the same shot from the same spa confirmed he also experienced a critical situation following the administration the IV shot.
Numerous news and articles about its detrimental effects are really terrifying. It may be beneficial for some but deadly for others. So be careful when indulging to such treatments especially when using a substance not for its intended use.
Thanks for sharing all this info. Article is very informative and well written. I wasn’t aware of these side effect but now I know and will be careful.
Indeed, it is highly significant to know the negative effects of all the medications especially when consuming it. Hope this helps.
I have been hearing about this glutathione from the younger generation and they use it for skin lightening. I did not know that there are other benefits you can get from taking supplements. Thanks for sharing this really informative post.
You’re welcome. It has several benefits too, most of us are just unaware about it. We’re glad this article helped you.