Glutathione is our "bodyguard", one of the most powerful detoxifier, major antioxidant, free radicals neutralizer, healthy immune function supporter, and chelator.
Glutathione is essential for survival of human cells but not bacterial and parasite cells [8]. It is absolutely necessary for anti-aging, prevention of cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease, dementia, and optimal health. Glutathione has beneficial effect on skin properties by increasing skin elasticity. It is skin’s antiaging agent.
What is glutathione
Glutathione reduced form (GSH) is a powerful tripeptide (cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid). GSH exerts antioxidant activity by acting as a free-radical scavenger. Glutathione presents in almost every cell in the body, playing a role in the detoxification of drugs, heavy metals and xenobiotics [1]. It is a substance produced naturally in the liver and it’s also found in fruits, vegetables, and meats. However, our bodily production of glutathione can be impacted by many things such as pollution, radiation, toxins, poor diet, and medications. Interestingly, about 1/3 of all people are missing the essential genes that support healthy detoxification and glutathione production.
Glutathione is involved in the
1. Detoxification Direct chemical neutralization
2. Regeneration of vitamins C and E
3. Transportation of mercury out of cells and the brain
4. Regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis (cells death)
5. Vital to mitochondrial function and maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (Mitochondria are powerhouses of the cell. They produce about 90% of the chemical energy that cells need to survive).
Low levels of glutathione activity are associated with chronic exposure to chemical toxins and alcohol, cadmium exposure, AIDS/HIV, macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Glutathione protects cells from oxidants through recycling of vitamins C and E [2].
GSH and aging
The best indicator of the importance of glutathione is that its cellular and mitochondrial levels directly are highly associated with health and longevity.
Aging is the result of oxidative stress in which the body accumulates free radicals. Oxidative stress damages our cells and shortens telomeres .
Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes from deterioration.
They become shorter and shorter with ages. When telomeres shorten, we age more quickly and are vulnerable to more diseases.
In the JAMA published study was shown a statistically significant invert relationship between telomere length and both cancer incidence and mortality [3].
Telomere length may, therefore, serve as a biological clock to determine the lifespan of a cell and an organism. Certain agents associated with specific lifestyles may expedite telomere shortening by inducing damage to DNA in general or more specifically at telomeres and may, therefore, affect the health and lifespan of an individual.
Consequently glutathione concentration parallels telomerase activity. These finding underscore the main role of glutathione in the control of telomerase activity [9].
GSH depletion has been strongly associated with the diseases and loss of function with aging. A study of community-dwelling elderly found that higher glutathione levels were associated with higher levels of physical health, fewer illnesses, and higher levels of self-rated health [4].
As might be expected, then, GSH status has been found to parallel telomerase activity, an important indicator of lifespan.
Glutathione skin effect
The study showed that GSH increases skin elasticity and skin whitening [5, 6]. Deveci et al showed that GSH protects the keratinocytes and enhances collagen contraction in human dermal fibroblasts [7] .Topical application of glutathione lotion effectively reduced wrinkle formation and skin moisture levels.
Also of importance are the findings that oral intake of glutathione showed trends in increased skin elasticity at various sites {5}. It is well established that glutathione can be transported across the intestinal epithelium after oral supplementation.
Glutathione for menopause
It’s clear that oxidative stress is at the root of many menopausal symptoms so it’s requiring increasing antioxidant. Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and weight gain due to changes in hormones. Glutathione can help to decrease these types of symptoms by rebalancing hormone production to normal levels.
So, how can we reverse oxidative stress, slow aging process? By using the most powerful antioxidant – Glutathione in a diet and supplements!
Sulfur-rich cruciferous vegetables are such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprout, collard green, kale, watercress, radish, and freshly grown different sprouts are recommended.
Supplements:
We use in our practice
Trizomal™ Glutathione (Apex Energetics) is a new approach to glutathione supplementation. It is a liposomal solution, where S-acetyl L-glutathione combined with reduced glutathione (GSH), and N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC). The liposome layer protects the glutathione molecules and supports its intracellular bioavailability.
AC-Glutathione™ from Apex Energetics is a capsule of S-acetyl L-glutathione, reduced form of glutathione (GSH) designed for greater stability, absorption, bioavailability, and digestive comfort.
Apex energetics Glutathione Recycler™ designed to support the synthesis and recycling existing glutathione for reuse.
All these unique formulas intended to support intracellular glutathione activity which is crucial for aging, cancer prevention, protection from the degenerative process of the brain, autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto thyroiditis.
References:
1. Meister A. Glutathione-ascorbic acid antioxidant system in animals. The Journal of biological chemistry. Apr 1 1994;269(13):9397-9400.
2. Pizzorno J. Glutathione! Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.). Feb 2014;13(1):8-12.
3. Willeit P, Willeit J, Mayr A, et al. Telomere length and risk of incident cancer and cancer mortality. Jama. Jul 7 2010;304(1):69-75.
4. Julius M, Lang CA, Gleiberman L, Harburg E, DiFranceisco W, Schork A. Glutathione and morbidity in a community-based sample of elderly. Journal of clinical epidemiology. Sep 1994;47(9):1021-1026.
5. Watanabe F, Hashizume E, Chan GP, Kamimura A. Skin-whitening and skin-condition-improving effects of topical oxidized glutathione: a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy women. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. 2014;7:267-274.
6. Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. 2017;10:147-153.
7. Deveci M, Gilmont RR, Dunham WR, Mudge BP, Smith DJ, Marcelo CL. Glutathione enhances fibroblast collagen contraction and protects keratinocytes from apoptosis in hyperglycaemic culture. The British journal of dermatology. Feb 2005;152(2):217-224.
8. Pallardo FV, Markovic J, Garcia JL, Vina J. Role of nuclear glutathione as a key regulator of cell proliferation. Molecular aspects of medicine. Feb-Apr 2009;30(1-2):77-85.
9. Wongpiyabovorn J, Soonthornchai W, Wilantho A, et al. Effect of tacrolimus on skin microbiome in atopic dermatitis. Allergy. Feb 11 2019.