Glutathione: Benefits and Supplements

Glutathione (GSH) is named Reduced glutathione or L-Glutathione Reduced ,an important antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea,a white crystalline powder. It is atripeptide with a gamma peptide linkage between the carboxyl group of the glutamate side chain and the amine group of cysteine, and the carboxyl group of cysteine is attached by normal peptide linkage to a glycine.Thiol groups are reducing agents, existing at a concentration around 5 mM in animal cells. Glutathione reduces disulfide bonds formed within cytoplasmicproteins to cysteines by serving as an electron donor. In the process, glutathione is converted to its oxidized form, glutathione disulfide (GSSG), also called L-glutathione.

1. Glutathione in the body's biochemical defense system plays an important role, with many physiological functions. Its main physiological role is to be able to remove free radicals in the body, as an important antioxidant in the body to protect many proteins and enzymes thiol molecules.

2. Glutathione can not only eliminate the human body free radicals, but also can improve human immunity. Glutathione maintains healthy, anti-aging effects and exerts a greater effect on younger cells than younger ones.

3. Glutathione can also protect hemoglobin from oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, free radicals and other oxidation so that it continues to function normally to transport oxygen.

4. Glutathione both directly with hydrogen peroxide and other oxidants combined to generate water and oxidized glutathione, but also to methemoglobin reduced to hemoglobin.

5. Glutathione protective enzyme molecule -SH group, is conducive to the play of enzyme activity, and can restore the activity of the enzyme molecule has been destroyed - SH, the enzyme regain activity. Glutathione can also inhibit fatty liver produced by ethanol against the liver.

6. Glutathione for radiation, radiopharmaceuticals caused by leukopenia and other symptoms, have a strong protective effect. Glutathione can enter the body with toxic compounds, heavy metals or carcinogens and other combination, and promote its excretion, play a role in neutralization and detoxification.

1. Food additives

(1) added to pasta, to make manufacturers reduce the time of bread to the original one-half or one third, and serve to strengthen the role of food nutrition and other features.

(2) to add to the yogurt and baby food, the equivalent of vitamin C, can play a stabilizing agent.

(3) in its mix to the surimi to prevent color deepened.

(4) to the meat and cheese and other foods, have enhanced the effect of flavor.

2. Beauty products

Prevent the infiltration of Los tyrosinase in order to achieve the purpose of inhibiting melanin formation. On eliminate wrinkles,increase skin elasticity, shrink pores, lighten pigment, the body has an excellent whitening effect. Glutathione as the main ingredient in cosmetic products in Europe and the United States was welcomed by the decades.

3. Medicine
a. Anti-allergy, or inflammation caused by hypoxemia in patients with systemic or local, can reduce cell damage and promote repair.
b. To protect the liver, detoxification, inactivation of hormones, and to promote bile acid metabolism and help absorb fat and fat-soluble vitamins digestive tract.
c. Radiation sickness and radiation safety: radiation, radioactive substances or because of leukopenia caused by anticancer drugs and other symptoms can play a protective effect.

Direct antioxidation: The thiol group (-SH) of GSH directly reduces free radicals.

Enzymatic reaction: As a coenzyme of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), it decomposes hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides.
Detoxification pathway: In the liver Phase II detoxification, toxins are bound through glutathione S-transferase (GST).
Gene regulation: Activate the Nrf2 pathway and upregulate the expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Patients with chronic diseases: liver diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases.
People with weakened immunity: those who have been repeatedly infected or have undergone chemotherapy.
Anti-aging needs: People with skin aging and physical decline.
Environmental exposed individuals: those in contact with heavy metals, long-term medication (such as paracetamol), and smokers and drinkers.

Sekhar, R. V., et al. (2011)
Glutathione synthesis is diminished in elderly humans.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94(3), 847-853.
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.110.003483

Richie, J. P., et al. (2015)
Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione.
European Journal of Nutrition, 54(2), 251-263.
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-014-0706-z

Mischley, L. K., et al. (2016)
Phase II study of intranasal glutathione in Parkinson's disease.
Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 6(2), 343-349.
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-150706

Villarama, C. D., & Maibach, H. I. (2005)
Glutathione as a depigmenting agent: An overview.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 27(3), 169-176.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00235.x