Glutathione
The body's master antioxidant
Definition
Glutathione is a tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) considered the primary intracellular antioxidant of the human body. It acts as a cofactor for detoxifying enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase), directly neutralises free radicals, regenerates vitamins C and E to their active forms, and participates in phase II hepatic detoxification. Its levels decline by 30–40% between ages 20 and 60, correlating with the increase in oxidative stress and inflammation.
Detailed explanation
Intracellular glutathione (reduced, GSH) is the most direct marker of cellular antioxidant capacity. Its rate-limiting precursors are N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glycine, amino acids that can be supplemented orally.
IV administration of glutathione provides maximum bioavailability, unlike oral supplementation (glutathione is hydrolysed in the digestive tract). However, the stability of the IV molecule is controversial: it degrades rapidly in aqueous solution, which is why many clinics administer it as a rapid push or combined with vitamin C (which stabilises GSH and enhances its antioxidant effect).
IV glutathione has documented effects in: skin improvement (reduced melanogenesis via tyrosinase inhibition), neuroprotection (low GSH levels are associated with Parkinson's disease), liver function (essential cofactor in detoxification), and immune response (required for T-lymphocyte proliferation).
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