L-Glutathione #7

Modern lifestyle habits like poor dietary choices, lack of sleep, abundance of stress, exposure to chemicals, and exercise extremes can incur physiologic changes. Our bodies were designed to handle stress, detoxify chemicals and preserve cell function, but when the burden increases, those naturally built-in systems can’t keep up with demand. One of the most common physiological changes seen is the depletion of the body’s most powerful antioxidant, reduced glutathione. Glutathione has been termed “the master antioxidant” because of its ability to quench free radicals and protect cells from damage. It has long been thought that humans were unable to utilize preformed glutathione, but recent research proves otherwise. Orthomolecular Products Setria®, a unique tri-peptide form of glutathione, has a molecular structure that effectively increases glutathione blood levels when taken orally. It is the only supplemental glutathione backed by a recently published human clinical trial that shows significant uptake of this critical nutrient. The foods and supplements routinely used to boost endogenous glutathione production offer a variety of health benefits. The challenge for the practitioner becomes prioritizing what supplementation is most critical and most helpful. Depending on a patient’s genetics, health status and environmental exposures, even the best efforts to provide precursor molecules and cofactors may not effectively optimize glutathione production. This is because genetic polymorphisms or health challenges can alter enzymatic function in ways that hinder glutathione production or glutathione metabolism, despite excellent nutrient intake. According to a 2015 publication in the European Journal of Nutrition, supplementing with Setria® glutathione at doses of 250 mg and 1,000 mg a day for six months increased glutathione levels in whole blood, erythrocytes and buccal cells. This was the first long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation. Because of glutathione’s central role in detoxification, about 25% of all glutathione resides in the liver. Glutathione is more than simply an electron donor; glutathione plays an important role in protecting living cells from toxicity by detoxifying the reactive intermediates via enzymatic conjugation. Enzymatic conjugation, catalyzed by the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, occurs in Phase II liver detoxification and in gastrointestinal mucosal secretions.2 Glutathione conjugation provides a mechanism to neutralize reactive toxins before they damage body tissues. Glutathione can also function as a detoxifying agent within the intestinal lumen, catching harmful toxins before they enter the body and create the necessity for liver detoxification. Glutathione sources in the intestinal mucosa include intracellular synthesis, biliary supply and dietary intake. The intestinal lumen receives a large quantity of hepatic GSH from biliary secretion.3 Studies of oral GSH supplementation in humans and laboratory animals have shown that the enhancement of intestinal mucosal GSH levels by oral GSH supplementation under conditions in which intracellular GSH status is compromised can restore tissue GSH and promote ROS metabolism.4 Thus, it has been described that orally administered GSH acts as backup for GSH-deficient tissue. In the intestinal mucosa, this mechanism of action supports the enzymatic activity of glutathione-S-transferase, which plays a role in deconjugation at the site of the mucosa without the necessity for GSH uptake. It is well known that the gastrointestinal cells, the mitochondria and the efficiency of immune cell function are three major factors in immune function. Glutathione happens to play a role in all three elements. When small intestinal mucosa atrophies, it causes an increase in epithelial permeability and compromised tight junctions, which can lead to translocation of bacteria.4 This translocation of bacteria is implicated in immune activation and autoimmunity. Studies have shown that this epithelial damage is in part due to the inability to mitigate reactive oxygen species (ROS).4 Supplementing with oral glutathione under conditions in which intracellular glutathione status is compromised can restore tissue glutathione and promote ROS metabolism, thereby mitigating tissue atrophy, according to a 2017 study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The most commonly discussed role of glutathione is in the protection of the mitochondria from free radical damage during the process of ATP production. Glutathione is the master antioxidant to quench the reacted oxygen species produced as byproducts, allowing ATP production without the damaging impact that can occur in an environment lacking adequate antioxidant capacity. Mitochondrial health plays a crucial role in immune function via its influence on the T-cell surveillance activity, pattern recognition receptor function, and any ATPdependent immune functions. Regarding individual immune cells, decreased glutathione levels in various cells, such as T-lymphocytes, are observed in patients with immune challenges and the decreased glutathione levels are considered to contribute to a compromised immune system. The antioxidant properties of glutathione support healthy immune system function. Intracellular GSH plays a key role in the maintenance and regulation of certain immunological functions, including the activation of lymphocytes and functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Within three months of 1,000 mg/day Setria® glutathione, NK cell cytotoxicity increased more than twofold from baseline.

as byproducts, allowing ATP production without the damaging impact that can occur in an environment lacking adequate antioxidant capacity. Mitochondrial health plays a crucial role in immune function via its influence on the T-cell surveillance activity, pattern recognition receptor function, and any ATPdependent immune functions. Regarding individual immune cells, decreased glutathione levels in various cells, such as T-lymphocytes, are observed in patients with immune challenges and the decreased glutathione levels are considered to contribute to a compromised immune system. The antioxidant properties of glutathione support healthy immune system function. Intracellular GSH plays a key role in the maintenance and regulation of certain immunological functions, including the activation of lymphocytes and functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Within three months of 1,000 mg/day Setria® glutathione, NK cell cytotoxicity increased more than twofold from baseline.