Glutathione is naturally produced in your liver and nerve cells. This essential antioxidant is made from three amino acids: glycine, L-cysteine, and L-glutamate. Your body protects its glutathione levels, but aging and chronic diseases can cause them to decline.
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What can cause a glutathione deficiency?
Factors that affect glutathione levels include:
- Oxidative stress
- Toxin accumulation
- Heavy metal exposure
- DNA damage
- Prolonged, excessive alcohol consumption
Glutathione has the power to reduce oxidative stress and neutralize dangerous free radicals. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. This can happen for a variety of reasons. However, most oxidative stress occurs as a result of aging and other stresses on the body from illness or disease.
Exposure to viruses, bacteria, radiation, environmental toxins, and pollution may deplete glutathione levels, resulting in an accumulation of free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can be extremely harmful to the body.
Glutathione regenerates other antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E.1 Glutathione also blocks the production of inflammatory cytokines. It is essential for both innate and adaptive immunity.2 Glutathione has many important health benefits.
What can increase oxidative stress?
Free radicals are metabolic byproducts that can harm cells. Free radicals alter the form and function of cellular structures by binding to DNA and proteins. Glutathione exists in two forms: oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH). Glutathione in its reduced form donates an electron to inflammation-causing free radicals, neutralizing their effect. Glutathione is said to be oxidized after losing an electron, but it can be recycled back into its reduced form. When your body is under chronic stress, it impairs its ability to recycle oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione.3
Factors that can increase oxidative stress include the following: 4,5
- A diet high in processed foods
- Aging
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive or prolonged physical activity
- Exposure to pollution, radiation, and environmental toxins
- Exposure to heavy metals
- Infections
- Poor nutrition
- Sleep deprivation
- Smoking
What are the symptoms of glutathione deficiency?
Rarely, a serious inherited condition can cause more severe glutathione deficiencies. In most cases, people experience a mild-to-moderate glutathione deficiency that is associated with non-specific symptoms. Symptoms associated with low glutathione levels include:
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Joint and muscle aches
- Male infertility
- Skin damage
- Weight gain
What happens when glutathione levels are low?
When glutathione levels are low, there is an increased risk of cellular damage from oxidative stress and inflammation. This can increase your chances of developing a chronic disease.
Your body produces less glutathione as you age, increasing the likelihood of glutathione deficiency. Glutathione declines after menopause are thought to contribute to osteoporosis. 6,7
Glutathione depletion is associated with several medical conditions, including 8,9,10
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Aging
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Cataract and glaucoma
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic obstructive lung disease
- Cognitive impairment
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetes
- Heart attacks
- High blood pressure
- Immune diseases
- Increased cholesterol
- Liver disease
- Lupus
- Male and female infertility
- Mental health disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Friedreich’s ataxia
How do you check your glutathione levels?
Because glutathione levels fluctuate throughout the day, glutathione testing is not widely used. This makes it difficult to develop a standard. Typically, the normal range of reduced GSH is 3.8 to 5.5 umol/L. In red blood cells (RBCs), the standard range of glutathione levels should be 1,000 to 1,900 umol/L, with 1,000-1,200 umol/L considered low.11
Many people self-diagnose a mild-to-moderate glutathione deficiency based on symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, frequent infections, and brain fog.
Is glutathione safe for everyone?
There is not enough research on glutathione dosages, the effects of overdosage, or stopping glutathione. Despite being generally recognized as safe, glutathione may cause side effects. Glutathione injections may lead to the following:12
- Nausea and vomiting
- Allergic reactions
- Rash or irritation at the injection site
- Kidney and liver problems
- Blood clotting problems: Glutathione injections may interfere with blood clotting, increasing the risk of bleeding and bruising. However, a long-term phase 4 study did not find an increased bleeding risk after using glutathione.
If you supplement with glutathione long-term, ask about having your zinc levels checked. Prolonged glutathione supplement use has been associated with zinc deficiency.13 Oysters are rich in zinc. Red meat, poultry, legumes, nuts, and dairy products are excellent sources of zinc.
Glutathione injections bypass breakdown by the liver. Injections have a half-life of about 10 to 90 minutes. How long glutathione stays in your system depends on many factors, such as your metabolism, route of administration, and how fast your body uses glutathione.14
Conclusion
Recognizing and addressing glutathione deficiency is essential for maintaining optimal health and combating oxidative stress. For individuals seeking effective treatments and wishing to enhance their antioxidant defenses, considering the option to buy glutathione injections could be a significant step towards replenishing this crucial antioxidant. Invigor Medical provides a range of medical products tailored to meet your health needs, offering a practical solution for those looking to mitigate symptoms and support overall wellness. For more information, visit Invigor Medical.
