No products in the cart
L-Glutathione and its Potential Benefits in the Liver, Brain, and Skin
L-Glutathione and the Liver
L-Glutathione peptide shows potential as an antioxidant that may potentially play a significant defensive role in protecting the liver against oxidative stress and injury. According to animal research, low L-Glutathione levels may lead to spontaneous liver pathologies characteristic of various stages of liver injury.[1] According to one study in ethanol-exposed research models, L-Glutathione exposure following cessation of ethanol ingestion appeared to improve liver enzyme levels, such as AST and ALT.[2] Researchers also suggest improvement in other hepatic tests, such as bilirubin, GOT, GPT, and GT.[3] L-Glutathione may also combat the disease-associated reduction in intracellular Glutathione levels.
L-Glutathione and the Peripheral Nervous System
Neurotoxicity, manifested by peripheral neuropathies, is a widely researched and includes polyneuropathy. It is widespread in research that involve the study of platinum-based antineoplastic compounds or “platins.” Studies suggest that L-Glutathione may have protective effects on peripheral nerves and prevent the occurrence of neurotoxicity.
One study in peptide action following cisplatin exposure noted that “after the 15th week, four of 24 assessable [cases] in the GSH (L-Glutathione) … suffered from neurotoxicity versus 16 of 18 in the placebo.”[4]
Other studies also suggest that L-Glutathione may reduce neurotoxicity during oxaliplatin and carboplatin exposure.[5,6] Besides the fact that L-Glutathione may protect the nervous tissue thanks to its potential antioxidative and radical-scavenging characteristics, studies suggest that it also may activate the so-called nerve growth factor (NGF).[7]
L-Glutathione and Skin
L-Glutathione may have anti-melanogenic characteristics. According to laboratory experiments, L-Glutathione is tightly related to melanogenesis and exerts anti-melanogenic potential[8] These mechanisms may induce a shift towards pheomelanin synthesis rather than eumelanin production. Pheomelanin is a lighter form of melanin with a yellow–red color compared to the darker eumelanin, which is brown–black.
Furthermore, this research indicates that L-Gluthathione’s antioxidant potential, as well as its interference with the intracellular trafficking of melanogenic enzymes, may contribute to alleged anti-melanin effects.[9,10]
L-Glutathione and Parkinson’s Disease
Research reveals that oxidative stress in the nervous system may play a role in the pathophysiology and progression of Parkinson’s disease.[12] One of the antioxidants significantly reduced in research models of Parkinson’s brains was Glutathione, which may lead to increased oxidative toxicity. Glutathione deficiency has been posited as an early event in the progression of Parkinson’s disease.[13] Therefore, scientists are investigating the potential of L-Glutathione for improving some of the aspects of Parkinson’s disease.
According to the meta-analysis in a study analyzed by Wang et al., there is “a statistically significant difference between the GSH and control groups, in terms of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III.”[14] The researchers reported that the pooled data show L-Glutathione may mildly improve motor scores in models of Parkinson’s disease.
Disclaimer: The products mentioned are not intended for human or animal consumption. Research chemicals are intended solely for laboratory experimentation and/or in-vitro testing. Bodily introduction of any sort is strictly prohibited by law. All purchases are limited to licensed researchers and/or qualified professionals. All information shared in this article is for educational purposes only.
References
- Chen Y, Dong H, Thompson DC, Shertzer HG, Nebert DW, Vasiliou V. Glutathione defense mechanism in liver injury: insights from animal models. Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Oct;60:38-44. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.07.008. Epub 2013 Jul 12. PMID: 23856494; PMCID: PMC3801188.
- Nardi EA, Devito R, Tiburzi F, Ceccanti M. Il glutatione ridotto ad alte dosi nella terapia dell’epatopatia alcolica [High-dose reduced glutathione in the therapy of alcoholic hepatopathy]. Clin Ter. 1991 Jan 15;136(1):47-51. Italian. PMID: 1826873.
- Dentico P, Volpe A, Buongiorno R, Grattagliano I, Altomare E, Tantimonaco G, Scotto G, Sacco R, Schiraldi O. Il glutatione nella terapia delle epatopatie croniche steatosiche glutathione in the treatment of chronic fatty liver diseases]. Recenti Prog Med. 1995 Jul-Aug;86(7-8):290-3. Italian. PMID: 7569285.
- Cascinu S, Cordella L, Del Ferro E, Fronzoni M, Catalano G. Neuroprotective effect of reduced glutathione on cisplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 1995 Jan;13(1):26-32. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1995.13.1.26. PMID: 7799029.
- Cascinu S, Catalano V, Cordella L, Labianca R, Giordani P, Baldelli AM, Beretta GD, Ubiali E, Catalano G. Neuroprotective effect of reduced glutathione on oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Aug 15;20(16):3478-83. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2002.07.061. PMID: 12177109.
- Leal AD, Qin R, Atherton PJ, Haluska P, Behrens RJ, Tiber CH, Watanaboonyakhet P, Weiss M, Adams PT, Dockter TJ, Loprinzi CL; Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Alliance trial N08CA-the use of glutathione for prevention of paclitaxel/carboplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cancer. 2014 Jun 15;120(12):1890-7. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28654. Epub 2014 Mar 11. PMID: 24619793; PMCID: PMC4047184.
- Barhwal K, Hota SK, Prasad D, Singh SB, Ilavazhagan G. Hypoxia-induced deactivation of NGF-mediated ERK1/2 signaling in hippocampal cells: neuroprotection by acetyl-L-carnitine. J Neurosci Res. 2008 Sep;86(12):2705-21. doi: 10.1002/jnr.21722. PMID: 18500755.
- Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017 Apr 27;10:147-153. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S128339. PMID: 28490897; PMCID: PMC5413479.
- Villarama CD, Maibach HI. Glutathione as a depigmenting agent: an overview. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005 Jun;27(3):147-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00235.x. PMID: 18492181.
- Nakajima H, Nagata T, Koga S, Imokawa G. Reduced glutathione disrupts the intracellular trafficking of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 but not dopachrome tautomerase and Pmel17 to melanosomes, which results in the attenuation of melanization. Arch Dermatol Res. 2014 Jan;306(1):37-49. doi: 10.1007/s00403-013-1376-z. Epub 2013 Jun 14. PMID: 23764898.
- Zubair, Shazia, Sajia Hafeez, and Ghulam Mujtaba. “Efficacy of intravenous glutathione vs. placebo for skin tone lightening.” Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists 26.3 (2016): 177-181.
- Bjørklund G, Peana M, Maes M, Dadar M, Severin B. The glutathione system in Parkinson’s disease and its progression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Jan;120:470-478. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.004. Epub 2020 Oct 14. PMID: 33068556.
- Díaz-Hung ML, Yglesias-Rivera A, Hernández-Zimbrón LF, Orozco-Suárez S, Ruiz-Fuentes JL, Díaz-García A, León-Martínez R, Blanco-Lezcano L, Pavón-Fuentes N, Lorigados-Pedre L. Transient glutathione depletion in the substantia nigra compacta is associated with neuroinflammation in rats. Neuroscience. 2016 Oct 29;335:207-20. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.08.023. Epub 2016 Aug 20. PMID: 27555548.
- Wang HL, Zhang J, Li YP, Dong L, Chen YZ. Potential use of glutathione as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Exp Ther Med. 2021 Feb;21(2):125. doi: 10.3892/etm.2020.9557. Epub 2020 Dec 4. PMID: 33376507; PMCID: PMC7751460.
Dr. Usman (BSc, MBBS, MaRCP) completed his studies in medicine at the Royal College of Physicians, London. He is an avid researcher with more than 30 publications in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Usman has worked as a researcher and a medical consultant for reputable pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi.