L-glutathione (GSH) is the most important and powerful antioxidant in the human body. It plays a major role in ensuring that the power plants of the cells (the mitochondria) are able to produce sufficient energy.
L-glutathione is a tripeptide consisting of the 3 amino acids glutamine, glycine and cysteine. It occurs in all body cells in different concentrations, mainly in the liver, brain and kidneys as well as in the red and white blood cells. Glutathione is synthesized by the body itself, but from about 40 years of age and under oxidative stress, the glutathione content decreases sharply.
The relationship between radicals and radical scavengers and the oxidative stress resulting from an imbalance between the two groups of substances, as well as the ability to neutralise foreign and harmful substances, is of paramount importance for health and quality of life. In both processes, glutathione also plays a central role due to its particularly favourable redox capacity and its effects which cannot be replaced by other substances. It is so important that scientists often see glutathione levels in cells as an indicator of health.
The glutathione level in healthy people, depending on their nutritional status and age, should be about 4-15g. A low level of “reduced”, i.e. active glutathione, leads to a lack of energy which affects all cells and the nerve cells to a large extent, which can be noticed by a burn-out syndrome.
With glutathione, nature has provided us with a multifunctional substance which is one of the most effective antioxidants due to its particularly favourable redox capacity and takes over important tasks in the body’s own neutralisation of harmful substances.
In order to support the bioavailability of glutathione when taken orally, sufficient concentrations of trace elements and antioxidant vitamins are necessary as the antioxidative mechanisms in the body work together like in an orchestra. In addition, the preparation should be in an enteric form so that the contained glutathione is only released in the duodenum and is not already partially split by the gastric acid and is thus impaired in its effectiveness.
Glutathione is constantly needed by the body’s cells. If the supply of glutathione does not meet individual requirements, a dietary supplement with glutathione makes sense. Experience has shown that this should be done daily and on a long-term basis.
Glutathione is constantly needed by the body’s cells. If the supply of glutathione does not meet individual requirements, a dietary supplement with glutathione makes sense. Experience has shown that this should be done daily and on a long-term basis.
A recent US study states, among other things, that glutathione should be taken daily, as the increase due to dietary supplements is dependent on dose and time and will be “washed out” within one month after discontinuation to the initial level.
