Glutathione

Skin lightening effects, reduces wrinkles

Glutathione is an antioxidant present in almost all cells of the body where it plays important
roles in detoxification of drugs, xenobiotics, and other harmful substances produced within the
body such as hydrogen peroxide and free radicals. Glutathione also has anti-melanogenic
properties. Melanin is the pigment found in our skin, the more the melanin, the darker the skin
complexion. Glutathione exerts its skin lightening effects by stimulating pheomelanin synthesis
rather than darker eumelanin, its antioxidant effects, and by interfering with the intracellular
trafficking of melanogenic enzymes.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, three-arm study was carried out to

assess the effect of reduced form of glutathione (GSH) and oxidized form (GSSG) on the skin.
For this purpose, a group of 60 healthy females between the age of 20 to 50 years were
selected. They were divided into 3 groups of 20 and they were given capsules according to their
group for a total of 12 weeks. One group was given GSH 250 mg per day. The second group
was given GSSG 250 mg per day. The third group was given dibasic calcium phosphate as
placebo in identical capsules of the same weight. They were evaluated at weeks 4, 8, and 12.
The melanin index was measured using Mexameter, wrinkles were measured using Visioscan at
each, and elasticity was measured by Cutometer MPA580 at each evaluation.

Results:
● The melanin index and UV spots at all sites including face and arm from GSSG and
GSH groups tended to be lower than placebo group, with no significant difference
between GSSG and GSH groups - The lower the melanin index the lighter the skin tone.
● The Visioscan measurements to assess wrinkles were significantly lower in GSH groups
as compared to placebo group indicating less wrinkles in the GSH group
● The elasticity tended to be higher in GSSG and GSH groups as compared to placebo
● No serious adverse effects took place in any group

Conclusion:
This study confirmed that supplementation with GSH and GSSG can reduce the melanin index
leading to a lighter skin tone. Wrinkles were also lower with GSH supplementation. Elasticity of
the skin was also higher with GSH and GSSG as compared to placebo.

Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/CCID.S128339

Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is an autoimmune disease associated with oxidative damage to the intestinal
epithelium. GSH is an important component of the antioxidant defense and a lack of GSH has
been shown to result in severe degeneration of intestinal epithelial cells. GSH reduces the
reactive oxygen species and maintains cellular redox balance, therefore reducing the oxidative
stress which leads to a reduction in mucosal damage in ulcerative colitis.

A study was conducted to see the effect of glutathione supplementation on oxidative damage in
experimental colitis in mice. This study was divided into two groups A and B. In group A,
trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis was induced in mice to see whether parenteral
administration of glutathione is able to improve mucosal oxidative damage at onset. The rats in
this study group were injected with either a single dose of glutathione (200 mg/kg) or saline (0.2
ml) 1 hour before the induction of colitis and killed 1 hour after induction to observe the
histological store, colonic damage, lipo peroxide and malonyldialdehyde values, and
glutathione and cysteine levels. In group B, rats with induced colitis were treated with daily
injection of glutathione (50 mg/kg) or saline (0.2 ml), and killed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks to see the
effects of glutathione on the mucosal damage.

Results:
● In study A, glutathione pre-treatment decreased both total histological score and lipo
peroxide and malonyldialdehyde values - a decrease in lipo peroxide and
malonyldialdehyde values means reduction in lipid peroxidation and damage to the
intestinal epithelium
● In study B, glutathione supplementation significantly improved colonic damage, restored
glutathione and cysteine levels, and decreased lipid peroxidation

Conclusion:
This study confirmed that both pre-treatment as well as supplementation with glutathione
reduces the mucosal damage and improves the glutathione and cysteine levels in colitis
induced in rats. Thus, it may be useful in preventing and treating ulcerative colitis.

Reference: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1590865803003797

Boosts Immunity, the effects of liposomal glutathione

supplementation
Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most important antioxidants in the body. It protects the body
from the harmful effects of free radicals and reactive oxygen species by reducing them into
compounds that are non-toxic for the body. In addition to that glutathione is also said to boost
the immune system of the body by increasing the number of protective white blood cells such a
Natural Killer (NK) cells that produce cytotoxic substances involved in the destruction of infective
agents in the body and lymphocytes that produce antibodies that are involved in immunity to a
wide range of diseases.

A study was carried out which demonstrated the effect of oral supplementation with liposomal
glutathione on the body stores of glutathione and on the markers of immune function. In this
study, the baseline levels of glutathione were measured before any supplementation with
liposomal glutathione in 12 healthy individuals and then compared with levels of glutathione in
the body after administration of a single dose of glutathione (500 mg or 1000 mg) per day after
1, 2, and 4 weeks for a total of one month.

Results:
● The study showed that after 1 week of administration the glutathione levels increased up
to 40% in the whole blood and a 100% increase in glutathione levels in Peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMC) after 2 weeks.
● Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity went up by 400% and lymphocyte proliferation by 60%
after two weeks.
● A decrease in oxidative stress biomarkers such as 35% decrease in plasma
8-isoprostane and 20% decrease in oxidized:reduced GSH ratios
○ 8-isoprostane is a stable oxidative stress marker formed by the lipid peroxidation
of arachidonic acid
○ Oxidized:reduced GSH ratio indicates cellular health with a higher ratio
representing a depletion of glutathione and vice versa

Conclusion:
The study confirmed that the use of oral supplementation of liposomal glutathione increases the
body reserves of glutathione and boosts immunity by increasing the number of protective white
blood cells and reducing the oxidative stress of the body.

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28853742/

Alpha lipoic acid

As a treatment for peripheral neuropathy pain in diabetic

Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant. Alpha-lipoic acid seems to delay or reverse peripheral
diabetic neuropathy through its multiple antioxidant properties. Treatment with alpha-lipoic acid
also increases reduced glutathione which has many other beneficial effects on the body.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of the α-lipoic acid in diabetics using two
multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials. In this study 328 patients with
diabetes and symptomatic peripheral neuropathy were given treatment with intravenous infusion
of α-lipoic acid using three doses (1,200 mg; 600 mg; 100 mg) or placebo (PLAC) over 3 weeks.
After the period the total symptom score (TSS) which included pain, burning, paresthesia, and
numbness in the feet and Hamburg Pain Adjective List (HPAL) was tested in the patients.

Results:
 ● The TSS was greatly reduced in patients given α-lipoic acid at 1200 mg and 600 mg
doses compared to placebo - Lower TSS means reduced symptoms of diabetes
● The total scale of the Hamburg Pain Adjective List (HPAL) was significantly reduced in
α-lipoic acid at 1200 mg and 600 mg doses compared to placebo - The HPAL is used to
rate the degree and type of pain experienced, the lower the scale, the lesser the amount
of pain perceived by the patient.

Conclusion:
This study showed that alpha lipoic acid administration reduces the pain of peripheral
neuropathy in diabetes.

Reference: https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/46/Supplement_2/S62/9708

CoQ10

Improves fertility
CoQ10 is mitochondrial electron transport chain electron carrier coenzyme Q10. It is involved in
the production of ATP which is used by the cells as a source of energy. CoQ10 is said to
increase the number of this ATP in oocytes (these are female eggs that the male sperm fertilizes
to produce the zygote which results in the formation of embryo, fetus, and eventually a newborn
child). CoQ10 may also increase the number of M2 oocytes (which are mature oocytes that are
ready for fertilization), and increase Oct4 which is a DNA sequence that allows proper
differentiation and growth of the embryo. All these changes increase the likelihood of fertilization
and thus may help increase fertility.

To test this, a study was carried out on bovine oocytes that underwent in vitro maturation (IVM).
Bovine oocytes were aspirated from ovaries of cows and cultured in IVM media for 24 hours.
Oocytes were then assayed for ATP by luciferase-based luminescence and oocyte micrographs
were quantitated for Oct4. Mitochondrial mass was measured by MitoTracker Green staining.

Results:
● Oocytes given 40 μM CoQ10 enabled 1.9-fold more ATP than 0 μM CoQ10 - A higher
amount of ATP is essential for healthy oocytes and reduced mortality of the oocytes
● There was 4.3-fold less oocyte death with 40 μM of CoQ10 compared to 0 μM CoQ10
● 3.1-fold more mitochondrial mass at 40 μM than at 0 μM CoQ10 - higher mitochondrial
mass results in more ATP production capabilities during stress leading to increased
chance of survival of oocyte which consequently increases fertility
● 2.1-fold higher nuclear Oct4 was seen with 40 μM CoQ10 than at 0 μM CoQ10 - Higher
Oct4 allows proper growth and differentiation of the embryo thus increasing fertility

Conclusion:
The study demonstrates that CoQ10 increases the amount of ATP, reduces oocyte death,
increases mitochondrial mass, and increases Oct4, all of which can improve fertility.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5714820/