10.1038/nchembio.1142 29 MorinakaA.YamadaM.ItofusaR.FunatoY.YoshimuraY.NakamuraF.et al
DTPA, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
SCIENCE & RESEARCH Glutathione (GSH) Background and history Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide made from glycine, glutamine and cysteine Antioxidant that reduces overall oxidative stress and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) ROS have the potential to damage DNA, RNA, and proteins By reducing oxidative stress and ROS, GSH reduces cellular degeneration Can reduce chronic inflammation and symptoms related to it Levels decline with age, poor nutrition, environmental toxins and stress GSH supplementation may overcome reduction in Nrf2 expression in age-related diseases Studies suggest improved symptoms associated with psoriasis, Parkinsons Disease, several autoimmune diseases, and autism Longevity benefits Lowers ROS to reduce damage to RNA, DNA, and proteins in the body Reduces inflammation and liver cell damage May improves insulin resistance Often improves overall skin health Works to strengthen the immune system Enhances detoxification and toxin removal, including heavy metals Involved in DNA synthesis & repair, protein synthesis, amino acid transport, modulation of glutamate receptors, and neurohormonal signaling Research and studies Parkinsons Disease A small randomized placebo controlled trial using IV glutathione over 4 weeks showed that it was well tolerated: Preliminary efficacy data suggest the possibility of a mild symptomatic effect, but this remains to be evaluated in a larger study. Another small randomized placebo trial using nasal glutathione over 3 months showed improvement in total Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) (-4.6 (4.7), P = 0.0025) and UPDRS motor subscore (-2.2 (3.8), P = 0.0485) over baseline
Because folate supplementation can efficiently reduce plasma homocysteine levels, both in the fasting state and after methionine loading, results from further prospective cohort studies and from on-going interventional trials will determine whether homocysteine-lowering therapies can contribute to the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular risk
