Glutathione side effects in its various forms.

This page is about clearing up some of the confusing statements surrounding glutathione.

Due to the volume of questions I receive, via email, regarding glutathione side effects,

please click here, since I decided to start a new glutathione side effects question page to answer your concerns.

As a drug free Olympic athlete ,I focus on products and processes like hypnosis that empower the human body.

If you are an athlete or know an athlete, you might be interested in the process I used on my new Olympic sports hypnosis CD created from the original script I used to become an Olympic medalist.

I will be clarifying some of the confusing statements like...

1. “There are no established side effects to glutathione or to the substances used to elevate glutathione levels….

Although glutathione is marketed as a nutritional supplement, it does not appear that glutathione supplements actually increase the levels of glutathione inside cells. In human studies, oral doses of glutathione had little effect in raising blood levels.” http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/glutathione

2.“No side effects or interactions are known with oral administration of glutathione…

There is very little evidence that taking glutathione supplements provides any benefit, despite promising evidence about the effects of aerosol, intravenous, and intramuscular glutathione, for people with a wide variety of conditions.”http://www.kroger.com/hn/Supp/Glutathione.htm

3. “No glutathione side effects or interactions are known with oral administration of glutathione…

Glutathione supplements appear to be efficiently absorbed in rats.6 7 However, the same may not be true for glutathione supplements in humans.

For example, when seven healthy people were given a single application of up to 3,000 mg of glutathione, there was no increase in blood glutathione levels.8

The authors of the study concluded "it is not feasible to increase circulating glutathione to a clinically beneficial extent by the oral administrating of a single application of 3,000 mg of glutathione."

Absorption of glutathione may be better in rats because unlike the gastrointestinal tract of rats, the human gastrointestinal tract contains significant amounts of an enzyme (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase) that breaks down glutathione.

Preliminary evidence has suggested that absorption of glutathione can occur in the mouth when glutathione tablets are placed between the teeth and the inner cheek.9 “http://www.evitamins.com/healthnotes.asp?ContentID=2857007

4. “Supplementation with reduced glutathione does not necessarily raise tissue levels of glutathione, and it can be expensive. While the unreduced form is much cheaper, it is not metabolically active. Doctors often report that clinical benefits achieved with intravenous reduced glutathione are not seen when it is taken orally.” http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/treat/T147297.html

What are the known glutathione side effects?

The side effects of taking glutathione depend on the form you are taking it in, and the side effects maybe direct or indirect.

Drugs that are precursors (building blocks) for glutathione.

Some include S-Adenosyl-Methione, which is expensive and can cause gastrointestinal problems, while ornithine decarboxylase, procyteine, and oxothiazolidine carboxylate both are enzymes and limited in their production of GSH in the body.

The most used and familiar drug is N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), which is a powerful precursor of glutathione. As a drug it works extremely quickly, and is very effective, but has significant side effects, which include its efficacy or usefulness peaks very quickly, and has to be administered several times per day, which causes toxicity. This is a direct glutathione side effect.

Then there are Co- Factors or substances working synergistically for glutathione production.

Co-factor is define as:
1. One of two or more contributing factors.
2. A substance, such as a metallic ion or coenzyme, that must be associated with an enzyme for the enzyme to function.

Selenium, vitamins B1 and B2, Vitamin C, B6, B12, folic acid, vitamin E, and other micronutrients, are included in the substances called co-factors.

Selenium is a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Selenium functions mainly as an antioxidant, and works synergistically with Vitamin E. It is plentiful in plants and meats and supplementation is not usually necessary, but dosages of between 25-50mcg/day are recommended.

Side effects of over doses occur around 400 mcg/day and include hair loss, numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, and white spots on fingernails and toenails. Selenium overdose leads to an indirect glutathione side effect.

Both B1 and B2 are essential and maintain GSH at its optimal capacity. Dosages between 50-150mg are suggested, while higher levels appear to show no side effects.

Vitamin C also known as ascorbate and ascorbic acid, has a long list of properties, but is also an antioxidant that works synergistically with E, and the other co-factors to allow GSH to work effectively. Dosages up to 2000 mg can be tolerated, and side effects of over dosages can lead to diarrhea and cramps. An indirect glutathione side effect.

B6, B12, play an indirect, yet important role in glutathione metabolism, while folic acid works with B12 in amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis. Dosages of 10-50mg of B6, 10-50mcg of B12, and 400mcg of folic acid are recommended per day.

Like selenium Vitamin E is an antioxidant, a detoxifier, and helps to keep glutathione in its reduced (non-oxidized) state. Dosages up to 400IU are recommended and excessive intake can be toxic creating gastrointestinal and neurological side-effects.

Natural Products that produce Glutathione.

Oral Glutathione

Glutathione is readily available in fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. You might think that eating foods rich in glutathione would raise the intracellular GSH, but research has found that it has a negligible effect.

A small amount of reduced GSH may reach the blood stream, but most of it is lost in the digestive tract, and is not effective in raising intracellular glutathione level. Increased consumption of foods rich in GSH would result in increased weight, which would be the only glutathione side effect.

It would appear that most of the articles that speak of glutathione’s limited effects are speaking only of the foods rich in glutathione.

Methionine

It is an essential amino acid and has been identified as readily available in foods, and is a precursor to GSH, but the metabolic transformation into glutathione is very complex. It has side effects at certain doses that lead to toxicity, and is a precursor of homocysteine, which is identified as a high risk factor in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Melatonin

It is a naturally occurring hormone synchronized by the pineal gland, and responsible for the regulation of sleep. It has many functions including acting as an antioxidant, and has been shown to effectively raise glutathione levels in the brain, liver and other tissues. There appears to be no glutathione side effects regarding this hormone, but the long term safety of this hormone has not been established.

Glutamine

Glutamine (GAM) is the most abundant free amino acid in the body. It is important in the maintenance and metabolism of muscle, and is a favorite supplement of athletes when involved in intense sports, because it alleviates muscle wasting.

Glutamine can be taken orally or intravenously and will raise glutathione levels. It is found in many food sources, but is destroyed by cooking. However, GAM is found in raw food including sushi, steak tartar, carpaccio and kibbi.

Healthy people do not need supplemental glutamine, and side effects of over dosing can lead to gastrointestinal upset. Indirect glutathione side effect.

Alpha-lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic Acid (Lipoic Acid) has parallel benefits to glutathione. Lipoic acid increases the levels of glutathione. Please see my nutrition page regarding the benefits of glutathione.

Glutathione is called the master antioxidant, because lipoic acid in the absence of GSH promotes oxidation. Glutathione would be greatly reduced in people with AIDs/HIV and Parkinson’s disease. Recommended dosage of Lipoic acid is 50mg to100mg.

Higher dosages can lead to nausea, upset stomach, rash, and even low blood pressure. Again this would be an indirect glutathione side effect.

Silymarin (milk thistle)

The plant milk thistle has been used for treatment of liver disorders including jaundice, alcohol cirrhosis, hepatitis and gallbladder disease. Silymarin can increase glutathione as much as 35% in certain deficient states. Dosages range from 50 to 500mg three times a day, and over dosage can cause cramps, gas and diarrhea.

Whey Proteins

Whey Proteins are a constituent of milk from all mammals including humans. Milk contains 5-10% protein, where 20% is whey and 80% casein. Denaturation refers to the breakdown in the structure of the protein that will not affect its food value, but will result in less availability (bioactivity) of the active components to the cells of the body.

It is the bioactivity that creates the benefits to the body. Fresh milk is easily denatured, leaving its potent GSH precursors ineffective.

Special processes must be employed to extract the whey from protein and to maintain its bioactivity. Whey products contain anywhere from 20% to 90% whey, some are bioactive and many are not.

Glutathione side effects appear to be non existent, and are primarily difficult to detect because little GSH intracellular activity is created.

Bioactive Whey Protein (HMS 90 and Immunocal)

Using special extraction methods, which are patented, HMS 90 or immunocal’s bioactive whey protein is non denatured and contains up to 90% whey protein. There are no glutathione side effects, and as a natural health supplement it is patented for its ability to significantly increase glutathione in your body's cells.

It should be noted that while there are undocumented reports of glutathione side effects, some individuals should not take this product. Those include anyone that has a severe milk allergy, and pregnant women.

Anyone that is sensitive to milk products should consult their medical advisor before trying whey products.

It is my hope that I have been able to clear up some of the confusion regarding glutathione side effects either directly or indirectly, and the ability of glutathione to have a profound effect on human health.

You can purchase a one month supply of HMS 90/Immunocal's patented Bioactive Whey Protein for $59.40 or invest in the Platinum edition for $84.90 plus GST by calling 1-888-917-7779 , let the representative know you want to register as a customer, under this code 141530 or secure order online .

If you would like further info on glutathione side effects contact me.

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Resources and additional glutathione articles

1. You might be interested in the anti aging benefits of glutathione.

2. Glutathione vitamin c article

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4. Do not want to do it your self, then have an experienced SBI webmaster do it for you.

The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any illness. Please see your doctor or health care professional for any medical advice.