About the "skin whitening" effect from taking mega doses of glutathione

by CONRADO JACINTO
(Philippines)

Hi Angela! Good comments about Glutathione supplements have been proliferating the web nowadays. And one of those is about the "skin whitening" effect of Glutathione in mega doses.

Like here in the Philippines, skin whitening effect of Glutathione are being promoted by celebrity endorsers for some Glutathione brands. Like there is one famous actress/singer, before when she was just starting in the industry, her skin tone wasn't really that fair but now, her skin tone is really far lighter from her old skin tone though she hasn't been seen on any interview talking about Glutathione and that it is the one responsible for her lighter skin tone now.

My question is, is Immunocal a Glutathione supplement product or it is just a precursor for our body to naturally release glutathione? If that is the case, how can Immunocal help us in achieving lighter skin tone? The health benefits e.g. it being an immune booster and an anti-oxidant is already given.

Thank you so much, Angela.

Question: Is Immunocal a Glutathione supplement product or it is just a precursor for our body to naturally release glutathione? If that is the case, how can Immunocal help us in achieving lighter skin tone?

Part one: Is Immunocal a precursor for our body to naturally release glutathione?

Answer: The building blocks (precursors) of glutathione (GSH) are glutamate, cysteine and glycine. Glutamate and glycine are readily available in food.

However it is the cysteine that is responsible for the biological activity (bioactivity) of the molecule. Cysteine is not easily able to get from the mouth and pass the digestive system without being altered and broken down.

Once it is altered it no longer acts as a precursor for glutathione. For that reason taking oral glutathione is ineffective in raising cellular glutathione.

Immunocal is the first product to successfully get cysteine past the digestive system, through the blood, and finally into the body’s cell wall. Once inside the cell the precursors raise intracellular glutathione.

So yes Immunocal is a precursor for the body to naturally release glutathione.

Part two: Is Immunocal a Glutathione supplement product?

Yes. When the manufacturers of Immunocal came across glutathione’s immune boosting properties by accident they were actually seeking a protein supplement product.

Immunocal is a bioactive whey protein that contains 90% of non-denatured (undenatured) protein.

Denatured whey proteins are plentiful on the market today, which simply means the proteins break down in the digestive system. The have varying amounts of protein some good, some not so good, but most have good food value.

However, in terms of delivering precursors to the body to enhance the immune system via glutathione production most fall short.

Immunocal contains 90% non-denatured whey protein. This is a very difficult process, and the inventors have received a patent to protect this special method of extraction.

For the end user you not only get the amazing immune boosting benefits of glutathione, but you get a protein supplement second to none.

Part three: If that is the case, how can Immunocal help us in achieving lighter skin tone?

Immunocal is documented in helping many kinds of skin ailments from psoriasis to skin cancer. I must acknowledge that I did not know about its skin lightening properties.

In my research I have yet to see Immunocal connected to enhanced skin lightening, yet I recognize that many people attribute the benefits of glutathione.

I have been taking Immunocal now for almost three years, 10g, which is one pack a day, and I have noticed many benefits, but I have yet to notice lighter skin.

10-20g of glutathione a day is considered to be a standard dose. Mega doses of glutathione have been shown to interfere with the natural balance of the body. It will not kill you, but you could get stomach upset, diarrhea, and even DNA damage.

That of course could be a problem for those people intending to have children.

One of glutathione's benefit is the neutralization of excessive free radicals. Free radicals destroy cells in the human body.

However, free radicals also play a positive role in a limited number. Mega doses of glutathione could interfere with the delicate balance of essential free radicals.

The long term effects of taking mega doses of glutathione or any antioxidants is still poorly understood.