Glutathione - The Bodys Most Important Antioxidant.

[drtbear1967]

Glutathione(GSH) is a tripeptide made up of 3 amino acids, and is the body's most important antioxidant. GSH is the key compound in the liver responsible for metabolizing tons of molecules, including alcohol and methylated androgens. The thiol(SH) group is the most important part of the molecule, as it is one of the only functional groups that can interact with the major free radicals/oxidants that your body naturally produced. These oxidants are responsible for cell damage, as well as DNA and mitochondrial damage which can cause significant health issues and is the root cause of aging.

GSH levels decline significantly with age. The main problem with GSH is that it has bad oral bioavailability and cannot enter cells as the tripeptide. For this reason, most people supplement with N-Acetylcysteine(NAC). Studies have shown that supplementing with NAC for 2 weeks can elevate GSH levels by up to 96% of those seen in youth. Some rejuvenation clinics do injectable GSH which can restore levels within days. If you are a heavy lifter, androgen user, heavy drinker or over 40, I would highly recommend supplementing with NAC or injectable GSH. Oral NAC doses seem to be around 1800mg a day, usually dosed at 600mg 3x daily.

 

[cybrsage]

I can voice for the effectiveness of NAC on aiding the liver. I had been a very heavy drinker for a few decades (now stopped) and I have permanent liver damage. My normal ALT/AST numbers are always several dozen points above the max limit. I take 600mg of NAC a day during normal daily life (ie, doing nothing that stresses the liver) and my numbers drop to barely above the max limit. NAC is relatively cheap and easily found, so use it!

I have also used injectable glutathione while doing things that really tax the liver, as well as upping the NAC to 1800 and adding TUDCA. It really helps.