If you are interested in skin care, you must have heard of 'white jade injection' at least once. The main ingredient of this white jade injection is glutathione. Glutathione has been confirmed to reduce melanin pigment in the skin even when taken orally through human application tests.
According to a clinical trial published in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 500 mg of glutathione for 4 weeks reduced melanin index* in a total of 6 body parts, including the face, arms, and other parts of the body [source].
*Melanin Index: An index that measures the degree of melanin pigment
In another study, 250 mg of glutathione for 12 weeks reduced melanin levels and UV-induced dark spots in all areas, including the face and arms [source].
However, these results are not the same for everyone. This is because there are many factors involved in the formation of melanin, and the results can vary depending on skin type, UV exposure, and skin condition. Therefore, it is important to note that glutathione intake or injections may vary from person to person.
2. Glutathione, is it ineffective to eat?
When glutathione is taken in the form of a nutritional supplement, it passes through the stomach and is quickly broken down by digestive enzymes, so the absorption rate in the body is very low. For this reason, a variety of products have recently been launched with technology to improve the low absorption rate of glutathione. A typical example is a product that uses an oral dissolving film.
An oral dissolving film is a formulation that can be placed on the tongue and dissolved without water. It is characterized by convenience of ingestion and portability, as well as the absorption of ingredients into the capillaries in the mouth, resulting in a faster effect [source]. In fact, it is known to have an absorption rate that is about 80% higher when orally dissolved than when ingested orally [source].
However, further research is needed on how much glutathione is absorbed by the body when taken as an oral lytic film
3. Glutathione, should you watch out for side effects?
YES&NO.
Glutathione is an antioxidant produced in the body and is relatively safe. However, any ingredient that is known to be good for health can have unexpected side effects when taken in high doses over a short period of time
Glutathione is an antioxidant produced in the body and is relatively safe. In addition, most clinical trials of glutathione supplementation have not reported any serious side effects. For example, a human body study of 500 mg/day of glutathione showed no abnormalities in the function of blood, liver, and kidneys during the glutathione intake period [source].
However, taking high doses of glutathione or any other ingredient over a short period of time can cause unexpected side effects. Therefore, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should be careful about taking it, and if you have allergies or underlying diseases, it is recommended that you consult a specialist before taking it.
4. Is glutathione only good for the skin?
No.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that also supports liver health.
While the most well-known benefits of glutathione are related to skin health, glutathione has many other health benefits.
First, glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body. Active oxygen, also known as free radicals, is said to be related to about 90% of modern human diseases. Glutathione scavenges these free radicals through oxidation-reduction reactions*.
Second, glutathione may also support liver health. This is because glutathione is concentrated in the liver in the largest amount. In fact, a study on the efficacy of glutathione in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease found that glutathione supplementation reduced ALT* levels [source].
*ALT: An enzyme that is abundant in liver cells, and ALT activity in the blood increases when the liver is impaired.
5. Is it good to eat glutathione and vitamin C together?
YES.
It is helpful to take vitamin C, selenium, milk thistle, cysteine, and vitamin E, which can help protect glutathione and help synthesize it in the body.
It is important to take ingredients that can maintain the concentration of glutathione. One of them is vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps increase glutathione levels in the body by increasing the synthesis of glutathione in the body. Some studies have shown that taking 500mg~1,000mg of vitamin C daily increases glutathione levels [source].
Other good ingredients to take with glutathione include selenium, milk thistle, cysteine, and vitamin E.
First, selenium is an important coenzyme in glutathione production [source]. It is also known to help increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which catalyzes the reaction of glutathione [source].
Second, milk thistle may help increase glutathione activity. Silibinin, one of the main active components of milk thistle, has been shown to significantly increase glutathione enzyme activity in the liver, lungs, stomach, skin, and small intestine when taken orally [source].
Third, cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is one of the building blocks of glutathione. Therefore, cysteine supplementation also helps in the synthesis of glutathione [source].
Last but not least, vitamin E. Vitamin E, like glutathione, protects cells through oxidation-redox reactions. Vitamin E is known to increase glutathione levels [source] as well as to have a protective effect on glutathione [source].
Therefore, for efficient glutathione intake, a combination of vitamin C, selenium, milk thistle, cysteine, and vitamin E may help maintain the concentration of glutathione in the body.
6. Is glutathione levels in the body also linked to neurodevelopmental disorders?
YES. That is right.
Patients with autism spectrum disorder have been reported to have lower levels of glutathione in their bodies than those who do not.
Glutathione is known to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. As mentioned earlier, glutathione acts as an antioxidant through oxidation-reduction reactions. This is because poor oxidation-redox reactions are considered one of the main causes of neurodevelopmental disorders [source].
In this regard, several studies have identified imbalances in the body's glutathione levels as a major factor in autism spectrum disorder, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder [source].
However, this is only a study of the correlation between neurodevelopmental disorders and glutathione levels, and it is not clear how glutathione intake affects neurodevelopmental disorders.
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