When researching liposomal glutathione benefits, you must first understand what glutathione is. Glutathione or GSH is produced by the body and is also the primary antioxidant found in the body. In fact, some even refer to it as the master antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it controls oxidative stress. But, it also neutralizes harmful free radicals. Glutathione is comprised of three amino acids as follows:

1. Glutamic acid
2. Cysteine
3. Glycine

Glutamine makes glutamine in the body. Then, when the three amino acids combine into glutathione, it is a powerful detoxification system. In fact, they protect against free radicals, heavy metals, and toxic drugs.

While glutathione benefits are similar to vitamin C and E, there is a fundamental difference. Remarkably, the difference is that with the right building blocks, your body makes its own glutathione.

Additionally, research suggests that the levels of glutathione in your body may indicate lifespans. Moreover, a deficiency increases oxidative stress which can be an underlying cause for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s.

Table of Contents

What is Liposomal Glutathione?

First, the reason behind adding liposomes to glutathione as a supplement is to quickly cross cellular barriers including the blood-brain barrier for more effective action. Next, if you take a glutathione supplement, it must pass the liver before it reaches your bloodstream. However, the liver contains substantial amounts of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) which breaks down GSH. The result is that liposomal glutathione bypasses the GGT breakdown for almost 100% bioavailability.

How Liposomal Glutathione Benefits Your Body

Keep in mind that liposomal and glutathione combinations are for the purpose of allowing the glutathione to enter the bloodstream quickly. Then next, we will now discuss why higher levels of liposomal glutathione in your body are important.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Oxidative Stress Lowers

Reduction of ROS and oxidative stress in the body serves to prevent damage to cells and DNA. This is important to note because these liposomal glutathione benefits underlie other benefits as you will read below.

Addiction Behavior Benefits

Alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamines build up the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which then alters the brain, behaviors, and often causes brain damage.

While increasing antioxidant defenses protects the brain, it also detoxes the body. In fact, chronic alcoholism lowers glutathione in the liver, however, during abstinence, liver function shows improvement by raising the GSH levels.

Unfortunately, alcohol abuse also increases oxidative stress in the lungs which leads to inflammation and often, pneumonia. One study suggests that glutathione lowers oxidative stress and thereby protect the lungs.

Airways and Lungs

Another lung illness that develops from lower glutathione levels is asthma. A study with mice suggests that together with NAC, increasing glutathione lowers inflammation and improves symptoms.

Long-term oxidative damage causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease however studies show that an increase in glutathione lowers free-radical damage in the lungs and thereby reduces the development of COPD.

ADHD and Autism

Both children and adults with ADHD show lower levels of glutathione. Interestingly, pycnogenol, which also improves levels of  GSH, shows in studies to normalize glutathione and raise antioxidant levels in children with ADHD.

In comparison to their non-autistic peers, children with autism have 20 – 40% lower levels of glutathione. Moreover, there are abnormalities in the way their bodies make and restore glutathione. Fortunately, there is development in progress for oral and transdermal glutathione that hopefully brings it back up to healthy levels.

However, be cautious with liposomal glutathione supplements for children with autism or ADHD. Currently, there are not enough studies with children to warrant a green light for parents to give this to their children. As always, check with your medical professional before taking any supplements and especially before giving them to your children. So, use the links in this article to get you started on your research, but also continue to do your own research and check with your doctor before taking it.

Anti-Aging and Liposomal Glutathione Benefits

When glutathione levels are lower, the damage from free radicals harm the body and cause both aging acceleration and cognitive decline.

Additionally, in women, glutathione levels drop during the onset of menopause and remain lower after menopause. Also, aging people with lower levels show an increase in oxidative stress which makes bones more fragile and even contributes to osteoporosis.

Brain Protection Benefits

Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative stress is one factor that causes Alzheimer’s disease. In clinical studies, it shows that oral vitamin E, which is also a very powerful antioxidant that boosts GSH, slows the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, a build-up of toxic proteins promotes a deficit of GSH levels in these patients. Moreover, in a study with mice, it shows promise for boosting cognitive functions and reducing plaque.

Parkinson’s Disease

For Parkinson’s’ disease, one study shows that glutathione might help reduce oxidative stress damage to dopamine neurons. As people with Parkinson’s inherently have lower levels of glutathione in the brain, increasing GSH might help prevent Parkinson’s.

In another study, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzal acetone was used to increase levels of glutathione and thereby prevent Parkinson’s disease.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is yet another condition that inherently shows lower levels of glutathione derived from high oxidative stress. Airway damage occurs when the GSH levels in the lungs are so low that they impair breathing. However, studies suggest that inhaling glutathione might improve the harmful symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

Diabetes and Liposomal Glutathione Benefits

Because type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar levels lower glutathione in the body, a buildup of free radicals potentially causes other illnesses such as brain or nerve damage in addition to heart issues. One study suggests that increasing glutathione might help lower the risk of these complications.

Eye Health Benefits

Oxidative stress is the underlying cause of both glaucoma and cataracts, both of which lead to blindness. One study suggests that boosting liposomal glutathione might help prevent these issues.

Gut Health Benefits

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that has lower enzyme activity which affects the glutathione synthesis. In addition, they show lower levels of the main ingredient which is cysteine.

Interestingly, the most important enzyme for eliminating free radicals is glutathione peroxidase. This is an enzyme that uses glutathione but also needs selenium to work effectively. Moreover, this enzyme works to strengthen the gut lining. One study done with animals shows protection to the gut lining which is beneficial in preventing leaky gut.

Heart Health Benefits

High oxidative stress levels, lower levels of glutathione, along with the lower activity of glutathione peroxidase increase the possibility of heart attacks.

Inflammation Reduces

Cytokines are the culprits that might be keeping you in a state of low-grade inflammation. Incredibly, liposomal glutathione benefits include blocking the body from producing inflammatory cytokines.

In fact, one study suggests that with a glutathione deficiency in mice, the blocking of the inflammatory pathways brought the glutathione back up to a healthy level.

Additionally, there are several airway and lung illnesses that derive from too much inflammation which shows improvement when healthy glutathione levels are present.

Kidney Health Benefits

Glutathione is shown in one study to improve kidney function and reversal of anemia with 20 people with chronic kidney disease.

An additional study on rats uses NAC to boost glutathione to prevent kidney disease that derives from the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Liver Protection Benefits

Liposomal glutathione helps to neutralize the oxidative stress that leads to liver disease. Moreover, it detoxes the liver and protects its pathways.

Interestingly, studies show that the liver will produce more glutathione to help prevent further damage when confronted with harmful substances.

Mental Health Benefits

Stress, Depression, and Anxiety

Studies show that people with low glutathione levels are more prone to depression, anxiety, and stress.

Additionally, on mice under stress,  studies suggest that glutathione also prevents depression. Interestingly, studies also suggest that some anti-anxiety drugs work better when glutathione levels are higher.

Schizophrenia and OCD

It’s true that lower glutathione levels are found in people with schizophrenia. But, with the use of NAC, glutathione levels increase in the brain. This works to improve symptoms of schizophrenia.

Also, people with OCD usually have low GSH levels in the brain along with higher levels of free radicals. Studies show that increasing glutathione improves antioxidant abilities, resilience to stress, and lowers the severity of symptoms.

Pregnancy Benefits

In pregnant women, low glutathione levels lead to depression but also impairs fetal brain development. Additionally, oxidative stress can be one of the causes of pre-term labor. However, to increase the levels of glutathione in pregnant women, it is not advisable to take supplements. Rather, turn to cysteine and sulfur-rich foods to help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Skin Care Benefits

Prevention of Acne

In people with acne, oxidative stress lowers the levels of glutathione. However, by increasing glutathione levels and thereby neutralizing oxidative stress, studies show that skin regeneration occurs along with clearing of acne.

Age Spots and Aging Skin

Taking glutathione lightens the skin in women and reduces skin cells that make dark pigments. In addition, it helps smooth out dark patches of skin that develop when aging.

Sleep Apnea

Patients with sleep apnea inherently have lower levels of GSH along with prominent levels of oxidative stress. However, one study suggests that increasing levels of glutathione improves sleep quality.

Viral Infection Resistance

Inflammation brings on viral infections that increase oxidative stress throughout the body. The effect of this is that it burns up even more glutathione and further increases inflammation. Moreover, lower GSH levels cause chronic diseases, more infections, and poor immunity. Therefore, protecting against these occurrences is one of the most important liposomal glutathione benefits.

Foods with Building Blocks for Glutathione

Especially for children and pregnant women, it’s important to include food in your research. Interestingly, some foods function as building blocks to increase glutathione levels in your body.

It’s also advisable to eat these foods even if you take supplements. After all, food is the original supplement. If you begin to think in these terms, you will soon begin to look at food differently. Moreover, you’ll also be more careful about what you eat.

Additionally, there are categories of food that help increase glutathione which include sulfur-rich foods along with foods high in vitamin C and Selenium.

To give you an idea of some foods you can start with to increase your levels of glutathione, we have included a list below that breaks down food sources into two categories. One contains sulfur components. Another is animal food sources that are high in cysteine and methionine.

Food with sulfur components include the following:

• Asparagus
• Garlic
• Cruciferous vegetables
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Garden cress
  • Kale

Excellent food sources that are high in cysteine and methionine are as follows:

• Meat and poultry
• Fish and seafood
• Eggs and dairy products
• Plant-based sources such as nuts, spirulina, and soybeans.

Liposomal Glutathione Side Effects

In a clinical study, oral glutathione was taken by human subjects over a 4-week period. As a result, findings show that side effects from 1 gram per day are rare but might include flatulence, flushing, loose stools, and weight gain.

Additionally, in another study, people with cystic fibrosis who were given higher doses of up to 150mg/kg/day, the side effects include symptoms of fever, diarrhea, and chest tightness.

Liposomal Glutathione Benefits Conclusion

Glutathione is a protein naturally produced by the liver and protects you from aging, the adverse effects of physical and emotional stress, toxins, free-radicals, and pathogens. In fact, it is the most powerful antioxidant in the body and plays a big role in enhancing the immune system.

How to Take Liposomal Glutathione

Interestingly, getting it into the body in a supplemental form is not easy. To help with that, essential phospholipids combine to form liposomes which make the glutathione almost 100% bioavailable. Therefore, this is known as liposomal glutathione and is manufactured with the glutathione encapsulated inside a covering of liposomes for an oral supplement.

Eating Foods to Increase Glutathione Levels

You may also increase the glutathione in your body naturally by eating foods that are glutathione-rich. They include sulfur-rich foods, foods high in vitamin C and Selenium.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.