The Six Roles Of Glutathione

The Six Roles of Glutathione

What is Glutathione？

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide consisting of glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine combined with sulfhydryl groups, present in almost every cell in the body, with antioxidant and integrative detoxification effects.
The sulfhydryl group on cysteine is the active group of glutathione, which easily binds to certain drugs (e.g. paracetamol), toxins (e.g. free radicals, iodoacetic acid, mustard gas, heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic), etc., and has an integrated detoxification effect. It can not only be used as medicine, but also as the base material of functional food, which is widely used in functional food such as delaying aging and enhancing immunity.

Six functions of glutathione

1.Anti-free radicals
Excessive free radicals generated by the body's metabolism will damage the biofilm, invade life macromolecules, and accelerate the aging of the body. Glutathione's main physiological role is to be able to scavenge free radicals in the body, and as an important antioxidant in the body, it protects the sulfhydryl groups in many proteins and enzymes and other molecules.

2.Enhance immunity
Glutathione not only eliminates free radicals in the body, but also enhances the immune system. Glutathione maintains health and anti-aging, and plays a greater role in the retarded cells of the elderly than in the young.

3.Protect blood cells
Glutathione also protects haemoglobin from oxidation by hydrogen peroxide, free radicals and other oxidising agents so that it can continue to function properly in its ability to transport oxygen. Human erythrocyte glutathione content is very large, which is important for the protection of erythrocyte membrane protein sulfhydryl groups in a reduced state, to prevent haemolysis.

4. Enhancement of enzyme activity
Glutathione protects the -SH group in the enzyme molecule, which is conducive to enzyme activity, and can restore the active function of the -SH group in the enzyme molecule that has been destroyed, so that the enzyme regains its activity. Glutathione can also inhibit the fatty liver produced by ethanol attacking the liver.

5. Neutralise toxins
Glutathione has a strong protective effect on symptoms such as leucopenia caused by radiation and radiopharmaceuticals. Glutathione can combine with toxic compounds and heavy metal ions that enter the body and promote their elimination from the body, playing a neutralising and detoxifying role.

6. Whitening and skin purification
The latest research also shows that GSH can correct the imbalance of acetylcholine and cholinesterase, play an anti-allergic role, but also prevent skin aging and pigmentation, reduce melanin formation, improve skin antioxidant capacity and make the skin produce luster, in addition, GSH in the treatment of keratoconus and improve the sexual function of the cornea also has a very good effect.