Can Glutathione Improve Health and Boost Immunity?

Why Glutathione helps Improve Health and Immunity

Glutathione is suggested to help improve health and boost immunity because it plays a role in protecting the cells against inflammation and oxidative stress. Accordingly, it shields the cells and their components from damage. This allows healthy cells and their mitochondria to function properly and produce sufficient amounts of energy.

Moreover, glutathione plays an important role in regulating the immune system as it aids in the correction of the immune system’s function. This prevents immune cells from mistakenly attacking healthy cells and destroying them, which damages our system.

As a result, this supports our body and keeps it operating properly, which boosts the immune response function and improves the body’s immunity.

The review, "Glutathione Modulates Efficacious Changes in the Immune Response against Tuberculosis", concluded that people who took glutathione supplements had elevated levels of natural killer (NK) cells and lymphocytes, which are the body’s front-line infection fighters.

How Glutathione works for Health and Immunity

Glutathione, known as the “Master Antioxidant”, works by getting rid of toxins and oxidative compounds from the body. These substances cause inflammation and damage cell membranes, DNA, and energy production.

Accordingly, glutathione turns these substances into a water-soluble form, known as mercapturic acid, that can be flushed out of the body through urine or feces.

This neutralizes the toxin’s effect and regulates the count of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in the body. Thus, allowing the immune system to function properly and improving health by reducing the risk of diseases.  

Glutathione Dose for Health and Immunity: How much to Take

The standard recommended dose of glutathione to improve overall health and boost immunity might vary depending on the form:

• Capsules: in this form of supplement, glutathione is encapsulated with microscopic liposomes, which are tiny globules surrounded by a lipid bilayer similar to your cell membranes. Capsules are considered the best oral form since the liposome protects the main drug from metabolic processes and enzymes during its delivery to the targeted area. The recommended daily glutathione dose is between 50mg/day and 600mg/day or 20-40mg of body weight taken 2-3 times per day. Always start with a smaller dose in sensitive children.
• Intravenous therapy: this is the most effective form of glutathione but is also the most invasive. The recommended dose is between 1,500mg to 4,000mg  once or twice per week. The dose can either be administered in a clinic or at home, if the doctor prescribes it.
• Glutathione powder: This form is either taken with water or mixed with food. It is not highly recommended to take glutathione powder because it does not include liposomes that protect glutathione from metabolic processes during ingestion. The recommended glutathione daily dose ranges between 50mg/day and 600mg/day or 20-40mg of body weight, taken 2-3 times per day.
• Inhaled nebulizer: the recommended glutathione dosage of this form is 600mg daily, but it needs a medical prescription, especially that people with specific conditions like asthma should not use this. The glutathione is used as a liquid form and put in the nebulizer. The instruction of usage should be given by the doctor or health expert.
• Transdermal and lotions: glutathione could be administered through the skin by a patch or lotion.

Important Notice: Dosages should always be consulted with the doctor in order to revise each person’s personal case according to age, weight and medical purpose.

Taking Glutathione for Health and Immunity: precautions

If you are taking glutathione, you need to avoid drinking alcohol as it could interfere with the absorption of this substance in the body. Plus, alcohol increases the rate of depletion of glutathione.

Glutathione may also have a negative interaction if taken with anti-psychotic or chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, high doses of paracetamol, a drug used to treat fever and pain, could deplete glutathione especially in the liver.

People with certain medical conditions:

People with the following conditions should be careful and always check before taking glutathione:

• Allergies: People who have allergies can possibly have a reaction to glutathione which might lead to a skin rash.
• Asthma: If you have asthma, do not inhale glutathione through a nebulizer as it can increase asthma symptoms including wheezing.
• Other conditions: people should consult their doctor about taking glutathione if they have liver, kidney, or heart problems.

Taking Glutathione for Health and Immunity: side effects

If you take glutathione, some side effects can take place such as abdominal cramps, bloating, cough or hoarseness, frequent urge to have bowel movement, and straining while passing stool.

In addition, taking glutathione for a long period of time can lower zinc levels.