August 2017
Raghu Sinha, Indu Sinha, Ana Calcagnotto, Neil Trushin, Jeremy S. Haley, Todd D. Schell, and John P. Richie, Jr.

 

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant endogenous antioxidant and a critical regulator of oxidative stress. Maintenance of optimal tissues GSH levels may be an important strategy for prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases. We investigated if oral administration of liposomal GSH is effective at enhancing GSH levels in vivo.

 

Subjects/Methods

A 1-month pilot clinical study of oral liposomal GSH administration at two doses (500 and 1000 mg GSH per day) was conducted in healthy adults. GSH levels in whole blood, erythrocytes, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed in 12 subjects at baseline and after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of GSH administration.

 

Results

GSH levels were elevated after 1 week with maximum increases of 40% in whole blood, 25% in erythrocytes, 28% in plasma and 100% in PBMCs occurring after 2 weeks (P<0.05). GSH increases were accompanied by reductions in oxidative stress biomarkers including decreases of 35% in plasma 8-isoprostane and 20% in oxidized:reduced GSH ratios (P<0.05). Enhancements in immune function markers were observed with liposomal GSH administration including NK cell cytotoxicity, which was elevated by up to 400% by 2 weeks (P<0.05), and lymphocyte proliferation, which was elevated up to 60% after 2 weeks (P<0.05). Overall, there were no differences observed between dose groups, but statistical power was limited due to the small sample size in this study.

 

Conclusions

Collectively, these preliminary findings support the effectiveness of daily liposomal GSH administration at elevating stores of GSH and impacting immune function and levels of oxidative stress.

 

Keywords: glutathione, liposomal glutathione, supplementation, antioxidant, immune function