Glutathione, the body’s so-called “master antioxidant” – has several health-promoting benefits, including enhancing detoxification, limiting oxidative stress, and supporting various other health functions.* Glutathione is an important non-enzymatic antioxidant that is found in almost every cell in the body, with a similar concentration as other vital nutrients, such as glucose and potassium.
Although your body’s glutathione level decreases with age, poor diet, certain lifestyle choices, and adverse health conditions, taking a glutathione supplement may help maintain a normal level. With that being said, can taking a glutathione supplement with other supplements enhance its health-promoting benefits? This post describes the benefits of taking a glutathione supplement with other supplements, and why you should always look for an advanced glutathione supplement formulation to support your health and wellness. Use the links below to jump ahead to a topic of interest.
Glutathione Supplements — An Overview
Glutathione supplements come in several forms, including oral, intranasal, intravenous/ intramuscular, and nebulized. When taken orally, they are generally considered safe and have no serious adverse side effects. Oral delivery is the most common method of glutathione supplementation, although it is not the most effective method for optimal absorption.
Although glutathione supplements promote various health functions, including the nervous, immune, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, as well as skin and hair,* It is recommended to consult your healthcare provider before including a glutathione supplement in your diet.
Given glutathione’s several health benefits, you might wonder about the effects of co-supplementation of this “master antioxidant” with other supplements. The following sections describe the benefits of taking a glutathione supplement with other supplements.
Can I Take a Glutathione Supplement with Other Supplements?
The short answer is yes. Several recent studies have explored the benefits of co-supplementing glutathione with, respectively, vitamin C, berberine, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and alpha-lipoic acid. Although the safety profiles of glutathione and these compounds it is co-supplemented with are well established, not every study is conclusive about the beneficial effects of co-supplementation.
When considering taking a glutathione supplement with other supplements, it is worth noting that the beneficial effects of the co-supplementation depend significantly on the absorption and bioavailability of each supplement and the safety of the supplement formulations.
Glutathione and Vitamin C
Vitamin C and glutathione have interconnected antioxidant functions and are mutually essential for each other. The combined intake of these two antioxidants to enhance exercise performance has used diverse approaches and results have been inconsistent.1 Although the additive effect of co-supplementing glutathione and vitamin C is anticipated, more research is required to establish their synergistic effects.
Glutathione and Berberine
Both glutathione and berberine help maintain normal glucose metabolism, enhance insulin secretion, and lower insulin resistance.*
Glucose metabolism modulates the responses of insulin-secreting pancreatic islet beta-cells. It has been found that the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase is required for glutathione synthesis in these islet cells, promoting their antioxidant capacity to counter the stress associated with high blood glucose levels.2
Berberine stimulates glucose breakdown, inhibits glucose synthesis from non-carbohydrate sources, promotes insulin secretion, and limits the digestion of carbohydrates in the intestine.*3
The following table highlights two studies that looked at the benefits of co-supplementing glutathione and berberine.
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Studies Exploring Berberine’s Effects on Glutathione Activity to Promote Glucose Metabolism |
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| Protective effects of berberine on antioxidant enzymes: An animal study investigating the protective effects of berberine in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats found that berberine enhanced catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione activities in liver tissue and serum.4 | |||
| Impacts of berberine on the regulation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)messenger RNAs: In a comparative study on a population of diabetic and normal mice, berberine recovered depleted levels of GPx, copper-zinc SOD, and manganese SOD m-RNA in diabetic mice to nearly the same levels as normal mice. The GSH levels, including the total GSH and reduced/ oxidized GSH levels, were restored to the normal level by berberine.5 | |||
Glutathione and Coenzyme Q10
Glutathione and CoQ10 have immense health-promoting potential because they are vital to various mitochondrial functions.* Mitochondrial glutathione regulates cellular energy production (ATP) and acts as the main line of defense against oxidative stress in the mitochondria.* Glutathione also acts as a cofactor for several antioxidant enzymes.* CoQ10 transfers electrons within the mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain to produce cellular energ, in addition to enhancing the production of vital antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, to mitigate oxidative stress.*
The following table highlights two studies that looked at the combined effects of glutathione and CoQ10.
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Combined Effects of Glutathione and CoQ10 |
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| Combined effects of glutathione and CoQ10 on reproductive health: In a randomized clinical trial, 83 infertile male subjects were administered combined supplementation of CoQ10, glutathione, l-carnitine/acetyl-l-carnitine, l-arginine, zinc, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, and selenium. The combined effects of the two supplements enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetics to improve sperm quality.*6 | |
| Combined effects of CoQ10 and glutathione against lipid peroxidation: Unsaturated lipid peroxidation by ROS yields highly reactive lipid peroxyl radicals that can be neutralized by vitamin E (α-tocopherol). CoQ10 (ubiquinol) generates α-tocopherol antioxidant activity.* The intermediate compound of these reactions (ubisemiquinone) further reacts with oxygen molecules or oxidizes further to the fully oxidized ubiquinone that does not react with oxygen. Reduced glutathione, NADP (an electron carrier), and other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, regenerate the oxidized CoQ10 (ubiquinone) and α-tocopherol and maintain their reduction states.*7 |
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Glutathione and Alpha-Lipoic Acid
In addition to scavenging free radicals, glutathione is also involved in recycling vitamins C and E.* Alpha-lipoic acid plays an essential role in mitochondrial dehydrogenase reactions, reacts with reactive oxygen species, and interacts with vitamin C and glutathione to recycle vitamin E.*
The following table highlights two studies that looked at the effects of co-supplementation with glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid.
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Studies Exploring Co-Supplementation of Glutathione and Alpha-Lipoic Acid |
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| Effects of lipoic acid and glutathione in protecting against microsomal lipid peroxidation: The combination of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and reduced lipoic acid protected against lipid peroxidation.*8 The beneficial effect is attributed to reduced lipoic acid, which reduces GSSG to GSH. | |||
| Effects of co-administration of alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione in a specific condition affecting the nervous system: Alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione might help limit adverse liver conditions. In a study of 42 individuals experiencing a particular condition affecting the nervous system, the co-administration of alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione had no significant effects on serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels.9 | |||
Selecting Advanced Supplement Formulations
Glutathione is well known for being a difficult-to-absorb molecule that negatively impacts its associated health benefits. The rapid natural absorption of oral glutathione in the gastrointestinal tract and its subsequent poor bioavailability are two major factors that hinder the efficacy of most glutathione supplements. This can be overcome by an advanced glutathione formulation that enhances glutathione’s bioavailability and its subsequent absorption in the body.
SafeCell® is an innovative glutathione supplement formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research that solves glutathione’s bioavailability and absorption challenges. The acetylated glutathione formula utilizes Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery technology to maximize glutathione’s absorption, thus achieving glutathione health-promoting benefits.
Tesseract’s CyLoc® technology encases each glutathione molecule for safe passage through the stomach. The accompanying DexKey® reactors release each active glutathione molecule at the desired point in the gastrointestinal tract, thus achieving optimal absorption. This unique SafeCell formulation supports natural detoxification pathways, modulates oxidative stress, promotes the optimal functioning of other antioxidants, and supports optimal cellular and neurological function by crossing the blood-brain barrier.* The Tesseract Detoxification Solution helps maintain optimal good health during aging.*
At Tesseract Medical Research, we are committed to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques and a well-designed quality control system to develop the finest quality nutritional supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Glutathione Supplements
The following are some frequently asked questions about glutathione supplements:
What should I look for when selecting a glutathione supplement?
When selecting a glutathione supplement, look for the ingredients in the formulation (when considering co-supplementation) and the nutrient delivery technology used to ensure optimal absorption and bioavailability of the active nutrients.
Can I take a glutathione supplement with other supplements?
This question is best answered by your healthcare provider, who can inform you of potential contraindications of glutathione with other supplements and prescription medications.
How can I determine the quality of a glutathione supplement?
Determine whether a manufacturer follows GMP practices established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure the identity, purity, strength, and composition of its supplements. GMPs prevent the addition of wrong ingredients to the formulation, reduce the chance of contamination, and ensure proper packaging and labeling.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption, and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can support your hepatic health.*
References:
1Lee E, et al. Vitamin C and glutathione supplementation: a review of their additive effects on exercise performance. Physical Activity and Nutrition vol. 27,3 (2023):36-43. doi:10.20463/pan.2023.0027
2Fu A, et al. Glucose metabolism and pyruvate carboxylase enhance glutathione synthesis and restrict oxidative stress in pancreatic islets. Cell Reports vol. 37,8 (2021):110037. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110037
3Cao C, Su M. Effects of berberine on glucose-lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine vol. 17,4 (2019):3009-3014. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.7295
4Zhou J-Y, Zhou S-W. Protective effect of berberine on antioxidant enzymes and positive transcription elongation factor b expression in diabetic rat liver. Fitoterapia vol. 82,2 (2011):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.08.019
5Lao-ong T, et al. Alteration of hepatic glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice by berberine. Pharmaceutical Biology vol. 50,8 (2012):1007-1012. doi:10.3109/13880209.2012.655377
6Kopets R, et al. Dietary supplementation with a novel l-carnitine multi-micronutrient in idiopathic male subfertility involving oligo-, astheno-, teratozoospermia: A randomized clinical study. Andrology vol. 8,5 (2020):1184-1193. doi:10.1111/andr.12805
7Turunen M, et al. Metabolism and function of coenzyme Q. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta vol. 1660,1-2 (2004):171-199. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2003.11.012
8Bast A, Haenen GR. Interplay between lipoic acid and glutathione in the protection against microsomal lipid peroxidation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta vol. 963,3 (1988):558-561. doi:10.1016/0005-2760(88)90326-8
9Puri BK, et al. Co-administration of α-lipoic acid and glutathione is associated with no significant changes in serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase or γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels during the treatment of neuroborreliosis with intravenous ceftriaxone. Journal of Complementary & Integrative Medicine vol. 12,3 (2015):227-230. doi:10.1515/jcim-2014-0058
