Application of Glutathione and Combined Effect of Vitamin C

 

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide that is combined with glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine and contains a sulfhydryl group. It has antioxidant and integrated detoxification functions. Glutathione is a biochemical defense system in the human body. It plays an important role and has many physiological functions. Its main physiological function is to remove free radicals in the human body, and as an important antioxidant in the body, it protects the sulfhydryl groups in many proteins and enzymes.

The structure of GSH contains an active mercapto-SH, which is easy to be oxidized and dehydrogenated. This specific structure makes it the main free radical scavenger in the body. For example, when a small amount of H₂O₂ is generated in the cell, GSH reduces H₂O₂ to H₂O under the action of glutathione peroxidase, which itself is oxidized to GSSG, and GSSG is reduced by glutathione present in the liver and red blood cells Under the action of enzymes, accept H and reduce it to GSH, so that the scavenging reaction of free radicals in the body can continue. Glutathione can not only eliminate free radicals in the human body, but also improve human immunity. Glutathione maintains health and anti-aging, and its effect on the retarded cells of the elderly is greater than that of young people.

Glutathione can also protect hemoglobin from hydrogen peroxide oxidation, free radicals and other oxidations so that it can continue to function normally to transport oxygen. Part of the hemoglobin in red blood cells is oxidized to ferric iron under the action of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, which makes the hemoglobin change into methemoglobin, thus losing its oxygen-carrying capacity. Reduced glutathione can directly combine with oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide to generate water and oxidized glutathione, and can also reduce methemoglobin to hemoglobin.

There is a lot of glutathione in human red blood cells, which is of great significance for protecting the sulfhydryl groups of proteins on red blood cell membranes in a reduced state and preventing hemolysis. Glutathione protects the -SH group in the enzyme molecule, which is conducive to the exertion of enzyme activity, and can restore the activity function of the -SH group in the damaged enzyme molecule, so that the enzyme can resume its activity. Glutathione can also inhibit the fatty liver caused by alcohol damage to the liver.

Glutathione has a strong protective effect on symptoms such as leukopenia caused by radiation and radiopharmaceuticals. Glutathione can combine with toxic compounds, heavy metal ions or carcinogens that enter the human body, and promote their excretion from the body to neutralize and detoxify. Glutathione has a broad-spectrum detoxification effect. It can be used not only in medicine, but also as a base material for functional foods. It is widely used in functional foods such as delaying aging, enhancing immunity, and anti-tumor. Glutathione drugs are widely used clinically. In addition to using its sulfhydryl group to chelate heavy metals, fluorides, mustard gas and other toxin poisoning, it is also used in hepatitis, hemolytic diseases, keratitis, cataracts and retinal diseases, as a treatment or adjuvant Drugs for treatment.

The latest research also shows that GSH can correct the imbalance of acetylcholine and cholinesterase, play an anti-allergic effect, prevent skin aging and pigmentation, reduce the formation of melanin, improve the skin's antioxidant capacity and make the skin shiny. GSH also has a good effect in treating corneal diseases and improving sexual function.

In addition, vitamin C is also an important antioxidant in the body. Because vitamin C can be reversibly hydrogenated or dehydrogenated, vitamin C plays an important role in many redox reactions in the body. For example, the active group of many enzymes is thiol (-SH), and vitamin C can maintain -SH in a reduced state to maintain enzyme activity; vitamin C can convert oxidized glutathione into reduced glutathione (GSH ) to reduce the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced by the body's metabolism; vitamin C can also protect vitamins A, E and some B vitamins from oxidation.

Therefore, when using glutathione, it can be used together with vitamin C to improve its efficacy. For this reason, glutathione can restore pearl-like bright white skin to women, and can lighten stubborn spots, remove wrinkles, increase skin elasticity, shrink pores, lighten pigmentation, and have excellent effects on whole body whitening.

*Special note - This article is for informational purposes only and cannot replace a doctor's treatment diagnosis and advice. It should not be regarded as a recommendation or proof of efficacy of the medical products involved. If it involves disease diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, please be sure to go to a professional medical institution to seek professional advice.