Glutathione may correct cardiovascular disorders

 

Glutathione is synthesized endogenously in cells from glutamate, cysteine and glycine. There are two forms of glutathione in cells, the reduced form (GSH) and the oxidized form (GSSG). Disturbance of intracellular GSH/GSSG balance can cause various diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Some researchers believe that GSH can effectively scavenge free radicals, improve hemodynamics, expand coronary blood vessels, reduce blood viscosity, and reduce microthrombosis, thereby accelerating the recovery of patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency.

The Bogomolets Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine conducted a study on the effects of exogenous glutathione on the mitochondrial redox state and cardiovascular system function of aged rats. The results showed that exogenous glutathione has an adverse effect on aged rats. The protective and stabilizing mechanism is to increase the content of reduced glutathione in the heart tissue, thereby improving the redox state of the heart tissue and mitochondria, indicating that the mitochondrial redox state plays an important role in the function of the cardiovascular system, and also confirms that exogenous The potential of glutathione to repair the cardiovascular system during aging. The research results were published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.

The researchers divided the experimental materials into three groups, namely adult rats, elderly rats, and elderly rats pretreated with exogenous glutathione (pretreatment was intraperitoneal injection of glutathione at a dose of 52 mg/kg). peptide). Analysis based on total glutathione content showed no differences between the hearts of aged and adult rats (Fig. 1A). However, in aged rat hearts, levels of the reduced form of glutathione decreased and levels of the oxidized form increased slightly (Figure 1B, Figure 1C). Total glutathione content was significantly increased in the hearts of aged rats pretreated with exogenous glutathione compared with untreated aged rats. Notably, there was no significant increase in the levels of oxidized forms in the hearts of aged rats pretreated with exogenous glutathione compared with aged rats. Therefore, an increase in total glutathione content occurs due to an increase in its reduced form.

Studies have found that exogenous glutathione has the potential to restore the redox state of cardiac mitochondria. Application of exogenous glutathione may be a useful method to correct not only cardiovascular disorders but also those related to aging and oxidative stress. Instigate functional changes to other related systems.

*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.