Educational, research-use-only content. This article summarizes published scientific literature for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. The compounds discussed are supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and are not approved for human or veterinary use.
What is glutathione?
Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide and the principal non-enzymatic antioxidant inside mammalian cells. It is one of the most studied small molecules in redox biology (Averill-Bates, 2023).
What the research describes
GSH protects cells against free radicals and pro-oxidants both directly and as a cofactor for antioxidant and detoxification enzymes (glutathione peroxidases, glutathione S-transferases, glyoxalases). It detoxifies peroxides, helps regenerate vitamin E, supports detoxification of electrophilic compounds, and participates in redox signaling through reversible modification of protein cysteine residues. It is also implicated in protein folding, cell-cycle regulation, and cell-death pathways such as apoptosis and ferroptosis (Averill-Bates, 2023).
Why it is studied
Because GSH sits at the center of cellular redox balance and detoxification, it is a key reference molecule in oxidative-stress and metabolism research (Averill-Bates, 2023).
The limits of the current evidence
- GSH’s cellular biology is well characterized, but that does not establish outcomes for any particular supplemented use.
- This material is supplied for laboratory research use only.
References
According to PubMed:
- Averill-Bates DA. The antioxidant glutathione. Vitam Horm. 2023. doi:10.1016/bs.vh.2022.09.002
