How can you be assured that your Glutathione formulation is bioavailable?
Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of glutamine, cysteine and glycine. It is the super antioxidant produced in the liver and glutathione primarily reduces oxidative stress within the cells and body.
Due to glutathione’s essential role in upregulating our immune systems, supporting nutrient absorption, a healthy metabolism and quenching free radicals throughout the body—it has become a leading anti-aging and energy regenerating supplement. Glutathione shields cells from endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) oxidative species, reducing oxidation and cellular damage—whether it is caused by pollution, sun damage, PCBs, stress and toxic chemicals.
It is an incredibly protective compound. Powder, liposomal and water blended glutathione supplements are now readily available to consumers. But which form is the best form of glutathione? And which forms are bioavailable?
Firstly, glutathione (GSH) must be in the reduced (active) form to offer antioxidant benefits. Furthermore, glutathione is not readily bioavailable as an isolated supplement compound, therefore it must be delivered either through an IV or as an orally consumed liposomal supplement. As a hydrophobic tripeptide, glutathione is not stable in water—and in fact degrades in water. Thus, any ‘liposomal’ glutathione supplement that contains water contains deactivated—degraded and defunct—glutathione which will not increase cellular glutathione levels—and therefore serve no health benefit.
“Glutathione (GSH) suffers from low stability in water, where its encapsulation in nanoemulsions is a powerful strategy to its stability in aqueous systems.”[1]
The most effective way to deliver the therapeutic benefits of hydrophobic compounds—such as glutathione—is to encapsulate them within liposomes, micelles and nanoemulsions as these stabilise the compound and protect the glutathione from being destroyed in the stomach. This increases their bioavailability and helps guide their transportation to the target cells within the body.
Beware of supplement companies manufacturing and selling water-based glutathione—even if the label says liposomal. If water is present in the supplement label, remember that glutathione is hydroPHOBIC and will be destroyed in water!
Speak to us innovate@virun.com to ensure that your supplements are bioavailable.
[1] Yeşiltepe O, Güler Çelik E, Geyik C, Gümüş ZP, Odaci Demirkol D, Coşkunol H, Timur S. Preparation of glutathione loaded nanoemulsions and testing of hepatoprotective activity on THLE-2 cells. Turk J Chem. 2021 Apr 28;45(2):436-451. doi: 10.3906/kim-2007-54. PMID: 34104055; PMCID: PMC8164205.
