Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) is a critical endogenous antioxidant found in all eukaryotic cells. Higher GSH concentrations protect against cellular damage, tissue degeneration, and disease progression in various models, so there is considerable interest in developing interventions that augment GSH biosynthesis. Oral GSH supplementation is not the most efficient option due to the enzymatic degradation of ingested GSH within the intestine by γ-glutamyltransferase, but supplementation of its component amino acids—cysteine, glycine, and glutamate—enhances tissue GSH synthesis. Furthermore, supplementation with some non-precursor amino acids and micronutrients appears to influence the redox status of GSH and related antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, lowering systemic oxidative stress and slowing the rate of tissue deterioration. In this review, the effects of oral supplementation of amino acids and micronutrients on GSH metabolism are evaluated. And since specific dietary patterns and diets are being prescribed as first-line therapeutics for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, the impact of overall diets on GSH homeostasis is also assessed.
Highlights
Glutathione (GSH) is a low molecular weight, water-soluble thiol that is present in all eukaryotic cells [1]
Alterations in GSH homeostasis have been associated with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) [16], cancer [17,18], Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease [16,18,19], HIV [19] and AIDS [18], liver and heart disease [18], aging [17,19], diabetes mellitus (DM) [18,20], and obesity [21]
The list of supplements discussed in this review is not exhaustive, and other amino acids and micronutrients, or their combinations, may have significant effects on GSH homeostasis in specific populations
Summary
Glutathione (GSH) is a low molecular weight, water-soluble thiol that is present in all eukaryotic cells [1] It is synthesized from the amino acids glutamate, cysteine, and glycine, produced exclusively in the cytosol [2], and transported to other subcellular organelles, including mitochondria [3], endoplasmic reticulum [4], and the nucleus [5]. Most cells cannot absorb intact GSH, instead requiring it to be first broken down by GGT into its constituent amino acids [34] Because of these issues, researchers have instead turned to supplementation of individual GSH precursors to improve GSH status. Since specific dietary patterns are commonly being prescribed as first-line therapeutics for certain chronic diseases, this review will briefly assess the impact of these overall diets on GSH homeostasis
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