Glutathione Injections: Benefits, Risks & What to Expect

Glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide of L-cysteine, L-glutamine and glycine, is an antioxidant that provides cell protection from free radicals and other toxins. It's used with varying levels of success for many illnesses, diseases and conditions, and comes in pill, powder or liquid form. It's traditionally administered intravenously by IV push as there is no authoritative evidence that taking Glutathione orally will provide the same benefits.

Discovery

• Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins (1861--1947) discovered and characterized glutathione by testing it on chopped muscle tissue.

Significance

• Glutathione has been used successfully to help treat diseases including: Alzheimer's, cancer, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and Lyme disease.

Benefits

• In a 1996 study conducted by the Department of Neurology, University of Sassari (Italy), all Parkinson's disease patients showed significant improvement and a decline in disability by 42 percent.

Considerations

• At this time there have been no studies conducted to determine what, if any, side effects occur from the use of glutathione, but zinc deficiency has been reported in long term use of some products containing the ingredient.

Side Effects from Allergy

• It's possible that some side effects can occur based on an allergy to glutathione such as: tightness in chest and throat, difficulty breathing, rash, hives, swollen or itchy skin.

Contraindications

• Glutathione should not be administered to patients who are receiving chemotherapy because it may reduce the effects of chemotherapy drugs, and it should not be administered alongside other IV drugs. Additionally, vitamin C can interfere with Glutathione's benefits.