Marco Lombardozzi
Winter is upon us and rightly so, all doctors are starting to recommend to their patients substances that can strengthen their defenses against seasonal viruses and bacteria. In particular, various supplements with these purposes are now widely available.
I certainly think this approach is correct, but I would like to add something to this custom. There is a substance with multiple activities, which can represent that plus compared to the common prescription related to influenza prophylaxis. This substance is Glutathione.
Glutathione is the most powerful endogenous antioxidant and detoxifier. Its highest concentration is in the liver where it promotes conjugation activity and therefore the fundamental detoxification process.
It is a tripeptide formed by cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine (it is important to remember that the latter also has a neurotransmitter activity).
Its active form is GSH, reduced glutathione which is in constant balance with the oxidized form and thus neutralizes free radicals.
A reduced production of Glutathione or an imbalance between the oxidized and reduced form can be attributed to many factors including alcohol abuse, smoking and chemical drugs, as well as incorrect eating habits. Furthermore, Glutathione physiologically decreases with age.
Regarding the mention that glycine (a component of glutathione) is also a neurotransmitter, studies that have shown that the majority of ASD subjects (people with autism spectrum disorders) have polymorphisms of the glutathione and superoxide dismutase systems appear to be of significant relevance.
For the purposes of winter prophylaxis, the validity of Glutathione was discovered during the SARS-cov 19 pandemic. It was seen that an adequate concentration of Glutathione in the body was able to counteract the cytokine storm (in particular IL-10, TNF-alpha). On the contrary, it was observed that in subjects with low concentrations of Glutathione the infectious process was more devastating.
In light of this, I think it is important to consider reduced Glutathione as a valid prophylaxis for the winter but also as an attack therapy in acute flu episodes. In my opinion, the liposomal form is preferable.
Liposomal Glutathione has an added value in terms of bioavailability, in fact the liposomes reach the small intestine and are directly absorbed and transported into the bloodstream.
The recommended dosage is 200 mg/day of reduced liposomal Glutathione. This dosage must be evaluated and possibly increased according to the doctor's opinion, in acute and/or severe cases of inflammatory, oncological, and infectious pathological processes.
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