Glutathione
Glutathione is an antioxidant composed of several amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It is found in fruits and vegetables and is also synthesized naturally in every living organism. In integrative oncology, glutathione is used to promote recovery after radiation and chemotherapy. It can also be used preventively to replenish the body’s antioxidant reserves, repair damaged DNA, ensure normal cell proliferation, regulate immune system function, facilitate effective detoxification of the body, and reduce DNA damage.
Description
Glutathione also participates in normal energy production at the cellular level, promotes detoxification processes after medication use, repairs and prevents DNA damage, and neutralizes free oxygen radicals. It is involved in normal cell division processes and regulates apoptosis. Prophylactically, glutathione helps to eliminate environmental toxins and carcinogens from the body and promotes nerve cell regeneration processes.
Repeated studies on the effectiveness of glutathione have been conducted on patients with gastric cancer. After a platinum-based chemotherapy course, some of them were given glutathione injections or IV infusions. This group that received these preparations did not experience chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy, which is usually observed in patients in the ninth week after chemotherapy. Also, this patient group had a lower need for blood transfusions.
Similar studies were also conducted on patients with colorectal cancer. They were also less likely to have toxic polyneuropathy.
Meanwhile, for patients with ovarian cancer who received glutathione infusions after platinum-containing chemotherapy, better kidney filtration rates were observed, and depressive disorders, vomiting, peripheral polyneuropathy, hair loss, shortness of breath, and concentration problems were less frequently observed.
Glutathione doubles the activity of natural killer cells in the blood, as determined by the European Journal of Nutrition.
Overall, glutathione administered parenterally is well tolerated by patients. There are conflicting data on its use during radiation and chemotherapy. Usually, the use of the preparation is recommended between courses of treatment, as well as prophylactically, or after therapy to promote recovery processes in the body.
The usual dose of glutathione recommended orally is 500-1000 mg per day. For such use, it is best to use the liposomal form of the preparation, which significantly improves absorption. There are also dosage forms in the form of rectal suppositories and transdermal patches, as well as intramuscular injections and intravenous solutions.
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