7 Things to Avoid When Taking Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful supplement, one that many can benefit from for detoxification, genetic expression, and metabolism. Yet, despite all the potential health benefits, many questions remain, including whether it's for everyone and what to avoid when taking glutathione.

Today's article will dive into what to avoid when taking glutathione. Keep reading to learn more about glutathione and interactions with food and lifestyle choices. We'll cover:

• How glutathione impacts health.
• Is glutathione safe?
• 7 substances that can interact with glutathione, including alcohol, smoking, and more.
• Liposomal glutathione supplements.

How Glutathione Impacts Overall Health

Glutathione is a critical compound known as the body's master antioxidant. Beyond its antioxidant actions, it's essential for detoxification, immunity, nutrient metabolism, and more. (Source 1)

Genetics, age, health status, and lifestyle factors influence the body's ability to generate glutathione and recycle used glutathione back into its active form. Glutathione deficiency is involved in chronic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. (Source 1)

Is Glutathione Safe for Everyone?

Glutathione can be a helpful supplement for correcting glutathione deficiency, and supporting immunity, detoxification, and other body functions when it's a good fit. Like everything, some people experience sensitivity or side effects.

Glutathione hasn't been studied adequately for safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding, so it's best avoided during these life phases. Additionally, glutathione supplements could interact with certain medications. (Source 2)

Always discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you take any medication or have a medical condition.

7 Main Things to Avoid When Taking Glutathione

Most people supplement with glutathione to help support optimal health or address a specific condition or concern. You'll get the most from glutathione when using it with a healthy overall lifestyle. Poor habits, like alcohol use and smoking, can reduce the effectiveness of supplementation and counteract your efforts.

"You'll get the most from glutathione when using it with a healthy overall lifestyle. Poor habits, like alcohol use and smoking, can reduce the effectiveness of supplementation and counteract your efforts."

Let's dive into what to avoid when taking glutathione.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol creates oxidative stress, which uses up antioxidants as cells defend themselves. Additionally, the body must rely on liver detoxification to get rid of it. Essentially alcohol places a burden on the system, so it's no surprise that alcohol consumption depletes glutathione levels. (Source 3)

Depleted glutathione levels are associated with liver disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases where alcohol consumption is a risk factor. (Source 4)

Bottom line: If you take glutathione supplements to boost levels, drinking alcohol will be counterproductive.

2. Tobacco

Smoking also depletes glutathione levels, contributing to inflammation and decreased lung function. Age compounds the adverse effects of smoking on glutathione. One study found older cigarette smokers had 1.8-fold less of a glutathione response to smoking compared with younger smokers. (Source 5)

The good news is that when you quit smoking, glutathione levels naturally improve. (Source 6)

Bottom line: Don't smoke; it's not good for your health or glutathione system.

3. Caffeine

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and is metabolized by the liver. Caffeine tolerance and detoxification capacity vary significantly by individual. (Source 7)

One small study showed that drinking 5 cups of coffee per day increased glutathione levels by 16% compared to a control group. (Source 8)

However, it's hard to say this benefit is due to the caffeine when coffee is very high in polyphenol antioxidant compounds, which are beneficial. Additionally, while some may tolerate a high amount of caffeine, many will experience side effects, including hormone changes and sleep disturbance.

Bottom line: If you drink caffeine, keep it moderate and choose sources high in polyphenols, like coffee or tea.

4. Medications

Specific medications may interact with or deplete glutathione. For example acetaminophen (Tylenol) decreases glutathione levels in the body. Remember that glutathione is essential for immune function, and low glutathione could inhibit recovery from a virus or other illness. (Source 9, 10)

Other medications that may affect glutathione include:

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Aspirin
• Immunosuppressants
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Oral contraceptives

Bottom line: When taking medication, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new supplement to ensure there aren't any interactions and it's safe to take.

5. Too Much Dairy

On the one hand, dairy products, especially whey protein, contain amino acids that provide the building blocks for glutathione. One study found higher glutathione levels correlate with the amount of dairy in the diet. (Source 11)

On the other hand, the American diet tends to be high in low-quality dairy products that may contain refined sugar, fillers, preservatives, and other ingredients that burden the system and require detoxification. Dairy is also a common food allergy and sensitivity, which promotes inflammation and oxidative stress.

Bottom line: Eat dairy if you tolerate it well but choose high-quality organic or grass-fed options.

6. Aspartame

The artificial sweetener aspartame found in diet sodas and other diet products changes the transculturation pathway in the liver in which glutathione is involved. In animal studies, this change inhibits detoxification, depletes glutathione levels, and increases inflammation. (Source 12)

7. Artificial Food Dyes

Artificial/synthetic food dyes are carcinogenic, contribute to behavioral problems, and are not adequately tested. They are banned in many European countries. (Source 13)

While there is still more to learn, animal studies on yellow food dyes (including Yellow 6) decreased glutathione-s-transferase enzymes as a marker of oxidative stress. (Source 14)

Bottom line: Avoid synthetic food dyes and choose dye-free or naturally dyed products instead.

Try These Core Med Science Glutathione Supplements

Glutathione dietary supplements will be the most effective alongside a healthy lifestyle, including nutritious food, healthy habits, and avoiding toxic substances.

"Glutathione supplements will be the most effective alongside a healthy lifestyle, including nutritious food, healthy habits, and avoiding toxic substances."

Core Med Science Liposomal Glutathione offers superior absorption and bioavailability. It comes in three versions to fit your needs:

• Core Med Science Liposomal Glutathione - Liquid
• Core Med Science Liposomal Glutathione - Softgels
• Core Med Science Liposomal Glutathione - Capsules

Glutathione is an incredible compound vital for life and health. When using glutathione, avoid substances that will make it less effective and choose a high-quality product from Core Med Science.

References:

1. Wu, G., Fang, Y. Z., Yang, S., Lupton, J. R., & Turner, N. D. (2004). Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health. The Journal of nutrition, 134(3), 489-492. Full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623026639?via%3Dihub
2. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/glutathione-uses-risks
3. Tsermpini, E. E., Plemenitaš Ilješ, A., & Dolžan, V. (2022). Alcohol-Induced Oxidative Stress and the Role of Antioxidants in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(7), 1374. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9311529/
4. Chen, Y., Han, M., Matsumoto, A., Wang, Y., Thompson, D. C., & Vasiliou, V. (2018). Glutathione and Transsulfuration in Alcohol-Associated Tissue Injury and Carcinogenesis. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1032, 37-53. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6743726/
5. Gould, N. S., Min, E., Huang, J., Chu, H. W., Good, J., Martin, R. J., & Day, B. J. (2015). Glutathione Depletion Accelerates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Inflammation and Airspace Enlargement. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 147(2), 466-474. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707200/
6. Mons, U., Muscat, J. E., Modesto, J., Richie, J. P., Jr, & Brenner, H. (2016). Effect of smoking reduction and cessation on the plasma levels of the oxidative stress biomarker glutathione--Post-hoc analysis of data from a smoking cessation trial. Free radical biology & medicine, 91, 172-177. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4761461/
7. Evans J., Richards J.R., Battisti A.S. Caffeine. [Updated 2024 May 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519490/
8. Esposito, F., Morisco, F., Verde, V., Ritieni, A., Alezio, A., Caporaso, N., & Fogliano, V. (2003). Moderate coffee consumption increases plasma glutathione but not homocysteine in healthy subjects. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 17(4), 595-601. Full text: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01429.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed
9. Dimova, S., Hoet, P. H., Dinsdale, D., & Nemery, B. (2005). Acetaminophen decreases intracellular glutathione levels and modulates cytokine production in human alveolar macrophages and type II pneumocytes in vitro. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology, 37(8), 1727-1737. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15878691/
10. Sestili, P., & Fimognari, C. (2020). Paracetamol-Induced Glutathione Consumption: Is There a Link With Severe COVID-19 Illness?. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 579944. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7577213/
11. Choi, I. Y., Lee, P., Denney, D. R., Spaeth, K., Nast, O., Ptomey, L., Roth, A. K., Lierman, J. A., & Sullivan, D. K. (2015). Dairy intake is associated with brain glutathione concentration in older adults. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 101(2), 287-293. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4307202/
12. Finamor, I., Pérez, S., Bressan, C. A., Brenner, C. E., Rius-Pérez, S., Brittes, P. C., Cheiran, G., Rocha, M. I., da Veiga, M., Sastre, J., & Pavanato, M. A. (2017). Chronic aspartame intake causes changes in the trans-sulphuration pathway, glutathione depletion and liver damage in mice. Redox biology, 11, 701-707. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5300302/
13. Potera C. (2010). The artificial food dye blues. Environmental health perspectives, 118(10), A428. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957945/
14. Barciela, P., Perez-Vazquez, A., & Prieto, M. A. (2023). Azo dyes in the food industry: Features, classification, toxicity, alternatives, and regulation. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 178, 113935. Full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027869152300337X