George · The Biohack Diaries
Glutathione
Glutathione, often called the "master molecule" or "master antioxidant", is a powerful antioxidant that our bodies produce naturally. It counteracts free radicals, boosts the immune system and detoxifies the liver, and it plays a crucial role in many aspects of health, from that youthful look and feel to protection against chronic illness.
There is a problem, though. We produce plenty of it, but much of what we do uses it up. Stress, cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, a poor diet, polluted environments, toxins, too many medications (including over-the-counter ones), illness and ordinary daily life all deplete the body of this important antioxidant, and our glutathione levels drop between the ages of 35 and 50. A glutathione IV drip puts glutathione directly into the bloodstream to restore it. The drip takes about 1 hour and is given for detox support and skin.
What it is and how it works
What glutathione is
Glutathione is a tripeptide, a combination of three amino acids. It is present in most cells of the body and is most concentrated in the liver. Of its three amino acids, the most important is the sulfur-rich cysteine, which traps toxins in the body; cysteine is abundant in eggs, garlic and whey protein.
What makes glutathione so effective is its sticky sulfur chemical group. It binds to toxins and free radicals, the harmful molecules circulating in your body, and neutralizes them so they can be removed through urine or bile. When free radicals are eliminated, your immune system gets a significant boost. As well as protecting cells against the destructive effects of free radicals, glutathione detoxifies harmful substances such as drugs and environmental pollutants, and it is an essential component of liver detoxification.
Why IV rather than tablets
For all its benefits, glutathione has one weakness: it is hard to absorb when swallowed. Oral glutathione supplements are a start, but enzymes in the stomach immediately begin to break the bonds that hold the three amino acids together, and without those bonds it cannot be absorbed. Each person's body chemistry, age and health also affect how well nutrients are absorbed, so adequate absorption through the gut is never guaranteed.
Given intravenously, glutathione goes straight into the bloodstream, so you do not have to worry about whether it is being absorbed. Once in the blood, it is carried throughout the whole body, including the brain, heart, lungs and muscle tissue, so your cells can benefit from its detoxifying and protective properties. IV glutathione also works faster than oral glutathione.
More generally, IV vitamin therapy delivers a high concentration of nutrients directly into the bloodstream to correct nutritional deficiency and optimize health. By bypassing the digestive system, nutrients are absorbed faster and more efficiently, with an immediate therapeutic effect.
Dose
A dose of 600 mg, twice a week, is beneficial.
What it is for
Glutathione is key to almost all body functions. Its benefits include:
Antioxidant defense. Glutathione is one of the body's primary antioxidants. It neutralizes harmful free radicals and protects cells from oxidative stress, contributing to overall health and longevity. Supplementation has been associated with reduced oxidative stress markers in various health conditions, potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
Detoxification and liver health. Glutathione is a key player in the body's natural detoxification, particularly in the liver, where it waits for toxins to flow through so it can attach to them and help remove them from the body. This detoxifies the liver and helps stave off conditions such as fatty liver disease.
Preventing chronic illness. Nearly every person with a chronic illness, such as Parkinson's disease, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis or cancer, has one thing in common: low glutathione. When we take in too many toxins or are overwhelmed by oxidative stress, we get sick. Glutathione uses its antioxidant power to eliminate those toxins and that stress, helping to prevent chronic illness. It has also been studied in the treatment of a number of serious conditions, including Parkinson's disease, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV and cancer.
Immune support. Glutathione supports the immune system by enhancing the function of immune cells, and may help the body fight infections and disease more effectively.
Skin health and brightening. Glutathione is popular for its potential to brighten skin and give a more youthful complexion. It deactivates tyrosinase, the enzyme that produces melanin, so it lightens and brightens skin by reducing hyperpigmentation and inhibiting melanin production in cells. Some studies suggest glutathione may help reduce the appearance of pigmentation, age spots and wrinkles.
Slowing the aging process. Glutathione spends much of its time repairing damaged cells, particularly those that drive aging. It helps the body eliminate toxins and waste that can hasten aging. Removing free radicals brings stronger hair and nails, tighter and brighter skin and higher energy levels. Glutathione also encourages mitochondrial growth, creating younger, more effective cells to replace aging ones.
Controlling inflammation. Free radicals gather in the body and cause inflammation and damage wherever they collect. With enough glutathione, the antioxidant breaks up these clusters, and the inflammation they cause subsides.
Athletic performance. Glutathione reduces muscle damage, boosts strength and endurance, encourages the body to build more muscle than fat, and shortens recovery times.
Energy and mental clarity. Glutathione promotes high energy and mental clarity.
Neurological health. Glutathione has been studied for its neuroprotective properties. It may help reduce oxidative damage in the brain and support cognitive function.
Respiratory health. Glutathione may benefit people with respiratory conditions such as asthma by reducing inflammation and improving lung function.
Anticancer potential. Some research suggests glutathione may inhibit the growth of cancer cells and enhance the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments.
Other benefits. Glutathione helps the body break down and purge fat, helps keep the body from becoming resistant to drugs, and improves the quality of sleep, combating the stress of sleep apnea.
Who it is for
Adults from about age 35 onward, when natural glutathione levels drop
People exposed to stress, cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, a poor diet, pollution or regular medication, all of which deplete glutathione
People who want to support liver detoxification
People who want brighter, more even skin, or to reduce pigmentation
People interested in anti-aging and longevity
Athletes who want to reduce muscle damage and recover faster
The treatment
The drip takes about 1 hour.
Screening. Before your first drip, your medical history is reviewed to check that the drip is suitable for you.
The drip. You sit in a comfortable recliner chair. A small tube is placed in a vein in your arm; it feels much like having blood drawn for a lab test. The glutathione then flows slowly into your bloodstream. Every drip is freshly prepared for you.
Afterwards. You can return to your normal day.
A typical course for skin brightening is two drips a week for 4 to 5 weeks. The number of sessions depends on your goals; for skin, it depends on how many shades lighter you want your skin tone to be. The number of sessions is always set by your doctor after an in-person assessment. Several treatments can be combined on the same day, as your doctor advises. For anti-aging, a placenta extract injection can also help alongside glutathione.
Before and aftercare
Eat. Please eat before your drip. Don't come on an empty stomach. Some ingredients can cause nausea if infused on an empty stomach, and a light meal or snack helps your body absorb the drip more effectively.
Hydrate. Drink a few glasses of water before your appointment. Your body responds better to the drip if you arrive hydrated, and veins are smaller and harder to find when you are dehydrated.
Wear comfortable clothes. A short-sleeved top, or sleeves that roll up above the elbow, is best. Wear comfortable trousers and socks, especially if you tend to get cold; we have blankets to keep you warm.
Relax and breathe. Once you are seated, take a few minutes to relax. This releases nervous tension and prepares you for the treatment.
Bring a book or music. Bring the magazines or book you have not had time for, or your favorite music with earbuds. This time is yours to enjoy.
Quality and safety
Ingredients are imported through official distributors. We use only the highest-quality glutathione, manufactured by established pharmaceutical brands.
Every drip is prepared under strict safety guidelines, with sterile technique. Every drip is fresh and new.
Your drip is given by a well-trained, experienced team, with a doctor on site for consultations and to ensure the best possible care.
We use hospital-standard equipment.
Your medical history is reviewed before treatment.
Please eat before your drip. Don't come on an empty stomach.
The science
Glutathione protects the stomach against alcohol
A study published in the journal Gut looked at whether glutathione can protect the stomach lining against damage from ethanol, the alcohol in alcoholic drinks. Ethanol damage to the stomach lining ranges from discomfort to more severe conditions, so researchers have looked for effective ways to prevent it.
Loguercio and colleagues studied ten healthy men aged 28 to 50 with no history of stomach problems, alcohol abuse or medication use. During endoscopy, they sprayed 80% ethanol onto the stomach lining to simulate alcohol damage, and they examined the lining both by eye and under the microscope. Glutathione significantly prevented the damage caused by ethanol, both visibly and at the microscopic level. It reduced both the extent of the damage and the depletion of essential sulfur-containing (sulfhydryl) compounds, in the main body of the stomach and in its lower part, the antrum.
The findings suggest that glutathione, with its antioxidant power, may help prevent alcohol-related stomach problems. Further studies are awaited.
Reference: Loguercio C, Taranto D, Beneduce F, del Vecchio Blanco C, de Vincentiis A, Nardi G, Romano M. Glutathione prevents ethanol-induced damage and depletion of sulfhydryl compounds in the human gastric mucosa. Gut. 1993;34:161-165.
Glutathione for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a build-up of fat in the liver that is unrelated to alcohol. It affects many people worldwide and ranges in severity from simple fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis.
An open-label, single-arm, multicenter pilot study published in BMC Gastroenterology by Honda and colleagues evaluated glutathione for treating NAFLD. Participants who received glutathione showed significant improvements in liver health markers, including reduced liver fat content and improved inflammatory markers. These results point to glutathione's potential as a therapy for NAFLD, and the study encourages considering glutathione as a potential add-on therapy, discussed with your doctor as part of personalized care.
Reference: Honda Y, Kessoku T, Sumida Y, et al. Efficacy of glutathione for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2017;17:96. doi:10.1186/s12876-017-0652-3. PMID: 28789631; PMCID: PMC5549431.
Glutathione for skin: antiaging and antimelanogenic effects
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology by Weschawalit and colleagues examined the antiaging and antimelanogenic (anti-pigmentation) effects of both the reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms of glutathione. Healthy women were divided into three groups and took oral GSH (250 mg a day), oral GSSG (250 mg a day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. The researchers measured skin parameters including melanin index, wrinkles and various biophysical properties of the skin.
Both GSH and GSSG, even at this modest daily dose, tended to reduce the melanin index and UV spots at several skin sites, including the face and arms. GSH significantly reduced wrinkles at some sites compared with placebo, and both forms showed a trend toward increased skin elasticity. No serious adverse effects occurred during the 12 weeks, confirming that oral glutathione in both forms is well tolerated. The findings invite further exploration of glutathione for radiant, healthy skin.
Reference: Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:147-153. doi:10.2147/CCID.S128339. PMID: 28490897; PMCID: PMC5413479.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the drip take?
About 1 hour.
Why is glutathione called the master antioxidant?
Because it can bind to toxins and free radicals and carry them out of the body through urine or bile. It counteracts free radicals, boosts the immune system and detoxifies the liver.
Is IV glutathione better than oral glutathione?
IV glutathione works faster than oral glutathione. Stomach enzymes break down swallowed glutathione before it can be absorbed, while an IV delivers it straight into the bloodstream and on to the whole body.
How soon will I see the whitening effect?
It depends on your skin type. Most patients notice a glow on their skin after 2 weeks.
What dose works best, and how often can I come?
A dose of 600 mg, twice a week, is beneficial.
How many sessions will I need?
For skin, it depends on how many shades lighter you want your skin tone to be. Typically, drips are given twice a week for 4 to 5 weeks, and one round of treatment can lighten the skin by 1 to 3 shades. If you would like your skin lighter still, you would need more rounds. As with any medical or cosmetic procedure, results differ from person to person. Your doctor sets the number of sessions after an in-person assessment.
Does glutathione have anti-aging effects too?
Yes. Glutathione helps the body eliminate toxins and waste that may hasten aging. A placenta extract injection taken alongside glutathione can also help for this purpose.
Can I mix and match drip formulas?
Yes. Several formulas can be given at the same visit. Tell us which formulas you would like; if they are compatible, we combine them in a single bottle. If they cannot be mixed, we give them one after another, changing the bottle when the first is finished. Your safety and the effectiveness of the treatment are our top priorities.
Do I need to eat before my drip?
Yes. Please eat before your drip and don't come on an empty stomach. A light meal or snack helps prevent nausea and helps your body absorb the drip.
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