Glutathione is the most important antioxidant that the body produces. In fact, it exists in every cell. The compound is the body’s master detoxifier, ensuring the health and longevity of every cell in the body. It’s able to prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals and peroxides. Studies have found that the molecule prevents aging, heart disease, dementia, and cancer. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, glutathione may even be helpful in treating autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
There are many health benefits of glutathione supplements, including the possibility of preventing and reversing cancer. Studies have found 60 diseases that have low glutathione levels as a symptom, including breast cancer. While there’s still much research to be done, completed studies have found that glutathione protects healthy cells from free radicals which can cause cells to mutate and become malignant.
Another notable way that glutathione may assist the body to prevent cancer is that the antioxidant plays a role in apoptosis. This is the body’s programmed way of killing off cancer cells, which means the antioxidant may play both protective and pathogenic roles in preventing and fighting against cancer.
Glutathione has been shown to be the most important ally in your cells’ defense against mutagens. Maintaining an optimal level of glutathione in your cells is therefore critical for the prevention of cancer.
Mechanistic information has been published on how glutathione deactivates mutagens through the activity of various glutathione dependent enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase.
The nature of how impaired glutamate cysteine ligase, the enzyme that naturally produces gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), can make cells more susceptible to mutagens due to lower glutathione has been well studied.
Several clinical studies have shown that increasing glutathione may be beneficial post chemotherapy by lessening the side effects of these particularly toxic drugs.