As one of the body's most important antioxidants, glutathione plays a key role in protecting mitochondria (the energy-producing units of cells) and regulating cellular vitality. Of the antioxidants in mitochondria, mitochondrial glutathione is the main line of defence in preventing malfunction and oxidative modifications that lead to cell death.
Glutathione in the body can be:
1. intracellular (intracellular) glutathione, whose main function is to protect mitochondria and regulate cell death.
2. extracellular glutathione, which is mainly involved in supporting the body's detoxification processes while providing antioxidant protection.
Environmental influences, stress and the effects of strenuous physical work all lead to an increased use of glutathione in the body, which can quickly lead to glutathione deficiency, which can result in a variety of symptoms.
Practical observation:
In the event of serious injury or illness, the body's use of glutathione increases to the point where it cannot be replaced. It has been found that all major chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease, malignancies, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, leaky gut syndrome, etc.) are associated with glutathione deficiency.
During the degenerative process of autoimmune diseases (e.g. Hashimoto's), the mitochondria of cells are damaged. Clinical experience has shown that people with healthy glutathione production and recycling systems have virtually no autoimmune disease.
The ageing process also involves a reduction in glutathione activity. It has been observed that those who experience a decline in cognitive function have lower levels of glutathione in their bodies.
How can we make sure we have the right levels of glutathione?
1. Support glutathione synthesis
By supplying the essential substances necessary for the body's own glutathione production process, a well-functioning body (e.g. adequate amounts of protein, vitamins: e.g. vitamin B12, folate (vitamin B9), amino acids: glutamine, glycine, cysteine, etc.) will be able to produce glutathione on its own and supply sufficient amounts of it.
2. Ensure the proper functioning of the glutathione recycling cycle
In order for our antioxidant system to function well and for our body's glutathione levels to be consistently adequate, in addition to a well-functioning glutathione synthesis, it is also necessary that the glutathione recycling cycle within the body is also functioning smoothly.
To put it simply, there are two main forms of glutathione: reduced glutathione and oxidised glutathione. The reduced form is the active form and is converted into the oxidised form during operation. Then the oxidized form must "regenerate" back to the reduced state to become functional again. The body needs vitamin B2 and selenium for these conversions.
3. Replenishing glutathione from outside
There are conflicting observations on the efficacy of glutathione administered orally (capsules/tablets). Only about 10-15% of the glutathione taken orally in capsule, tablet or even liposomal* liquid form is utilized. This is because a digestive enzyme in the stomach called peptidase rapidly breaks down the glutathione molecule. If you are supplementing glutathione in this way, you should expect this. However, by bypassing the stomach and digestive breakdown processes, intravenous glutathione supplementation in the form of a mucosal drip or transdermal (transdermal) glutathione supplementation can be effective.
If glutathione is supplemented externally, care should be taken to ensure that the formulation contains the active substance in a reduced form. In addition, it is the S-acetyl-L-glutathione form that has greater stability (than pure reduced glutathione) and can therefore be absorbed more efficiently. This molecular form is rarely used because of its high price.
According to most studies in the literature, glutathione taken into the body from outside has a very low efficiency of entry into cells (because it is thermodynamically unfavourable). According to these views, it is difficult to increase intracellular glutathione levels with glutathione-containing products. However, by increasing the cells' own glutathione production and the efficiency of the glutathione recycling cycle, it is easily possible! This should be considered especially in cases where mitochondria (intracellular) may be damaged by disease processes (e.g. autoimmune processes, leaky gut syndrome, etc.). In such cases, in addition to the supplementation of ready-made glutathione from outside, it is also of paramount importance to support the body's own glutathione production and recycling system!
In addition to the literature studies, there are also practical clinical experiences that have shown glutathione supplementation from external sources to be effective in cellular defence and even in autoimmune processes. We describe this because it illustrates that things in our world are not just black and white.
What is unique about WTN GlutaRegTM immune protection complex?
- It simultaneously supports glutathione synthesis and the glutathione cycle.
- It supports intracellular and extracellular glutathione metabolism.
- It contributes to an appropriate reduced : oxidized glutathione ratio.
- Contains active ingredients (e.g. vitamin B2 (riboflavin-5' sodium phosphate), vitamin B9 (L-5-MTHF, glucosamine folate salt), vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), standardised extracts of milk thistle for silibin, standardised plant extracts with guaranteed active ingredient content) in active, highly bioavailable forms.
- It also contains additives that increase mitochondrial glutathione levels and regenerate other antioxidants.
- If you want to further enhance the immune protection of WTN GlutaRegTM complex, you can supplement it with the following vitamins and minerals: vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium.
