Is glutathione available as a dietary supplement?
Glutathione (GSH) is available as an oral nutritional supplement, however research indicates taking oral glutathione is not the most effective way to increase circulating glutathione levels. This is because glutathione is likely to break down in the digestive tract before absorption is complete. Dr. Perlmutter therefore uses intravenous glutathione for his patients and for oral supplementation he uses a compound called NAC (N-Acetylcysteine, a Glutathione precursor), which is well absorbed and has been shown definitively to increase the natural production of GSH in the body. Oral NAC however does not provide the high levels of GSH needed for Parkinson’s, which is why Dr. Perlmutter uses the IV preparation. SAMe (S-Adenosylmenthionine) is another oral antioxidant which increases GSH in the body, but it is much more costly than NAC. Much of this information is presented in Dr. Perlmutter’s books, BrainRecovery.
Glutathione (GSH) is available as an oral nutritional supplement, however research indicates taking oral glutathione is not the most effective way to increase circulating glutathione levels. This is because glutathione is likely to break down in the digestive tract before absorption is complete. Dr. Perlmutter therefore uses intravenous glutathione for his patients and for oral supplementation he uses a compound called NAC (N-Acetylcysteine, a Glutathione precursor), which is well absorbed and has been shown definitively to increase the natural production of GSH in the body. Oral NAC however does not provide the high levels of GSH needed for Parkinson’s, which is why Dr. Perlmutter uses the IV preparation. SAMe (S-Adenosylmenthionine) is another oral antioxidant which increases GSH in the body, but it is much more costly than NAC. Much of this information is presented in Dr.
