Glutathione +GCLC gene: maintaining health and reversing aging

In their quest for a healthier, longer life, many people are turning to a variety of supplements.

One such supplement that is getting more attention is glutathione.

Known as the "core antioxidant," glutathione plays a vital role in maintaining optimal health and fighting the damaging effects of free radicals.

Glutathione supplement

role of glutathione

Glutathione is a key antioxidant molecule that is able to neutralize reactive oxygen species in the body that cause oxidative stress on molecules.

Glutathione plays an important role in the aging process in the following ways:

Antioxidant effect:

Glutathione is one of the most important antioxidants in the body, able to neutralize free radicals and slow down cell aging.

Excessive accumulation of free radicals is believed to be an important cause of aging and age-related diseases.

Glutathione reduces oxidative damage to cells and tissues by directly scavenging free radicals and other oxides, thereby slowing the aging process.

Detoxification ability:

As an important detoxification molecule in cells, glutathione can form stable conjugations with some toxins and heavy metals to promote their discharge, thereby removing harmful substances in the body and protecting cell vitality.

Immune regulation:

A healthy immune system is important for preventing disease and fighting aging.

Glutathione can regulate the function of immune cells, improve the activity of the immune system, and enhance the resistance to pathogens and harmful substances.

Age-related changes in glutathione levels:

With age, the amount of glutathione in the body decreases.

In experimental studies on rats, it was found that the amount of glutathione present in the tissue cells of each organ was lost as the rats aged.

In the plasma of healthy adults, levels of glutathione decline with age, which is associated with aging, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetes.

Protect the nervous system:

Changes in the content of glutathione in the nervous system are associated with aging, and it plays an important role in protecting nerve cells from oxidative damage.

Maintain metabolite balance:

The components of the metabolic cycle of glutathione can be used as markers of biological age and in clinical applications to assess aging.

Mitochondrial function and mtDNA maintenance:

Glutathione is essential for mitochondrial function and the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Anti-aging and whitening:

Glutathione can deactivate tyrosinase activity, inhibit the production of melanin, weaken the biochemical activity and formation of melanocytes, and can also enhance the role of vitamin C in the body and have a whitening effect.

Glutathione plays a key role in the anti-aging process through its antioxidant, detoxification, immune regulation and other physiological functions.

Anti-aging and whitening

Biocharacterization of glutathione

As a relatively simple molecule, glutathione is often considered the body's first line of defense against antioxidants. It is made up of three amino acids: cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. The first of these reactions (linking glutamate and cysteine) is catalyzed by glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL).

Glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) is composed of glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit (GCLM) and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). This is the first step in the cellular glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis pathway and is also a rate limiting enzyme.

The GCLC gene encodes a glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit. There is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the GCLC gene associated with adverse health outcomes, rs17883901.

Risk description:

There is evidence that the risk "T" allele at the C53410037T site in the GCLC gene is associated with impaired removal of mercury, a strong oxidizing agent.

Mercury is excreted from the body through antioxidants such as glutathione.

In individuals who carry the risk "T" allele, accumulation of mercury may occur if they also carry the risk "G" allele at the A313G site in the GSTP1 gene.

The researchers think this may be due to reduced glutathione synthesis in the body, but there is not enough data to be able to prove this yet.

Mercury is well known for its toxic effects, so most foods should contain little to no mercury.

Due to increased environmental pollution and the ability of mercury to remain in relative plants and animals, it can form bioaccumulation.

Individuals who carry the C53410037T risk "T" allele, if they also carry the A313G risk "G" allele in the GSTP1 gene, should be regularly monitored for mercury accumulation.