Why Glutathione Matters: the master antioxidant
🧬 Why Glutathione Matters: The Master Antioxidant
“Glutathione is the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease… the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier, and maestro of the immune system.” — Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, Functional Medicine Expert
When glutathione levels are optimized, your body is better equipped to fight inflammation, neutralize free radicals, and recover from stress, illness, or environmental toxins.
🔬 Backed by Research
Studies show that glutathione depletion is linked to aging, chronic illness, and increased oxidative damage. Supplementation or IV therapy may help replenish levels, especially during periods of stress, illness, or recovery.
Why do some people have low Glutathione levels?
Population-wide data on glutathione deficiency is limited as it is not routinely tested - however in one study by Sekhar, R. V., et al. (2011), it was determined that approximately 1 in 3 otherwise healthy adults over 60 had deficient glutathione levels.
1. Aging - as we age, the enzymes and building blocks (amino acids) of glutathione decline and oxidative stress increases. This leads to the body’s glutathione getting used up faster that it can be replenished and chronic depletion.
2. Chronic Stress - Physical and/or emotional stress triggers cortisol and other stress hormones, increasing the body’s metabolic demand and generating more free radicals. Your glutathione is rapidly trying to neutralize - but eventually it burns out.
3. Toxin Exposure - Pollution, alcohol, medications, heavy metals, processed foods - all increase your toxic load. The liver uses glutathione to detoxify these harmful substances, however overexposure = overuse of glutathione = lower reserves.
4.Nutritional Deficiencies - If you’re low in B vitamins, selenium, or zinc, your body struggles to make and recycle glutathione.
Why is Glutathione particularly important for work out recovery?
To start, you have to understand the science behind it! Glutathione is made naturally in the body’s liver through a process called biosynthesis using three amino acids, glutamate, cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione is an antioxidant found in every cell of your body. It is essential for:
• Detoxifying harmful substances & free radicals.
• Supporting liver health
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Regulating immune function
• Promoting glowing, healthy skin
So what specifically does Glutathione do to help with working out?!
💥 Reduces Oxidative Stress
- Energy production = free radicals (naturally). During exercise your muscles need more oxygen to produce ATP (energy). The by product the cells make are called free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells, proteins, and DNA if not neutralized.
- Intense workouts increase free radical production (oxidative stress). High-intensity or prolonged workouts cause a temporary spike in oxidative stress.
- Glutathione is your body’s master antioxidant, neutralizing those radicals to:
✅ Protect muscle cells and promote recovery
✅ Support mitochondrial function
✅ Prevent long-term cellular damage
Oxidative stress is part of what triggers adaptation and muscle growth, BUT if there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants (glutathione) = slower recovery, inflammation, and fatigue.
💪 Supports Muscle Recovery
- After exercise, muscles experience inflammation and microtears.
- Glutathione helps reduce inflammatory cytokines and supports faster tissue repair.
- It can also reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.
🧬 Boosts Detoxification
- Working out mobilizes stored toxins from fat and tissues.
- Glutathione helps the liver detoxify those compounds and clear them efficiently.
🔋 Replenishes Energy Systems
- Exercise depletes NADPH and other molecules that glutathione helps regenerate.
- Adequate glutathione helps maintain cellular energy production (ATP), especially during post-workout recovery.
💉 IV Glutathione Post-Workout = Supercharged Recovery
• Delivers it directly into the bloodstream for immediate effect.
• Especially helpful for athletes, high-intensity training, or people over 30 who may already be depleted.
At S. Fyffe RN Injections & Infusions LLC we offer glutathione along with many other options for recovery and performance! Our office is based in Peterborough NH however mobile infusions are available! Thanks for reading!
Sources:
1.Allen J, Bradley RD. Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in human volunteers.
J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):827–33. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0716
2.Finaud J, Lac G, Filaire E. Oxidative stress: relationship with exercise and training. Sports Med. 2006;36(4):327–58. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636040-00004
3. Gomez-Cabrera MC, et al. Exercise as an antioxidant: it up-regulates important enzymes like glutathione peroxidase. Free Radic Biol Med. 2008 May 15;44(2):126–31.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.02.001
4. Hyman, M. (Various Publications & Interviews). See: drhyman.com
5. Jones DP, et al. Redox balance in aging: glutathione and oxidative stress. Exp Gerontol. 2002 Jan-Feb;37(10-11):1333–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0531-5565(02)00137-8
6. Liu H, et al. The effects of stress on glutathione metabolism. Redox Biol. 2016 Aug;10:305–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2016.10.001
7. Pizzorno, J. (2014). Glutathione! Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 13(1), 8–12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684116/
8. Powers SK, Jackson MJ. Exercise-induced oxidative stress: cellular mechanisms and impact on muscle force production. Physiol Rev. 2008 Apr;88(4):1243–76.https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00031.2007
9. Sekhar, R.V., S.G. Patel, A.P. Guthikonda, S. Reid, H. Balasubramanyam, F.L. Taffet, and H.V. Jahoor. “Glutathione Deficiency in Healthy Aging Adults.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 94, no. 3, 2011, pp. 847–853. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.008524.
10. Wu G, Fang Y-Z, Yang S, Lupton JR, Turner ND. Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health. J Nutr. 2004 Sep;134(9):489–92.https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.3.489
11. Zhang H, et al. Glutathione supplementation and its effects on oxidative stress in athletes. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):34. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-9-34