S-acetyl glutathione

Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Glutathione is synthesized from the three amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Therefore, it is a tripeptide (substances consisting of fewer than ~100 amino acids are not called proteins, but peptides).

Glutathione is preferentially produced in the liver, but is found in all cells of the organism, in particularly high quantities (apart from the liver) in red blood cells and the cells of the immune system. As one of the strongest and most efficient antioxidants, glutathione is responsible for eliminating free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, in turn, leads to cell and tissue damage and is therefore a major contributing factor to many chronic diseases.

Apart from its antioxidant activities, glutathione has two other major functions: It is important for the body's own detoxification and improves the performance of the immune system.

Non-enzymatic antioxidant

• The cell's most important hydrophilic antioxidant (directly binds radicals and nitric oxide (NO) and reduces other antioxidants)
• It is oxidized to GSSG (and reduced again by glutathione reductase)

Coenzyme for enzymatic glutathione peroxidases (metalloenzymes)

• They reduce toxic peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides by reacting with glutathione.
• Enzymes are proteins (they require amino acids, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc as cofactors).
• Enzymes require activators (selenium, zinc, manganese)

Detoxification phases II and III

• Coenzyme for glutathione S-transferases
• Binding partners of pollutants
• binds via thiol/sulfhydryl/SH group Toxins, Multivalent heavy metals (such as mercury, cadmium, lead) u.a. Foreign substances
• forms Pollutant-glutathione complexes, which as Mercapturic acid derivatives are excreted via the kidneys and bile.
• reduces by Complex formation with "good" trace elements pro-oxidative risk of high concentrations of these substances (z.B. Fenton reaction of Fe with vitamin C)
• Glutathione can be combined with other complexing agents (z.B. α-Lipoic acid)

Detoxification Phase I

• Disposal of radical metabolites (Part of the redox network)

Possible causes of glutathione deficiency:

• Low intake (z.B. Nutrition, malabsorption)
• High demand (z.B. Free radical exposure, pollution, illness, lifestyle mistakes, age, stress, sports)
• Disorders of glutathione synthesis and metabolism (z.B. Deficiency of amino acids, glutathione reductase or glutathione peroxidase)

Possible consequences of glutathione deficiency:

• Oxidative and nitrosative stress
• Energy shortage
• Thiol group deficit (-SH)
• Detoxification disorders
• Immunosuppression and susceptibility to infection
• Reperfusion injury, increased hemolysis rates
• Neurological, psychomotor, cardiovascular, ocular and hepatic disorders