Glutathione IV therapy from Toronto could help relieve inflammation. But did you know that these therapy drips might also promote detoxification?

In a previous post, we mentioned that glutathione is suitable for autoimmune conditions, age-related diseases, and gut inflammation. It’s a substance built by amino acids in your liver and it supports tissue repair and immune function regulation.

Detoxification is something we should consider for optimal health and for helping manage the inflammatory process linked to chronic illness. “Oxidative stress [which can lead to chronic inflammation] has been implicated in a number of diseases which include atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and aging,” confirms a piece from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN).

However, glutathione can encourage detoxification and quench free radicals in the human body, and this has been recognized among scientists. In fact, some antioxidants (e.g. glutathione, acetylcysteine, α-lipoid acid, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, etc.) might assist with preventing free radicals from building up in cells; in turn, this could lessen oxidative stress, explains the JISSN article.

Supplementing with this substance could lead to results related to lessening wrinkles and increasing skin elasticity, as well as improved brain function. These health amendments might occur because of the reduction of oxidative stress. Consequently, this could improve cellular function by regulating cellular events, such as cytokine production, cell proliferation, synthesis of DNA and proteins, etc.

Here, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre explains how IV therapy and oral supplementation with glutathione could help offset premature skin aging, while promoting brain and cellular detoxification.

Beneficial Effects

This substance is known as a powerful antioxidant because it can naturally fight oxidative stress. What makes it unique is that, “While it directly quenches some free radicals, of perhaps greater importance is that it deals directly with the causes of oxidative stress such as mercury …” says an Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal article.

Unfortunately, levels decline in the body as we age; thus, we might want to consider supplementation, especially for fostering detoxification. Here’s how it could detoxify your body for beauty, brain and cell health concerns:

• Might promote an anti-aging effect by preventing wrinkles: As per a study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, participants who took a reduced form of glutathione (GSH) displayed a substantial drop in wrinkles in comparison to those given a placebo. “There were no serious adverse effects throughout the study,” confirmed the article.
• Could offer support for the aging brain: “Impairment of glutathione function in the brain is linked to loss of neurons during the aging process or as the result of neurological diseases such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease,” states a piece from Molecules. With that, scientists postulate that the substance could help neutralize free radicals, which could prevent/delay cognitive deterioration: “GSH [glutathione] binds with cytoplasmic free iron, subsequently preventing ferrous iron from undergoing uncontrolled redox reactions which potentially causes oxidative damage,” explains a Brain Communications article.
• Might have the potential to lessen cell damage: Fatty liver disease consists of excessive fat accumulating in the liver. During a study on patients with this condition, intravenous drips with glutathione were given to participants. It resulted in declining levels of malondialdehyde, which is the indicator for cellular damage in the liver.

Additional Advantages

Next to detoxifying for beauty, brain health and cellular functioning, glutathione IV therapy drips combined with oral supplements might offer these health gains: 

• Could assist with regulating blood sugar levels.
• Fosters DNA repair. 
• Shown to lower oxidative damage in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Might provide improvements to insulin levels.
• Could lessen symptoms associated with respiratory disease.

Clearly, this antioxidant may be suitable for optimal functioning. Oral supplements and IV nutrient therapy could instill synergistic effects when used at the same time, while increasing your absorption rate. Read below if you’re considering this supplement.

Brief Discussion on Side Effects

Take note that there could be side effects to both intravenous and oral glutathione, so contacting an IV therapist/functional medicine provider is suggested. Some of the side effects may include:

• Reduced zinc levels
• Abdominal cramping, bloating
• Issues with breathing because of bronchial constriction.
• Allergic reactions (i.e. rashes)
• Headaches

To ensure that oral tablets and intravenous infusion therapy fit your health goals, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre is available to tend to your needs, such as nutritional deficiencies or much-needed energy. Next to glutathione, our IV beneficial ingredients may include: glutamic acid, mistletoe, high-dose vitamin C, NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a medley of amino acids, major minerals, and other key vitamins. We have also recently introduced Lipotropic (MIC) injections in our IV lounge.

About our Private Practice

At our IV lounge, we strive to keep you at ease during your process of recovery. We offer intravenous therapy, Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, herbal medicine, and other modalities.

Our functional medicine treatments could offer assistance for health issues related to: mental performance, athletic recovery, seasonal infections, infertility, autoimmune disease, degenerative disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid conditions, premature aging, and more. As functional medicine practitioners, we adhere to the belief that patients should be treated individually – each patient has unique needs, which may include different ways to address symptom relief and health triggers. During your initial consultation, a complete diagnostic session will occur, and your genetics, medical history, environmental surroundings, and lifestyle will be discussed.

Do you think you’re affected by low amounts of nutrients? Find out with functional medicine testing and we’ll customize your IV treatments. Call (416) 968-6961 to book a DISCOVERY SESSION on IV therapy from our Toronto clinic.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References:

BMJ. “Concerns over glutathione skin bleaching in the UK: Regulators must warn against this potentially dangerous practice, says consultant.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 August 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831223742.htm>.

Cook GC, Sherlock S. Results of a controlled clinical trial of glutathione in cases of hepatic cirrhosis. Gut. 1965 Oct;6(5):472-6. doi: 10.1136/gut.6.5.472. PMID: 5321464; PMCID: PMC1552321.

Dadzie OE. Unethical skin bleaching with glutathione. BMJ. 2016 Aug 31;354:i4386. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i4386. PMID: 27581922.

Dentico P, Volpe A, Buongiorno R, Grattagliano I, Altomare E, Tantimonaco G, Scotto G, Sacco R, Schiraldi O. Il glutatione nella terapia delle epatopatie croniche steatosiche [Glutathione in the treatment of chronic fatty liver diseases]. Recenti Prog Med. 1995 Jul-Aug;86(7-8):290-3. Italian. PMID: 7569285.Iskusnykh IY, Zakharova AA, Pathak D. Glutathione in Brain Disorders and Aging. Molecules. 2022 Jan 5;27(1):324. doi: 10.3390/molecules27010324. PMID: 35011559; PMCID: PMC8746815.

Kerksick, C., Willoughby, D. The Antioxidant Role of Glutathione and N-Acetyl-Cysteine Supplements and Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2, 38 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-2-2-38

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Marí M, Morales A, Colell A, García-Ruiz C, Fernández-Checa JC. Mitochondrial glutathione, a key survival antioxidant. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2009 Nov;11(11):2685-700. doi: 10.1089/ARS.2009.2695. PMID: 19558212; PMCID: PMC2821140.

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Pravat K Mandal, Anshika Goel, Ashley I Bush, Khushboo Punjabi, Shallu Joon, Ritwick Mishra, Manjari Tripathi, Arun Garg, Natasha K Kumar, Pooja Sharma, Deepika Shukla, Scott Jonathan Ayton, Amir Fazlollahi, Joseph C Maroon, Divya Dwivedi, Avantika Samkaria, Kanika Sandal, Kanu Megha, Sandhya Shandilya, Hippocampal glutathione depletion with enhanced iron level in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease compared with healthy elderly participants, Brain Communications, Volume 4, Issue 5, 2022, fcac215, https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac215

Watanabe F, Hashizume E, Chan GP, Kamimura A. Skin-whitening and skin-condition-improving effects of topical oxidized glutathione: a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy women. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014 Oct 17;7:267-74. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S68424. PMID: 25378941; PMCID: PMC4207440.

Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:147-153 https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S128339