Are there studies that show the impact of glutathione on athletic performance?

Glutathione is a tripeptide made from the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. It is found in almost every cell in the body and has a variety of functions, including:

Detoxification of heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins
Neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells
regulation of the immune system
Synthesis of proteins and DNA

Glutathione is made by the body itself, but its production can be affected by various factors such as age, disease and environmental exposure.

What does the research say?

There are some studies that have examined the impact of glutathione on athletic performance, but the results are inconclusive. Here are some examples:

A 2011 study examined the impact of glutathione on endurance performance in rats. The researchers found that the rats given glutathione had higher endurance than the control group. However, this study was not conducted on humans.
Another 2015 study examined the impact of glutathione on training performance in male soccer players. The researchers found that the players who received glutathione performed better than the control group. However, this study was small and not double-blind, meaning the results may not be reliable.
A 2018 review of eight studies found no clear evidence of an impact of glutathione on athletic performance. The authors conclude that more research is needed to determine the impact of glutathione on athletic performance.

How is glutathione absorbed?

Glutathione is commonly sold as a dietary supplement, usually in capsule or powder form. There are also some foods that contain glutathione , e.g. B. broccoli, spinach, avocado and asparagus. However, it is not clear whether taking glutathione supplements actually increases glutathione levels in the body.

What are the risks?

Glutathione is considered safe when taken at recommended doses. However, there are some risks and side effects that should be considered:

Taking glutathione can lower blood sugar levels, which can be problematic for diabetics.
Glutathione can interact with certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs.
There are no long-term studies on the safety of taking glutathione as a dietary supplement.

conclusion

Although there are some studies that have examined the impact of glutathione on athletic performance, the results are inconclusive. It's also not clear whether taking glutathione supplements actually increases glutathione levels in the body. There are some risks and side effects that should be considered before taking glutathione as a dietary supplement. More research is needed to determine the impact of glutathione on athletic performance.