The Best Way to Take your Supplements: Glutathione and Vitamin C.

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Last Updated Dec 17, 2018 | Published on Dec 08, 2018 at 8:03AM | Author: Katie Oberg

Take it Away

1. Glutathione deficiency can be alleviated through Vitamin C supplementation.

2. Clinical research studies have revealed Glutathione and Vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid) work synergistically within the body.

3. Vitamin C supplementation alleviates Glutathione deficiencies more than Nacetylcysteine.

4. One should always combine Glutathione supplementation with an equal or double dose of Vitamin C to maximise their effects.

5. Vitamin C has a cumulative effect within the body, and scavenges a greater percentage of free radicals.

6. Vitamin C spares Glutathione in the tissues.

7. Vitamin C plays a critical role towards the activation of L-Glutathione in the blood plasma.

8. Increased oxidative stress is positively associated with a low nourishment of dietary Vitamin C.

Should you use Glutathione and Vitamin C together?

Yes. Both Vitamin C and Glutathione work synergistically within the body. They both have very similar anti-oxidant properties.

A 2015 study involving 200 young adults assessed the low nourishment of Vitamin C and it’s effect (if any) on Glutathione depletion. The study revealed significant bio-markers indicating increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity in healthy young adults with a low intake of the dietary antioxidant, vitamin C. [2]

Another study published by The Journey of Biological Chemistry revealed biological cooperations that showed vitamin C’s “sparing effect” of glutathione in the tissues, and how glutathione converts oxidized dehydroascorbate back into the active form of vitamin C. Thus, indicating that the two work simultaneously within the human body. [3]

Why is Vitamin C so important?

In another study, vitamin C supplements between 500-2000 mg were given to patients over a 2 week period. The results were no less than astonishing, glutathione peroxidase activity increased by 2 fold, despite no significant association of the 2 antioxidants being observed in prior studies. The study showed that supplementation of Vitamin C increased Glutathione production considerably more than those observed with high doses of N-acetylcysteine. [2] The close association of ascorbate and glutathione in lymphocytes suggests their inter-dependance may be attributed to overlapping antioxidant functions. [4]

A bit of the science: The mutual sparing effect of Vitamin C and Glutathione was first proposed by Meister, who conducted a range of animal based studies to reveal the synergistic effect of these two antioxidants on Glutathione deficient animals. Meister’s research showed that ascorbate rescues glutathione-deficient animals and that glutathione esters alleviate the symptoms of ascorbate deficiency. [1]

References and Sources:

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 1.Vitamin C augments lymphocyte glutathione in subjects with ascorbate deficiency.

NCBI: 2. Low Nourishment of Vitamin C Induces Glutathione Depletion and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Young Adults 3. Cysteine supplementation improves the erythrocyte glutathione synthesis rate in children with severe edematous malnutrition.

Springer Link: 4. The Antioxidant Effects of Glutathione and Ascorbic Acid.

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