A Path to Increasing Glutathione Levels in Mitochondria

Glutathione is an interesting cellular antioxidant, as increased levels can improve health in humans and slow aging in animal models. You might recall recent small human trials of high dose supplementation of glutathione precursors in order to achieve upregulation of glutathione, and corresponding studies in mice. It is thought that glutathione upregulation may largely improve health via mitochondrial function, as mitochondria are a prominent source of oxidative stress in aging cells. Here, researchers find a mechanism that regulates the amount of glutathione that enters the mitochondria, and thus a possible target to increase this level without the need for global upregulation. Whether not it is capable of producing greater benefits remains to be seen. Glutathione is an antioxidant produced throughout the body that plays many important roles, including neutralizing unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals, which cause damage to DNA and cells if left unchecked. It also helps repair cellular damage and regulates cell proliferation, and its loss is associated with aging, neurodegeneration, and cancer. As a result, glutathione supplements have become increasingly popular as an over-the-counter approach to wellness. The antioxidant is especially abundant in mitochondria, which cannot function without it. As the respiratory organelle, mitochondria produces energy, but mitochondria can also the source of a lot of oxidative stress, implicated in cancer, diabetes, meta...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs