Glutathione IV

Glutathione is known as the Master Antioxidant, Its primary purpose is to neutralize free radicals by offering them an oxygen molecule and protecting cells from damage. Glutathione keeps cells healthy and functioning all over the body.

Glutathione is one of 4 amino acids (Including Glutathione, Levocarnitine, Taurine, and Tryptophan) that can be administered Intravenously by Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario.

What are the Glutathione IV indications?

1. Chemotherapy Toxicity ( chemotherapy induced neuropathies)
2. Liver Support
3. Detoxification
4. Anti-Aging
5. Prevention of oxidative damage (post-stroke, pre-oncologic radiation)
6. Neurological support in neurodegenerative illnesses
   1. For example, Parkinson’s Disease
7. Chelates Pb, Hg, Cd, Ar
8. Inhibits chemical carcinogenesis
9. Helps maintain steady glutathione levels
   1. Low glutathione is commonly observed in wasting and negative nitrogen balance, as seen in cancer, HIV/AIDS, sepsis, trauma, burns, and athletic overtraining.
10. Maintaining and recirculating other exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E
11. DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, Prostaglandin Synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation
12. It has a vital function in iron metabolism, anti-viral properties, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, etc.
13. Deactivates tyrosinase leading to inhibition of melanin

Why is Glutathione IV often combined with other IV vitamins in the same visit?

Glutathione needs cofactors to facilitate its function and support the Glutathione level . They are: Vitamin B complex,Vitamin C ,Magnesium ,Zinc, N-Acetyl-Cysteine,L glutamine …etc

What is Glutathione Adverse effects

1. Little reported , can be transient Irritability, lightheadedness, headache, dizziness, nausea

Is Glutathione IV Therapy Covered by Health Benefits Plans /Group Insurance?

The Initial IV assessment and subsequent IV visits can be covered under Naturopath , The cost of Injectables are not covered “Glutathione”

Research

Glutathione for Skin Whitening

30 women aged 30 to 50 years in a randomized, double-blind, matched-pair, placebo-controlled clinical trial applied topical Glutathione to one side of the face and a placebo lotion to the other side twice daily for 10 weeks. The conclusion was Topical Glutathione is safe and effectively whitens the skin and improves skin condition in healthy women.

Research link :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25378941/

Glutathione IV for Anti-Aging and Anti-Melanogenic Effects

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, three-arm research for 12 weeks concluded that oral glutathione, 250 mg/d, effectively influences skin properties.
Research link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789163/

Glutathione IV for Liver Health

ALT liver enzymes levels significantly decreased following treatment with glutathione for 4 months. In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased with glutathione treatment. This pilot study demonstrates the potential therapeutic effects of glutathione in practical dose for patients with in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseNAFLD

Research link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549431/pdf/12876_2017_Article_652.pdf

Glutathione IV for Parkinson’s Disease

1. Hauser, R. A., Lyons, K. E., McClain, T., Carter, S., & Perlmutter, D. (2009). Randomized, double‐blind, pilot evaluation of intravenous glutathione in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 24(7), 979-983.
2. Sechi, G., Deledda, M. G., Bua, G., Satta, W. M., Deiana, G. A., Pes, G. M., & Rosati, G. (1996). Reduced intravenous glutathione in the treatment of early Parkinson’s disease. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 20(7), 1159-1170.

References 

Smyth JF, Bowman A, Perren T, et al. Glutathione reduces the toxicity and improves quality of life of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer treated with cisplatin: results of a double-blind, randomised trial. Ann Oncol 1997;8:569-73. PMID: 9261526 Cascinu S, Cordella L, Del Ferro E, et al. Neuroprotective effect of reduced glutathione on cisplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: a randomized, double- blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 1995;13:26-32. PMID: 7799029 Links M, Lewis C. Chemoprotectants: a review of their clinical pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy. Drugs 1999;57:293-308. PMID: 10193684 Leone R, Fracasso ME, Soresi E, et al. Influence of glutathione administration on the disposition of free and total platinum in patients after administration of cisplatin. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 1992;29:385-90. PMID: 1312907 Graziano F, Cardarelli N, Marcellini M, et al. A pilot clinical trial of postoperative intensive weekly chemotherapy using cisplatin, epi-doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, 6S- leucovorin, glutathione and filgrastim in patients with resected gastric cancer. Tumori 1998;84:368-71. PMID: 9678619 Plaxe S, Freddo J, Kim S, et al. Phase I trial of cisplatin in combination with glutathione. Gynecol Oncol 1994;55:82-6. PMID: 7959273 Locatelli MC, D’Antona A, Labianca R, et al. A phase II study of combination chemotherapy in advanced ovarian carcinoma with cisplatin and cyclophosphamide plus reduced glutathione as potential protective agent against cisplatin toxicity. Tumori 1993;79:37-9. PMID: 8497920 Di Re F, Bohm S, Oriana S, et al. High-dose cisplatin and cyclophosphamide with glutathione in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Ann Oncol 1993;4:55-61. PMID: 8435364 Parnis FX, Coleman RE, Harper PG, et al. A randomised double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial assessing the tolerability and efficacy of glutathione as an adjuvant to escalating doses of cisplatin in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Eur J Cancer 1995;31A:1721. PMID: 7488438 Cascinu S, Frontini L, Comella G, et al. Intensive weekly chemotherapy is not effective in advanced pancreatic cancer patients: a report from the Italian Group for the Study of Dig. Tract Cancer (GISCAD). Br J Cancer 1999;79(3-4):491-4. PMID: 10027318 Cascinu S, Labianca R, Alessandroni P, et al. Intensive weekly chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer using fluorouracil, cisplatin, epi-doxorubicin, 6S-leucovorin, glutathione, and filgrastim: a report from the Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer. J Clin Oncol 1997;15:3313-9. PMID: 9363860

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What Scientific research is telling us about non pharmacological treatment options for Insomnia?

Insomnia is an Inadequate or poor quality sleep;Difficulty falling asleep,Difficulty maintaining sleep, Waking up too early and Non-refreshing sleep.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Insomnia

Psychological and behavioral treatments for chronic insomnia include a variety of nonpharmacologic .CBT-I is generally regarded as the treatment of choice, has the most evidence available in the literature and Strongly recommended . A Combination of:,Sleep hygiene,Stimulus control, Relaxation therapy,Cognitive therapy and Sleep restriction could be effective in Chronic insomnia

Changing misconceptions about sleep need to be addressed prior to recommending behaviour change.There is a large evidence base to support the use of behavioural and psychological treatments, particularly CBT-I for patients with insomnia disorder

Exercise

Exercise regimens of 60 minute sessions 4-5 times per week for 8-12 weeks can improve sleep quality in people with primary insomnia

Reference

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the clinical effects of aroma inhalation therapy on sleep problems

Cheong MJ, Kim S, Kim JS, Lee H, LyuY-S, Lee YR, Jeon B, Kang HW. Medicine 2021. Mar 5;100(9):e24652.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7939222/

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Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes. At the time of diagnosis of diabetes, 10–18% of patients present with nerve damage, neuropathy can occur even in prediabetes and is associated with foot infections, ulcers, Charcot arthropathy, fractures, and amputations. Strict glycemic control has been considered to be the cornerstone of the treatment of DN. However, it has only modest effects on the progression of DN. It is of particular note that strict glycemic control needs to be maintained for three-to-five years to provide any clinical benefit.In addition to any antiglycemic therapy aiming at strict glycemic control, vitamin B12 (B12) has been probably the most commonly used supplement. The first reason is that vitamin B12 deficiency is quite common in patients with DM2, and the second is that vitamin B12 deficiency may cause neurological disorders, such as peripheral, autonomic (including cardiovascular), and painful neuropathy.

Ninety adult patients were enrolled in a RCT study to investigate the efficacy of normalizing vitamin B12 levels with 1000 µg of methylcobalamin daily in DM2 patients with good glycemic control and generalized neuropathy.B12 supplementation resulted in improvements of somatosensory symptoms such as pain and paresthesia.Unexpectedly, the active treatment group did not show a significant improvement in cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests. This study showed that the increase of B12 levels with an oral dispersible tablet containing 1000 µg methylcobalamin for 12 months in patients with DN improved the patients’ neurophysiological parameters, sudomotor function, pain score, and Quality of Life .

Reference

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