PMID-35624890 – Glutathione Supplementation in Elderly T2D Patients RCT
Sekhar RV. "Randomized Clinical Trial of How Long-Term Glutathione Supplementation Offers Protection from Oxidative Damage and Improves HbA1c in Elderly Type 2 Diabetic Patients," Antioxidants (Basel), 2022;11(5):1019.
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| PMID | 35624890 |
| DOI | 10.3390/antiox11051019 |
| Year | 2022 |
| Journal | Antioxidants |
| Study Type | Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Evidence Level | II |
| Sample | n=125 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes |
| Peptide(s) Studied | Glutathione |
Key Findings
- Oral glutathione supplementation (500 mg/day for 6 months) significantly increased plasma GSH levels in elderly T2D patients
- Significant reduction in oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls) vs placebo
- Improved glycemic control: HbA1c decreased significantly in the GSH group vs placebo
- Reduced markers of oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG)
- Improved erythrocyte GSH/GSSG ratio, indicating better redox balance
- These findings are notable because T2D patients have chronically depleted glutathione and elevated oxidative stress
- Safe and well-tolerated with no significant adverse events over 6 months
Study Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 125 elderly patients (>60 years) with type 2 diabetes randomized to oral glutathione 500 mg/day or placebo for 6 months. Primary outcomes: changes in GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio, oxidative damage markers (MDA, protein carbonyls, 8-OHdG), and HbA1c.
Limitations
- Single-center study
- Elderly T2D population; may not generalize to younger or non-diabetic populations
- No assessment of cardiovascular or hard clinical endpoints
- No dose comparison (single 500 mg dose)
- Mechanism of HbA1c improvement unclear (direct glucose effect vs antioxidant protection of beta cells?)
Clinical Relevance
This RCT provides important clinical evidence that glutathione supplementation can improve both oxidative stress and glycemic control in a disease state (T2D) characterized by chronic GSH depletion. The improvement in HbA1c is particularly clinically meaningful, suggesting glutathione may have metabolic benefits beyond pure antioxidant effects. For functional medicine practitioners, this supports using glutathione supplementation as an adjunct to standard diabetic care in elderly patients. The 6-month duration provides confidence in sustained efficacy and safety.
Related
#research #RCT #evidence-level-II #glutathione #metabolic #anti-aging