Hi Cynthia

Sorry to hear of your troubles with long covid. We wrote a blog on this subject a little while ago at https://www.glutathionereporter.com/glutathione-and-long-covid-or-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
It seems there are a lot of similarities between long covid and chronic fatigue syndrome and both are associated with a condition called oxidative stress. The body’s main defence against oxidative stress is antioxidants and glutathione being the master antioxidant it’s critical that it’s maintained at an optimum concentration. Gamma-Glutamylcysteine is the only known way to supplement cellular glutathione effectively; however, at this stage, we have not seen Gamma-Glutamylcysteine being tested for in any clinical trials on these specific conditions as yet.

Dear Pascalda

Regarding S-acetylglutathione (SAG) we have several comments. Firstly, unlike gamma-glutamylcysteine, SAG is not a naturally occurring compound it is a synthetic chemical. Secondly, we were able to find one human clinical trial published on the use of SAG in comparison to treatment with normal glutathione. Both were delivered orally, and the results of the trial showed no significant difference between SAG and normal glutathione. Neither of these treatments showed any significant increases in plasma or erythrocyte glutathione over 24 hours.

Regarding the use of intravenous (IV) SAG, if you have knowledge of a published clinical trial confirming that it is effective in increasing cellular glutathione, we would be grateful if you could send a link to the article. However, we would hardly think that IV treatment is a convenient, risk-free, or cost-effective way of increasing cellular glutathione. Even if it was effective in transiently increasing cellular glutathione considering that glutathione is a rapid turnover biochemical you would require a daily IV infusion to maintain any significant increase in cellular glutathione over time.

Regarding Lipoic acid and Vitamin C, they both may have a sparing effect on glutathione. However, neither address the fundamental problem which is a deficiency or damage in the first enzyme that produces gamma-glutamylcysteine which is the root cause of low cellular glutathione.

Hi Peter,

Unfortunately, the only compound which can increase cellular glutathione is Gamma Glutamyl Cysteine as it is the immediate precursor to glutathione. https://www.glutathionereporter.com/raising-cellular-glutathione-levels-with-gamma-glutamylcysteine/ Therefore we cannot recommend any other compound or supplement as they simply cannot work.

Can you recommend any supplements, affordable to most people, that can effectively increase Glutathione inside the cells?
I’ve looked over your articles that NAC and GSH supplements dont help. The only products i’ve found that use Gamma-Glutamylcysteine to help, are USD 130 / month, and just not affordable for the masses.

thank U