The Effect of Dietary Supplement on Glutathione Level in Rats

Background: Oxidative stress occurs due to decreased glutathione inside the body. Some supplements may promote and stimulate glutathione production in the liver. This article aims to investigate the impact of different supplements on enhancing glutathione synthesis in rats’ livers. For this purpose 42 rats (male albino) were separated into 7 groups, each including 6 animals with average weights ranging between 150 and 160 g. Group 1 (control) and different groups consumed a basal diet for 8 weeks, whereas group 2 received 500 mg/kg bw of L-cysteine daily. Group 3 received 250 mg/kg bw of methionine, while group 4 got 250 mg/kg of L cysteine plus 125 mg/kg of methionine daily. Spirulina (20 mg/kg bw), turmeric (500 mg/kg bw), and dried garlic (500 mg/kg bw), respectively, were given to groups 5, 6, and 7.

Results: Utilizing the various dietary supplements decreased levels of liver function enzymes, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde while enhancing levels antioxidant enzymes of liver, and increased glutathione of kidneys and liver. However, cysteine alone at 500 mg/kg bw decreased glutathione formation in the liver and kidneys. Compared to the amino acid supplements (group 2, 3, 4) used, spirulina, turmeric, and dried garlic had a significant impact on reducing liver function enzymes, bilirubin, uric acid, creatinine, urea, and malondialdehyde and increasing antioxidant enzymes, and glutathione while turmeric supplement showed the best influence. Using dietary supplements did not result in any pathological modifications in the liver tissues, but there were some unsatisfactory minor alterations. However, group 2 showed considerable pathological developments in the liver tissues.

Conclusion: According to the findings, using the suggested dietary supplement except for cysteine alone can promote and encourage glutathione synthesis in different organs, especially the liver, hence alleviating the effects of oxidative stress associated with several illnesses.