January 16, 2018 - Eye Health
Hey folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I want to talk to you today about the relationship between glutathione and cataracts. I also want to go over what some ingredients that should and should not be on your glutathione supplement label.
Cataracts and Glutathione Levels
There was a study that was published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology in July 2017 that found that patients who were diagnosed with cataracts had lower glutathione levels. Given its role in removing toxicities in the eye, this should come as no surprise. Many patients of mine have realized the benefits of glutathione as it relates to their eye conditions.
What to Look for on the Label
There are two primary ways to supplement with glutathione – oral supplements and sublingual supplements. I prefer the sublingual sprays because they absorb more efficiently into the body and are more readily bioavailable. I also prefer sublingual sprays that include lipoic acid and Vitamin C, because these also help in the prevention of cataracts.
Now, one thing you should look out for on glutathione supplements is an ingredient called sodium metasilicate. This is a highly toxic and corrosive preservative that is known to create skin and eye irritation. In fact, this is a common ingredient in laundry detergents, metal cleaners, and floor cleaners. While the FDA claims that the trace amounts of this ingredient are safe for consumers, I prefer to stay away from non-natural ingredients. After all, there are sublingual sprays that are more bioavailable and do not contain this potentially harmful ingredient.
So to summarize, I recommend a sublingual (under the tongue) spray that does not contain sodium metasilicate. It is an added bonus if the sublingual glutathione also contains lipoic acid or Vitamin C.