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Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2016 December;62(4):316-24

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Glutathione in the treatment of liver diseases: insights from clinical practice

Rodolfo SACCO ¹, Roberto EGGENHOFFNER ², Luca GIACOMELLI ² ✉

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy; ² Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Liver diseases markedly contribute to the global burden of mortality and morbidity. The pathogenesis of alcohol- and non-alcohol-induced liver diseases is complex, and many factors have been described to contribute to the progressive loss of liver functions, including the over-generation of reactive oxygen species. Glutathione (GSH) is the most important low-molecular-weight antioxidant synthesized in cells, as it is a reducing molecule which can react to oxygen species by neutralizing the unpaired electrons that make them highly reactive and dangerous. ROS over-production impairs the intracellular GSH homeostasis, leading to GSH deficiency, a pathophysiological hallmark in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases.Judging on the basis of the evidence obtained from experimental research and previous clinical studies, GSH administration seems to be a promising strategy to recover oxidative stress-induced liver damages in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases.