Glutathione and Fertility*

Introduction

Glutathione, otherwise known as the master antioxidant, has been recognized for its vast health benefits. Found in every cell in the human body, it is made up of three amino acids, cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid.

Based on its ability to protect cells, it plays a unique role in reproductive health, supporting both male and female fertility. If your body’s glutathione levels are depleted, you may be less fertile.

What Is Glutathione?

Although glutathione is naturally produced in the body, it can become depleted quite easily based on environmental factors. Normally, it is recycled in the body. However, when the toxic load becomes too great, it rapidly diminishes. A lack of exercise, poor diet, stress, chronic disease, infection, and toxic substances all affect your glutathione levels. Once a deficiency begins to develop, all aspects of your health can suffer, including your reproductive health.

Some of the warning signs of a deficiency include:

• Fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Brain fog
• Poor sleep
• Low immune function
• Aches and pains

Glutathione and Fertility

Important for both male and female fertility, glutathione is best known for its natural antioxidant activity that improves sperm health and egg quality through maintenance of metabolic balance. In females, glutathione protects eggs from damage. Since eggs develop over a long period of time prior to ovulation, the cells surrounding an egg replicate. Glutathione protects these cells and the ovaries for oxidative damage, contributing to overall egg quality. Research shows that oocytes with higher levels of glutathione produce stronger, healthier embryos.

The same is true for sperm health. Since a lack of glutathione can result in cellular defects, a deficiency may negatively impact any stage of the process, from sperm maturation, to fertilization, implantation, and early growth. In fact, clinical studies indicate that low sperm glutathione leads to poor overall sperm health, manifested as improperly packaged DNA that is prone to fragmentation.

This topic is particularly important for men and women over the age of 30 since glutathione levels decrease over time. Therefore, couples should consider taking steps to ensure adequate glutathione levels.

Sources of Glutathione

Spinach, avocado, asparagus, and okra are all rich in glutathione, however, unlike other antioxidants, glutathione is not absorbed very well by the digestive system, so either eating glutathione-rich foods or taking glutathione-containing supplements are not effective ways to ensure an adequate source of this important antioxidant. Instead, glutathione must be produced by the cells in your body.

To help your cells produce glutathione, you can consume sulfur-rich foods, such as cauliflower, onions, garlic, broccoli, kale, and cabbage because sulfur is necessary for the amino acids used to make glutathione. This process also requires a number of cofactors as well, including zinc, vitamin, B6, vitamin, B12, folate, magnesium, and selenium.

If You’re Trying to Conceive, Impryl Can Help

Given the importance of glutathione to your fertility, Impryl was formulated with micronutrients that directly contribute to glutathione production to support natural antioxidant activity and metabolic balance. If you’ve been planning, or are already trying to conceive, it may be worth considering using Impryl to help optimize your preconception nutrition. Learn more about how Impryl can improve your reproductive health today!