 Scientists studying glutathione precursors have demonstrated some of the best life extension results ever seen in mice, increasing their lifespan by 24%, and they already have studies showing positive effects in humans as well. We'll tell you more in this episode of Lifespan News. Glutathione is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant and the backbone of natural defenses against reactive oxygen species byproducts of normal oxygen metabolism that accumulate in the body with age and interfere with chemical processes. Oxidative stress happens when the delicate balance between the production and degradation of reactive oxygen species is lost. This can be caused by various stressors, such as UV radiation, but also by aging. Glutathione levels decline with age, so supplementing it could plausibly impact other processes of aging. In a study conducted by scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, supplementation of glutathione had a drastic effect on the lifespan of wild-type mice. This study used Glynec, a combination of two glutathione precursors, Glycine and Enicidal Cysteine, or NAC. Glynec has already been an object of several studies. The same group that is behind this new paper has previously shown that continuous Glynec supplementation in humans alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction and improves mitophagy, nutrient sensing and genome stability. It also reverses premature aging in people with HIV. For this study, the researchers returned to mice because humans are so long-lived that it makes studying the effects of any direct intervention on lifespan extremely difficult. The researchers ran two studies simultaneously. In the first study, 32 mice were equally divided between the study group and the control group. At the age of 65 weeks, which is mid-life by mouse standards, eight males and eight females started receiving Glynec with food. Supplementation continued until the mice died of age-related diseases. Mice on Glynec lived, on average, 24% longer than the controls, 129 weeks versus 104 weeks. This rivals some of the best life extension results ever achieved in mice. The second study analyzed the effect of Glynec supplementation on glutathione levels, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, mitophagy, nutrient sensing and genomic damage in the hearts, livers, and kidneys of old mice. Glutathione concentration in the old animals was 65% to 72% lower, but Glynec supplementation was able to bring the levels back to normal. Glutathione synthesis, substantially reduced by age, also bounced back as a result of Glynec supplementation. Levels of an oxidative stress marker were almost twice as high in untreated old mice as they were in young mice. Here again, Glynec did wonders, bringing it back to almost youthful levels. In all other key areas, mitochondrial function, mitophagy, nutrient sensing, and genomic stability, the results were equally impressive. The markers bounced back almost to the levels observed in young mice. This study might put glutathione, which is already marketed as a supplement, high on the list of most promising life extension molecules. However, more research is needed to determine its full effects in humans. We are not saying that you should start taking this, and the standard warnings of results may vary, consult your doctor, etc. certainly apply. The results of this study probably warrant the inclusion of glutathione in the Interventions Testing Program, or ITP, which tests various potentially life-prolonging compounds in mice in three different institutions, providing an especially robust testing environment. As more results come in, we'll have them for you here, so please subscribe so you don't miss out. We'll see you next time on Lifespan News.