What Are the Benefits of Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs?
If you haven't heard of glutathione yet, you're missing out on perhaps the most powerful antioxidant out there. Read on to discover why glutathione is so important for canine health and how you can give it to your dog.
Key Takeaways
- Glutathione is a small protein that is crucial for your dog's health.
- It can support immune function, reduce oxidative stress, aid with detoxification, and more.
- Multiple studies have found a correlation between low glutathione levels and poor health in dogs.¹
- Dogs produce glutathione naturally, but glutathione levels generally decline with age.
- Various foods, including fresh meat and cruciferous vegetables, are naturally high in glutathione.
- Glutathione supplements are also a great way to boost your dog's glutathione levels.
- Liposomal glutathione refers to glutathione that has been encased in a lipid bubble, which allows more of it to enter your dog's bloodstream.
- Our innovative Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs also contains crucial nutrients that help your dog naturally produce more glutathione. It acts as a comprehensive detox system and longevity aid for dogs.
See Related: What to Do When Your Dog Is Restless At Night
What Is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a small protein composed of three amino acids. It's present throughout your dog's body. (And yours, too!)²
This tiny compound is absolutely crucial for your dog's health. It's one of the most powerful antioxidants around, and plays a vital role in maintaining the function of various parts of your dog's body, including liver cells, red blood cells, intestinal cells, and more.
What Is Liposomal Glutathione?
Lipids are a group of organic compounds, including fats and oils. A liposome, meanwhile, is a minuscule sphere made of lipids.
Can you see where this is going? Liposomal glutathione, then, is glutathione that has been encased in a liposome.
There's a reason for this. The lipid bubble protects the precious glutathione inside as it travels through the stomach. That means more of the glutathione gets delivered to the bloodstream.
Benefits of Liposomal Glutathione
We've already established the importance of glutathione. To demonstrate that, let's discuss some of the many potential health benefits of this super molecule.
Ease Oxidative Stress
Perhaps the best-known benefit of glutathione comes from its ability as a powerful antioxidant.
As your dog goes about their day, their body produces substances like hydrogen peroxide and free radicals. These substances can cause damage and are generally bad news.³
Fortunately, antioxidants can protect the body from these harmful substances.⁴
Glutathione can protect your dog's cells from free radical damage and help manage oxidative damage.⁴
Reduced glutathione levels, meanwhile, have been shown to increase the speed at which dogs' bodies are damaged by oxidative stress.⁵
Tackle Environmental Toxins
Of course, your dog may also encounter toxins from their environment, not just ones they produce themselves. Eliminating toxins is crucial to maintaining health.
Fortunately, glutathione can aid the body in combating environmental toxins.
In one study, conducted with rats, glutathione was found to reduce the toxic effects of lead and cadmium.⁶ It can also bind with mercury, which causes various problems when accumulated in the body.⁷
Other studies suggest glutathione can help the body detoxify from persistent organic pollutants, which can build up in the body and cause damage.⁸
Support Liver Function
Glutathione's antioxidant properties can also help support liver function and protect liver health. The liver is a crucial organ, so protecting liver cells is vital for maintaining the overall health of your furry friend.
In one study from 2023, dogs with poor liver health were given glutathione supplements for two weeks. At the end of the trial, the dogs' glutathione levels had increased markedly; in turn, their liver health had improved, on average.⁹
Support the Immune System
Glutathione helps support the immune system in a few different ways. Its status as a master antioxidant, able to neutralize free radicals and eliminate heavy metals, is one way. Another way is by increasing the number of white blood cells.¹⁰
Healthy Inflammatory Response
Glutathione helps maintain a normal inflammatory cytokine cascade. Cytokines are proteins released by white blood cells to help coordinate the immune response.¹⁰
Research also suggests that glutathione can moderate the inflammatory response, helping your dog maintain a normal inflammatory response.¹¹
Whole Foods With Glutathione
Your dog produces glutathione naturally. However, you can supplement that glutathione production with a variety of whole foods.
Bonus: Does Your Cat Miss You When You Leave The House?
Plant Sources
Good plant-based sources of glutathione that are safe for dogs to eat include:¹²
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes (when ripe and in small amounts only)¹³
- Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, kale, and mustard greens
- Green Peppers
- Carrots
- Spinach (in moderation)¹⁴
- Mushrooms (remember to cook them first)¹⁵
Note that lemons and avocados are also high in glutathione, but are not safe for dogs to eat.
Meat Sources
Meat-based sources of glutathione that are safe for dogs include:
- Salmon¹⁶
- Lean meats like chicken and veal¹⁷
- Beef liver
Research shows that glutathione levels in foods are generally not affected by freezing. However, processing and preserving foods (besides freezing) can cause foods to lose their glutathione.¹⁸
Interestingly, research suggests that a lack of protein in general can lower glutathione levels, at least in humans. Take that as yet another reason to ensure your pup is eating their recommended amount of protein!¹⁹
Why Use Glutathione Supplements?
Your dog might be producing enough glutathione naturally — but then again, they might not. All kinds of things can impact glutathione levels in dogs, from stress to medications and beyond.
Additionally, research shows that older dogs generally have lower glutathione levels, regardless of their size.²⁰
As your dog gets older, their glutathione levels will likely decline. That's where supplements come in!
Supplements With Glutathione
There are plenty of pet supplements out there that can help boost your dog's glutathione levels. One classic is milk thistle. Another is our Maxx Life liver and immune support capsules, which contain glutathione and other helpful ingredients.
The most advanced supplement, however, is our soon-to-be-released Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs.
This first-of-its-kind supplement contains added amino acids like NAC, glycine, and glutamine to boost your dog’s natural production of glutathione. This groundbreaking supplement is also made with milk thistle to aid liver detox.
We've already discussed how the lipid bubble helps get more of the glutathione into your dog's bloodstream, where it can actually provide all the health benefits we list above. But our Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs also contains other crucial nutrients to help your dog make more glutathione themselves.
That means you get two benefits in a single supplement!
All of the ingredients in our Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs are vet-approved and formulated for everyday use. Plus, they contain no cannabis, THC, or artificial additives, so you can feel confident and comfortable with the supplements you give your furry friend.
Simply feed your dog a capsule by mouth or sprinkle the contents into their food - because it has a natural formula, there is no strong odor, and your pet will enjoy it!
Conclusion
Glutathione is vital to your dog's health. It can help with detoxification, boost antioxidant levels, reduce oxidative stress, and support immune and liver function.
Liposomal glutathione is the most advanced form of glutathione supplement available for dogs. It's on par with the supplements given to humans!
While your dog naturally produces glutathione themselves, their glutathione production will likely decline as a result of aging. Adding glutathione-rich foods and natural calming supplements to their diet may therefore be beneficial for their health.
Keep Reading: Does Dog CBD Oil Go Bad? Tips to Maximize Shelf Life
Sources
- Antioxidant Deficiencies in Hospitalized Dogs and Cats [State of the Art Lecture] - WSAVA2008 - VIN
- Effect of glutamine on glutathione kinetics in vivo in dogs - ScienceDirect
- Selected biomarkers of oxidative stress in healthy Beagle dogs: A preliminary study Reactive oxygen species, glutathione, and vitamin E concentrations in dogs with hemolytic or nonhemolytic anemia - Woolcock - 2020 - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Wiley Online Library
- Effect of glutamine on glutathione kinetics in vivo in dogs - ScienceDirect
- Reduced glutathione accelerates the oxidative damage produced by sodium n-propylthiosulfate, one of the causative agents of onion-induced hemolytic anemia in dogs - ScienceDirect
- Chronic exposure to xenobiotic pollution leads to significantly higher total glutathione and lower reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio in red blood cells of children with autism - ScienceDirect
- Toxicity of Glutathione-Binding Metals: A Review of Targets and Mechanisms - PMC
- Clinical Implications of Persistent Organic Pollutants ‐ Epigenetic Mechanisms
- Antioxidant Effect of a Dietary Supplement Containing Fermentative S-Acetyl-Glutathione and Silybin in Dogs with Liver Disease
- Relationship between Glutathione and the Immune System
- Glutathione: A key player in autoimmunity - ScienceDirect
- Glutathione for Food and Health Applications with Emphasis on Extraction, Identification, and Quantification Methods: A Review
- Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes? – American Kennel Club
- Can My Dog Eat Spinach?
- Antioxidants In Mushrooms - Dogs Naturally
- A Review of Dietary (Phyto)Nutrients for Glutathione Support - PMC
- 6 Foods That Can Boost Your L-Glutathione Levels
- Glutathione in foods listed in the National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Food Frequency Questionnaire - PubMed
- A Review of Dietary (Phyto)Nutrients for Glutathione Support - PMC
- Metabolomics of aging in primary fibroblasts from small and large breed dogs - PubMed
–
Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
