Anti-Inflammatory IV

Full ingredient list

Exact amounts delivered in each size. Formulas are compounded per patient and can be adjusted by your provider.

Supporting studies

• 1

  Glutathione is the body's most abundant intracellular antioxidant and its central redox regulator.

  This widely cited review in Molecular Aspects of Medicine describes glutathione as the most abundant low-molecular-weight thiol compound synthesized in human cells. The authors detail its role in protecting cells from oxidative damage and from the toxicity of reactive xenobiotic electrophiles, and in maintaining the cell's overall redox balance. The paper covers where oxidants and electrophiles come from, how glutathione eliminates them (by reduction and by conjugation), and how glutathione synthesis is regulated - including therapeutic strategies for raising cellular glutathione content.

  Mechanistic review Forman HJ, Zhang H, Rinna A Glutathione: overview of its protective roles, measurement, and biosynthesis. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 2009. PMID 18796312 ↗

• 2

  Glutathione is the molecule liver enzymes attach to toxins during Phase II detoxification so they can be excreted.

  This Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology review covers the three mammalian glutathione transferase (GST) families - cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal. These Phase II enzymes conjugate glutathione onto electrophilic xenobiotics such as carcinogens and environmental pollutants, and also onto endogenous compounds including aldehydes, quinones, and lipid hydroperoxides generated during oxidative stress. The review also describes glutathione transferases' roles in leukotriene, prostaglandin, and steroid hormone biosynthesis, and in modulating gene expression through nuclear receptor pathways. Glutathione is the required cofactor for this entire conjugation system.

  Mechanistic review Hayes JD, Flanagan JU, Jowsey IR Glutathione transferases. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2005. PMID 15822171 ↗

• 3

  Glutathione levels fall sharply with age, and restoring glutathione synthesis returns older adults' oxidative stress markers to youthful levels within two weeks.

  Using stable-isotope infusion techniques, researchers compared eight older and eight younger adults. Older subjects had markedly lower red blood cell glutathione concentrations, a substantially reduced rate of glutathione synthesis, and elevated markers of oxidative stress and oxidant damage. After just two weeks of supplementation with the glutathione precursors cysteine and glycine, older subjects' glutathione synthesis rates and concentrations were fully restored and their oxidative stress markers fell to levels comparable with the young control group. Route: dietary/oral precursor supplementation; glutathione status measured directly in blood.

  Controlled clinical study with stable-isotope kinetics Sekhar RV, Patel SG, Guthikonda AP, et al. Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011. PMID 21795440 ↗

• 4

  Glycine acts as a direct anti-inflammatory and cell-protective agent by calming immune cells and stabilizing cell membranes.

  This review in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care summarizes evidence that L-glycine is anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and cytoprotective. Glycine acts on inflammatory cells such as macrophages to suppress activation, opening a glycine-gated chloride channel that hyperpolarizes and stabilizes the cell membrane and blunts inflammatory signaling. Documented protective effects span ischemia-reperfusion and cold-storage injury in liver, kidney, heart, intestine and skeletal muscle, along with suppression of arthritis and protection against gastric ulceration. Evidence base is largely mechanistic and preclinical.

  Mechanistic review (preclinical evidence) Zhong Z, Wheeler MD, Li X, et al. L-Glycine: a novel antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective agent. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2003. PMID 12589194 ↗

• 5

  In a randomized clinical trial, supplementing the glutathione building blocks glycine and N-acetylcysteine corrected glutathione deficiency in older adults and improved walking speed, muscle strength and mitochondrial function.

  Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine randomized 24 older adults (ages 61-80) to GlyNAC or placebo for 16 weeks, with 12 young adults as a comparison group. Older adults started out glutathione-deficient with high oxidative stress and impaired mitochondrial fuel oxidation; GlyNAC — and not placebo — improved or corrected those defects and also improved gait speed, muscle strength, 6-minute walk distance, waist circumference and blood pressure. Supplementation was oral, and was reported as safe and well tolerated.

  Randomized controlled trial Kumar P, et al. Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2023. PMID 35975308 ↗

• 6

  An earlier clinical trial of the same NAC-based protocol restored red blood cell glutathione in older adults and improved inflammation, insulin sensitivity, blood vessel function, strength, gait speed and cognition.

  This 24-week pilot clinical trial supplemented older adults with glycine plus N-acetylcysteine and measured red-cell glutathione, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and a broad panel of clinical outcomes. Supplementation corrected glutathione deficiency and improved inflammation, endothelial function, insulin resistance, genomic damage, cognition, muscle strength, gait speed and exercise capacity, while lowering body fat and waist circumference. Benefits declined after supplementation was stopped for 12 weeks, indicating the effects tracked with continued nutrient delivery. Route was oral.

  Clinical trial Kumar P, et al. Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: Results of a pilot clinical trial. Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2021. PMID 33783984 ↗

• 7

  Taurine combined with amino acids reduced post-workout soreness, swelling, muscle-damage markers and oxidative stress.

  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 untrained young men took 2.0 g taurine and 3.2 g branched-chain amino acids (or placebo) three times daily for two weeks before and three days after a high-intensity eccentric arm workout. The combination group reported significantly lower soreness on the visual analogue scale two days after exercise, had smaller increases in upper-arm circumference (swelling) on days 2–3, lower lactate dehydrogenase on days 1–3, and lower 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine — a marker of oxidative DNA damage — at day 2. Route: oral.

  Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial Ra SG, Miyazaki T, Ishikura K, et al. Combined effect of branched-chain amino acids and taurine supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in high-intensity eccentric exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. PMID 24195702 ↗

• 8

  Methionine is an essential sulfur amino acid that feeds directly into glutathione production and activates the body's own antioxidant enzymes.

  This review characterizes methionine as an aliphatic, sulfur-containing essential amino acid that the body cannot synthesize and must obtain from outside sources. It describes methionine's role in lipid metabolism, in activating endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as methionine sulfoxide reductase A, and in the biosynthesis of glutathione to counteract oxidative stress. Methionine also serves as a precursor for other key metabolites and helps regulate immune and metabolic function in mammals. This links methionine and N-acetylcysteine to the same downstream antioxidant pathway.

  Mechanistic review Martínez Y, et al. The role of methionine on metabolism, oxidative stress, and diseases. Amino Acids. 2017. PMID 28929442 ↗

• 9

  Vitamin C supplementation raised glutathione — the body's master antioxidant — inside red blood cells by nearly 50%.

  In this double-blind study, adults consumed vitamin C-restricted diets and took placebo for a baseline week, then 500 mg of L-ascorbate daily for two weeks, then 2,000 mg daily for two weeks, then placebo again. Mean red blood cell glutathione rose nearly 50% after the 500 mg period compared with baseline (p < 0.05), with individual increases ranging from +8% to +84%. The authors concluded that vitamin C supplementation maintains reduced glutathione concentrations in blood and improves the overall antioxidant protective capacity of blood. (Route: oral.)

  Double-blind human supplementation study Johnston CS, Meyer CG, Srilakshmi JC Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1993. PMID 8317379 ↗

• 10

  Vitamin C recharges spent vitamin E inside human cells, letting a single vitamin E molecule keep protecting cell membranes over and over.

  Working with intact human red blood cells, researchers showed that intracellular ascorbate both protects and recycles alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). When cells were depleted of ascorbate, oxidants destroyed alpha-tocopherol to a much greater extent; when cells were loaded with ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol loss dropped significantly. Critically, ascorbate was consumed first and almost completely before alpha-tocopherol began to decline, demonstrating that vitamin C is spent to spare and regenerate vitamin E in the cell membrane.

  Mechanistic study in human cells May JM, Qu ZC, Mendiratta S Protection and recycling of alpha-tocopherol in human erythrocytes by intracellular ascorbic acid. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 1998. PMID 9448716 ↗

• 11

  Magnesium is a required cofactor for more than 600 enzyme reactions, including the ones that produce and use cellular energy.

  This comprehensive physiology review in Physiological Reviews describes magnesium as the second most abundant intracellular cation and an ion 'essential to the human body,' involved in over 600 enzymatic reactions including energy metabolism and protein synthesis. It maps how magnesium is absorbed, stored in bone and muscle, and regulated by the kidney, and why adequate magnesium status underpins normal nerve, muscle and metabolic function. This is the standard reference for magnesium's foundational biochemical role.

  Comprehensive physiological review (mechanistic) de Baaij JHF, Hoenderop JGJ, Bindels RJM Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease. Physiological Reviews. 2015. PMID 25540137 ↗

• 12

  Magnesium cut the frequency and intensity of muscle cramps in a double-blind randomized trial.

  Eighty-six women experiencing leg cramps at least twice weekly were randomized to 300 mg daily of magnesium (as magnesium bisglycinate) or placebo for four weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A 50% or greater reduction in cramp frequency was achieved by 86.0% of the magnesium group versus 60.5% of placebo (P = 0.007), and a 50% or greater reduction in cramp intensity by 69.8% versus 48.8% (P = 0.048), with no difference in adverse effects between groups. Route: oral supplementation.

  Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial Supakatisant C, Phupong V Oral magnesium for relief in pregnancy-induced leg cramps: a randomised controlled trial. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2015. PMID 22909270 ↗

• 13

  Lactated Ringer's is built to match your own blood chemistry, and its lactate is converted into bicarbonate — the body's natural buffer.

  This clinical review in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine explains that balanced crystalloids such as lactated Ringer's carry sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations closer to those of human extracellular fluid than saline does, and therefore have fewer adverse effects on acid-base balance when infused. The review documents that operating-room trials showed balanced crystalloids rather than saline prevent the development of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, and notes emerging evidence that the lactate itself serves as a fuel for the brain and heart under stress.

  Concise clinical review (physiology and trial evidence) Semler MW, Kellum JA Balanced Crystalloid Solutions. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2019. PMID 30407838 ↗

References

• 1Forman HJ, Zhang H, Rinna A. Glutathione: overview of its protective roles, measurement, and biosynthesis. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 2009. PMID 18796312 ↗
• 2Hayes JD, Flanagan JU, Jowsey IR. Glutathione transferases. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2005. PMID 15822171 ↗
• 3Sekhar RV, Patel SG, Guthikonda AP, et al. Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011. PMID 21795440 ↗
• 4Zhong Z, Wheeler MD, Li X, et al. L-Glycine: a novel antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective agent. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2003. PMID 12589194 ↗
• 5Kumar P, et al. Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2023. PMID 35975308 ↗
• 6Kumar P, et al. Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: Results of a pilot clinical trial. Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2021. PMID 33783984 ↗
• 7Ra SG, Miyazaki T, Ishikura K, et al. Combined effect of branched-chain amino acids and taurine supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in high-intensity eccentric exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. PMID 24195702 ↗
• 8Martínez Y, et al. The role of methionine on metabolism, oxidative stress, and diseases. Amino Acids. 2017. PMID 28929442 ↗
• 9Johnston CS, Meyer CG, Srilakshmi JC. Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1993. PMID 8317379 ↗
• 10May JM, Qu ZC, Mendiratta S. Protection and recycling of alpha-tocopherol in human erythrocytes by intracellular ascorbic acid. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 1998. PMID 9448716 ↗
• 11de Baaij JHF, Hoenderop JGJ, Bindels RJM. Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease. Physiological Reviews. 2015. PMID 25540137 ↗
• 12Supakatisant C, Phupong V. Oral magnesium for relief in pregnancy-induced leg cramps: a randomised controlled trial. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2015. PMID 22909270 ↗
• 13Semler MW, Kellum JA. Balanced Crystalloid Solutions. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2019. PMID 30407838 ↗