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Glutathione-rich Foods for Type 2 Diabetes

Effects of the Glutathione Support for Health (GSH) Plan on Glutathione Status in Type 2 Diabetes

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04386187
Acronym
GSH
Enrollment
12
Registered
2020-05-13
Start date
2020-07-28
Completion date
2021-04-02
Last updated
2022-01-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Keywords

Type 2 diabetes, Glutathione, Nutrition

Brief summary

The purpose of this research study is to find out whether certain plant-based foods may be beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes. To meet the goal, study participants will be fed known amounts of foods and nutrients. Before and after participants have eaten the food, they will self-measure height, weight, and waist circumference and study staff will administer questionnaires. Blood samples will be taken at a local lab to measure blood sugar and blood lipids.All study appointments will be conducted online.

Detailed description

This research study is a randomized, controlled trial that will evaluate whether diet and nutrition education on, and short-term partial feeding of, specific plant foods high in the antioxidant glutathione will impact total glutathione status, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, glucose control or insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. Dietary education will include information on plant sources of glutathione, as well as, cooking methods to reduce glycation and lipid peroxidation during cooking, which may indirectly alter glutathione status by reduce demand for elimination of these compounds. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups: the educational intervention plus partial feeding of two small meals per day vs. a wait list control group that will receive standard advice on nutrition for diabetes. After 12 weeks, the intervention group will no longer receive foods, but will be followed for 12 additional weeks to determine if lasting effects are achieved. After 12 weeks, the control group will receive access to the educational materials, but will not receive study foods, to see if the educational intervention alone impacts food/nutrition choices. Both groups will have lab measures (as described above) again after this additional 12 weeks, for a total duration of 24 weeks in the trial.

Interventions

OTHERGSH Foods

The intervention consists of customized foods/small meals that have been designed to be high in a single nutrient called glutathione (GSH).

OTHERNutrition education about glutathione sources in the diet

Four videos will outline food sources of glutathione, cooking methods to reduce systemic requirements for glutathione, food sources of nutrient cofactors for glutathione production and other related content.

OTHERStandard of care nutrition education for type 2 diabetes

The educational control is provided with information on standard dietary interventions for diabetes as electronic handouts and web links.

Sponsors

University of California, San Diego
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Intervention model description

This is a partial controlled-feeding trial in which participants will be initially randomized to a food intervention or education control and then will be crossed-over after 12 weeks.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Men and women * Ages 18 to 65 * Type 2 diabetes * Free of self-reported acute and confounding chronic diseases (e.g., heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal disorder) based on a standardized medical history questionnaire * Free of alcoholism, smoking and major cardiovascular event with the past 6 months * Not on insulin to help manage diabetes * Planning on staying in the San Diego area for the next 6 months * Willing to select plant-based foods from a menu and eat the selected foods provided by the study team * Have access to the internet and a computer * Willing to view 4 weekly educational classes online, followed by periodic telephone and email contacts * Agree to schedule and complete periodic questionnaires and measurements during up to four total online appointments

Exclusion criteria

* Alcoholism, smoking and recent cardiovascular events * Individuals will be excluded if they report any dietary restrictions, allergies or preferences * Unsuitability based on screening visit

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total glutathione12 weeksTotal glutathione concentration in the blood
gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)12 weeksMeasure of glutathione demand in the blood

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Fasting glucose12 weeksSerum glucose concentration while fasting
Fasting insulin12 weeksPlasma insulin concentration while fasting
Hemoglobin A1c12 weeksMeasure of glycemic control
Homeostasis Assessment Index of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)12 weeksEstimate of insulin resistance
Low density lipoprotein concentration (LDL-c)12 weeksconcentration of LDL lipoproteins in serum
High density lipoprotein concentration (HDL)12 weeksconcentration of HDL lipoproteins in serum
Triglycerides12 weeksconcentration of triglycerides in serum

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total glutathione24 weeksTotal glutathione concentration in the blood
Fasting insulin24 weeksPlasma insulin concentration while fasting
gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)24 weeksMeasure of glutathione demand in the blood
Fasting glucose24 weeksSerum glucose concentration while fasting
Hemoglobin A1c24 weeksMeasure of glycemic control
Homeostasis Assessment Index of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)24 weeksEstimate of insulin resistance
Low density lipoprotein concentration (LDL-c)24 weeksconcentration of LDL lipoproteins in serum
High density lipoprotein concentration (HDL)24 weeksconcentration of HDL lipoproteins in serum
Triglycerides24 weeksconcentration of triglycerides in serum

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026