RP's skin experts caution vs. Glutathione products
Heard about the promise of skin-whitening, anti-aging and skin rejuvenation soaps, lotions, capsules and tablet-supplements?
Convinced about the purported power of Glutathione and Glutathione-based products to do all that thus dubbed as seeming "Fountain of Youth?"
The country's experts now speak and speak out loud in a position paper alarmed by the growing concern on Glutathione safety and efficacy.
In a five-paged declaration obtained by The News Today (TNT), the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) bares proven and evidence-based proof.
Claims made by distributors of Glutathione and Glutathione products are now debunked by the PDS. Iloilo is one of the major selling areas of over-the-counter Glutathione products. The city is also home to huge billboards showing the endorsements of celebrities.
PDS is the country's sole authority in the field of dermatology recognized by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). All PDS members underwent prescribed standard-training in the specialty of dermatology.
The position paper began with the rationale for the need of the group's stance. As such, the PDS used "evidence-based medicine," being the universal standard in health care delivery.
"It seeks to define the practice of Medicine using the best available scientific evidence on any particular health-related issue. Evidence is further classified and ranked according to strength… thus good medicine is defined by good evidence," the PDS said.
Among the more common 'evidence' are seen in print and broadcast advertisements using celebrities as endorsers.
These "testimonial evidence" however claiming "this drug works because it cured me and will work for you too!" is sadly classified as "weak" evidence. What the PDS wants the public to know is that Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) ranks strongest.
RCTs are controlled, standardized and unbiased studies, the PDS said.
And as validated by the group, all Glutathione distributors in the country claim that their products have whitening effect on the skin. 95.5% on the other hand claim their products to be antioxidants while others claimed anti-aging effects by a big 91%.
The PDS now tells the public of the actual reality.
"No published controlled-clinical trials. No published randomized control trials. One unpublished RCT (Philippines) – company sponsored clinical trial using Intravenous Glutathione; unable to retrieve copy of the study, results unknown," the PDS said.
There may be numerous anecdotes and testimonials yet as the group pointed out, such are "lowest level of evidence."
"Hence, good quality evidence is NOT found," the position paper went.
As for Glutathione supplements to be anti-aging, the PDS said "no cohort studies, no published controlled clinical trials and no published randomized controlled trials either."
Glutathione supplements as skin rejuvenation agents?
PDS failed to gather not a single published report.
Two recommendations were presented by the PDS.
"Glutathione oral (tablet) supplements and intravenous (IV) injection of Glutathione currently do not have scientifically proven skin whitening "anti-aging" or ski rejuvenating effects. Beware of retailers and distributors who make such claims," the PDS said. "Intravenous glutathione is considered a drug and should only be purchased and administered upon advice and supervision of a physician."
The PDS position paper was approved by the PDS board of directors and signed by its president, Arnelfa C. Paliza, MD, FPDS.