The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the blood concentrations of the total and reduced forms of the low-molecular-weight antioxidant thiol glutathione (GSH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in comparison to healthy individuals. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception until June 2020. In the 18 studies identified (involving a total of 974 COPD patients and 631 healthy controls), the pooled reduced GSH concentrations were significantly lower in patients with COPD than controls (SMD = -3.04, 95% CI = -4.42 to -1.67; p < 0.001). By contrast, the pooled total GSH concentrations were significantly higher in patients with COPD than controls (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.73; p = 0.009). Our meta-analysis showed that the blood concentrations of reduced GSH, even in the presence of higher total GSH concentrations, were significantly lower in patients with COPD when compared to healthy controls. This suggests that an impaired antioxidant defense system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); glutathione; oxidative stress.