Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose any conditions. LifeDNA does not provide diagnostic services for any conditions mentioned in this or any other article.

Your body constantly works to keep itself healthy, especially by protecting its cells from damage. One of the ways it does this is through powerful antioxidant systems. One of the important parts in this system is a gene called GPX1.

Understanding this allows you to support your body with smarter steps to protect your wellness and keep your body strong. Understanding your genes can help you make smarter health choices and give your body the things it needs to thrive.

You may want to read: How Genetics Shapes Your Body’s Use to Glutathione

What is GPX1?

The GPX1 gene is an important part of your body’s defense system. It codes for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1, which helps clean up harmful byproducts and keeps oxidative stress in check. Oxidative stress happens when your body can’t keep up with the buildup of damaging byproducts created during normal cell activity.

What Does the GPX1 Do?

Inside each cell, chemical reactions are constantly taking place. Some of these reactions produce byproducts like hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides. If these aren’t properly cleared out, they can harm cells and contribute to oxidative stress.

This is where the GPX1 enzyme comes in. It helps break down those harmful substances, turning them into forms the body can safely remove. In doing so, GPX1 helps protect cells and supports overall health.

To work effectively, GPX1 relies on glutathione, one of the body’s most important natural antioxidants. Glutathione acts as a partner to GPX1, helping it neutralize damaging molecules. What makes GPX1 especially powerful is that it contains a rare building block called selenocysteine, a special version of the amino acid cysteine that includes the mineral selenium. This unique feature boosts the enzyme’s ability to fight oxidative stress.

What Is the C599T Genetic Variant?

While most people have the standard version of the GPX1 gene, some have a small genetic change called C599T also known as Pro198Leu, or the SNP rs1050450. This change replaces the C allele to a T allele. This small change may affect how well the GPX1 enzyme works. Studies have found that people with the T allele  of this SNP may have:

  • Weaker antioxidant protection:
     The T allele may make the enzyme less effective. This means your body isn’t as good at removing harmful substances that build up during normal cell activity.
  • Higher levels of oxidative stress:
     When your body can’t clear out these harmful substances properly, they build up and cause stress on your cells. This is called oxidative stress and may lead to cell damage over time.
  • Increased risk for certain health problems:
     If oxidative stress continues, it may raise your risk for serious conditions like cancer and heart disease. That’s why it’s important to support your body’s antioxidant system if you carry this gene variant.

How Can GPX1 Affect Health?

A research study on the GPX1 gene looked at the rs1050450 C>T  (C599T) variant and how it might affect people with diabetes. This gene makes an important antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1), which helps protect the body from oxidative stress. But when someone carries the T allele of this SNP, the enzyme doesn’t work as well.

Researchers studied over 1,100 people with diabetes from two separate groups in the UK. They found that people who carried the T allele were more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. In both groups, the risk was significantly higher in T allele carriers, even after accounting for other risk factors.

The study also found that people with the T allele had higher levels of oxidized LDL, a marker of oxidative stress. This means their bodies had a harder time fighting off damaging molecules.

Another study investigated the link between the GPX1 gene variant rs1050450 and ovarian cancer risk among Turkish women. The research involved 90 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 90 healthy controls. Results showed that women with the CC genotype (two C alleles) of the GPX1 variant had a lower risk of ovarian cancer. In contrast, those with the TT genotype had about three times higher risk. The presence of the single T allele was also associated with increased cancer risk. This study suggests that the rs1050450 variant in the GPX1 gene may influence ovarian cancer susceptibility in Turkish women, with the CC genotype potentially offering some protection and the TT genotype linked to greater risk.

Both studies show these findings suggest that reduced GPX1 activity due to the T variant may weaken the body’s antioxidant defense, making individuals more vulnerable to diseases related to oxidative damage. More research is needed, but these findings highlight how this gene could play a role in long-term health.

Understanding this helps us recognize how small changes in our genes like the rs1050450 SNP in the GPX1 gene may affect our body’s ability to handle oxidative stress. 

What Can You Do If You Have the  C599T Variant?

Even if you carry the T allele of the GPX1 gene variant C599T (rs1050450), there are things you can do to support your antioxidant system. Some nutrients can help either by supporting GPX1 directly or by acting as antioxidants on their own. Let’s explore what might help:

  • Glutathione: Since GPX1 needs glutathione to do its job, having enough of it is essential. Glutathione supplements can help in two ways. They support the GPX1 enzyme so it works properly. Glutathione also fights oxidative stress on its own, even without GPX1.
  • Vitamin C: This is one of the most well-known antioxidants. It helps protect cells from free radical damage and can be especially helpful for people with lower GPX1 activity.
  • Vitamin E: A vitamin known to protect the body from lipid-based free radicals, which are harmful fats that damage cells. If your GPX1 isn’t working at full strength, vitamin E can help fill the gap.
  • Vitamin A: Like vitamin E, vitamin A is especially good at targeting lipid-derived oxidative stress. It can help protect your cells if GPX1 is less effective because of the T allele.

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