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Amino acid derivative

Glutathione

Glutathione is a small molecule that cells make from three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. It takes part in antioxidant and detoxification processes inside cells.

Also listed as L-Glutathione

LongevityOrgan FunctionImmune SupportHair & Skin

Can oral glutathione change blood levels?

A six-month placebo-controlled trial in 54 nonsmoking adults tested 250 or 1,000 mg daily. Glutathione increased in several blood and cell measurements, with levels returning toward baseline after a month without supplementation. This supports an effect on body stores under the studied conditions. 1

Why are the results described as mixed?

An earlier four-week trial in 40 healthy adults tested 500 mg twice daily. It found no significant improvement in glutathione status or the measured markers of oxidative damage compared with placebo. The studies differed in duration and measurements, so neither result should erase the other. 1 2

Oxidative stressMixed

Glutathione measurements changed in the longer trial, but the shorter trial found no improvement in the measured oxidative-damage markers. 1 2

An early liver-disease signal

In an uncontrolled pilot, 29 people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease completed four months of 300 mg daily after lifestyle counseling. The liver enzyme ALT fell. Without a comparison group, the study cannot establish that glutathione caused the change or treats fatty liver disease. 3

What would count as a health benefit?

EFSA distinguishes changes in antioxidant systems from demonstrated protection against oxidative damage. For such claims, changes in glutathione-related measures need evidence of additional protection in humans. A laboratory improvement alone does not answer whether someone feels better or avoids disease. 4

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.

Immune Support1 effect

Immune SupportSmallBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Hair & Skin1 effect

Skin textureHair & SkinSmallCNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Other effects1 effect

InflammationSmallC2 studies
Evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of sublingual glutathione on COPD patients2023Role of glutathione in immunity and inflammation in the lung2011

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

All studies

8 publications are linked to Glutathione, newest first.

A Literature Review of Glutathione Therapy in Ameliorating Hepatic Dysfunction in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease2025Evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of sublingual glutathione on COPD patients2023Efficacy of glutathione for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study2017Glutathione defense mechanism in liver injury: insights from animal models.2013Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in human volunteers.2011Role of glutathione in immunity and inflammation in the lung2011Antioxidant role of glutathione S-transferases: protection against oxidant toxicity and regulation of stress-mediated apoptosis.2004Glutamine, as a precursor of glutathione, and oxidative stress.1999

Sources