How does glutathione work?

Glutathione is a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine, the principal intracellular antioxidant, also listed as GSH and reduced glutathione. This site's profile says it neutralizes reactive oxygen species directly and via glutathione peroxidase, recycles other antioxidants, and conjugates toxins through glutathione S-transferases. Plasma half-life is listed as minutes. Molecular weight is 307.3 daltons. Oral glutathione is sold as a supplement; injectable forms are not an FDA-approved drug. A six-month randomized trial in 54 adults found oral GSH raised blood and erythrocyte glutathione 17 to 35% and lowered the oxidized-to-reduced ratio; levels returned to baseline after washout. That trial did not measure a health outcome a person would notice. A one-month uncontrolled pilot in 12 adults found liposomal GSH raised whole-blood GSH up to 40%. The FDA linked at least 30 adverse events, including fever, chills, shock-like symptoms, and hospitalizations, to endotoxin-contaminated compounded IV glutathione made from supplement-grade material. A blood-level rise is not a skin-lightening or detox result. This FAQ does not invent a dose. Full record at /compounds/glutathione.

Educational use only. This database summarizes published research and is not medical advice. Where a dose appears it is a record of what a trial or clinic ran, or what people describe doing, with its source attached. Nothing here is a recommendation for personal use.

Part of healing and recovery peptides. BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, and the tissue repair family, including what actually has human data.