How does glutathione work?

Glutathione is a peptide made of three amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, and glycine). It is the body's main antioxidant inside cells, also listed as GSH and reduced glutathione. This site's profile says it mops up harmful oxygen molecules directly and through an enzyme, recycles other antioxidants, and helps the body tag toxins for removal. It is listed as lasting minutes in the blood. Its molecular weight is 307.3 daltons. Glutathione pills are sold as a supplement. Injected forms are not an FDA-approved drug. A six-month study in 54 adults found glutathione pills raised glutathione in the blood and red blood cells by 17 to 35%, and improved its balance of used to fresh forms. Levels went back to where they started after people stopped. That study did not measure any health change a person would notice. A one-month pilot in 12 adults, with no comparison group, found a liposomal form raised blood glutathione by up to 40%. The FDA linked at least 30 side effects, including fever, chills, shock-like symptoms, and hospital stays, to compounded IV glutathione made from supplement-grade material that was contaminated with bacterial toxins. A rise in blood levels 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.