Glutathione
Also known as: GSH, reduced glutathione, L-glutathione, gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine
Effective Dosage
No established dose from provided studies
What the Science Says
Glutathione is a small protein your body makes naturally — often called the 'master antioxidant' because it neutralizes harmful free radicals and helps recycle other antioxidants. In the provided studies, glutathione (GSH) appears primarily as a biological marker of oxidative stress, with higher GSH levels associated with less cellular damage in contexts like cancer recovery, aging, and toxin exposure. No provided studies directly tested oral glutathione supplementation, so how well taking it as a pill translates to raising your body's GSH levels remains unclear from this data.
What It Doesn't Do
No evidence from these studies that taking glutathione pills directly raises your blood or tissue GSH levels. Not proven to detox your liver, whiten skin, or reverse aging based on this data. Don't assume 'antioxidant' on a label means it works the same as what your body makes naturally.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Glutathione functions as a primary endogenous antioxidant, with reduced GSH and the GSH/GSSG ratio serving as key markers of redox balance; disruptions in this ratio are associated with oxidative stress in conditions ranging from cancer survivorship to electromagnetic field exposure (PMIDs: 41685420, 41934922). Creatine plus HMB supplementation was nominally associated with preservation of glutathione redox balance in older adults during exercise training, though effects did not survive false discovery rate correction (PMID: 41712056). Glutathione also plays a role in hepatic detoxification, forming conjugates with reactive drug metabolites to facilitate their excretion (PMID: 41935817).
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose from provided studies
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown from provided studies — none of the papers tested oral glutathione absorption. General concern exists that stomach acid may break it down before absorption, but this is not addressed in the provided data.
Red Flags to Watch For
- None of the provided studies tested glutathione as a standalone oral supplement — all used it as a biomarker, not an intervention
- High-dose antioxidant supplements can sometimes interfere with beneficial oxidative stress signals needed for exercise adaptation
- Products claiming glutathione 'detoxifies' or 'whitens skin' are making claims not supported by the provided research
- Intravenous glutathione (used in some clinics) is very different from oral supplements — do not assume equivalent effects
- Over 1,000 registered supplement products contain glutathione (NIH DSLD), but commercial availability does not equal proven efficacy
Products Containing Glutathione
See how Glutathione is used in these analyzed products:
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-06