Glutathione
What it’s used for
Glutathione is an antioxidant tripeptide your body makes on its own. People take it by injection, by mouth, as a nasal spray or as a cream for antioxidant and liver support, immune health, skin brightening and brain health. Human trials are small: an oral form raised blood levels, and a nasal Parkinson's trial found no benefit over placebo.
- Antioxidant levels Small human studies In a 14-person trial, a micellar oral form raised blood glutathione more than comparison products.
- Skin brightening Small human studies Used to lighten skin; reported effects are modest and temporary.
- Liver & detox support Community reports Used for liver and detox pathways, though it isn't a proven general detox treatment.
- Immune support Community reports Explored for T-cell, NK-cell and macrophage function.
- Brain health Small human studies Used as a nasal spray for brain health. A 45-person Parkinson's trial found no benefit over placebo.
What to expect
- Weeks 4–8
Subtle changes reported with injections or oral use
- Months 3+ (nasal)
Nasal use runs 3+ months; improvement may not follow
Side effects & safety
Side effects
- Stomach upset with oral use
- Nasal or skin irritation
- Possible zinc depletion at high doses
- Serious reactions are possible: anaphylaxis, liver injury or injection-site infection
Stop and get help if
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or dark urine
- Trouble breathing or signs of an allergic reaction
- Unusual bruising
Which symptoms mean call 911 or see a doctor
Avoid or check first if
- Pregnant or breastfeeding — safety is unknown
- G6PD deficiency — high doses are flagged for possible red-blood-cell breakdown (hemolysis)
- Asthma — inhaled forms may make it worse
- On chemotherapy — it may interfere with treatment
- IV use for cosmetic skin lightening — sources flag serious concerns
In sport
Not on WADA’s banned list. An approved medicine in Italy and Russia that fits no WADA class, so the substance is allowed. A wellness drip of more than 100 mL in 12 hours, outside hospital care, breaks the IV rule.
Which peptides are banned in sport
How much people take
Injectable
Injectable
- General antioxidant support 1–2× weekly · into muscle or IV (into a vein) 200–400 mg
- Immune support 1–2× weekly · into muscle or IV (into a vein) 400–600 mg
- Maintenance Once weekly · under the skin or into muscle 200 mg
- Detoxification support 2–3× weekly · IV push or slow infusion 400–600 mg IV · in a clinic
- Neurological support (Parkinson's research) 3× weekly · IV infusion (clinical protocol) 1,400 mg IV · in a clinic
Similar doses appear in 5 other sources
Oral
For every goal: Oral
- General antioxidant support Daily · liposomal preferred 250–500 mg
- Enhanced support Daily, divided doses · liposomal or Sublingual 500–1,000 mg
Similar doses appear in 2 other sources
In studies & labels
- Oral exposure comparison Single administrations in a crossover design · Oral · Acute crossover Product-specific pharmacology, not an injection protocol. 300 / 500 mg micellar formulation / standard comparator
Nasal
For every goal: Nasal spray
- Neurological support (PD research protocol) 3× daily 100–200 mg per nostril
- General brain health support 1–2× daily 100 mg per nostril
Similar doses appear in 2 other sources
Topical
- Skin brightening 1–2× daily · Apply to face/target areas 2–5% cream or serum
- Antioxidant skin support Daily · Apply after cleansing 2% cream
How to store it
How many units do I draw?
Injectable
Injectable
Fridge · don't freeze 2–8°C (35.6–46.4°F), protected from light; use by the manufacturer's expiration date
Ready to use
The injectable form doesn’t need mixing.
Injecting under the skin Where, rotating sites, which syringe
- Where: belly (at least 2 in / 5 cm from the navel), front of the thigh, or back of the upper arm.
- Rotate sites each time and skip bruised, scarred or sore skin.
- Syringe: most people use a U-100 insulin syringe with a short, thin needle (29–31 gauge, 8 mm or shorter).
- How: wipe with alcohol and let it dry, pinch the skin, go in at 45–90°, push slowly. Use each syringe once.
General practice for under-the-skin injections, not specific to Glutathione.
The full guide: how to inject safely
Oral
Room temp Away from heat and moisture; refrigerate liposomal products after opening if the label says to
Ready to use
The oral form doesn’t need mixing.
Nasal
Fridge Protect from light
Ready to use
The nasal form doesn’t need mixing.
Topical
Per product label Usually room temperature, away from light
Ready to use
The topical form doesn’t need mixing.
Combining it with others
AI assessment Based on how each compound works, not on studies of the combination. How we assess
Use caution 2
- Melanotan I Opposite goals: glutathione is used to lighten skin, melanotan darkens it.
- Melanotan II Opposite goals: glutathione is used to lighten skin, melanotan darkens it.
Can be combined 8
- NAD+ Different jobs: energy versus antioxidant. Often offered side by side at IV clinics.
What the research says
Few human studies
- Raising blood glutathione levels hasn't been shown to improve health on its own.
- The main oral study had 14 people and short follow-up, too small to catch rare or long-term effects.
- Oral results don't show that injections, IV or inhaled forms are safe or work for anti-aging.
- It isn't a substitute for standard acetaminophen-overdose treatment; NAC supports glutathione production.
- The research doesn't confirm the identity or purity of separately sourced products.
What studies found
- Oral formulation bioavailability A micellar product produced greater exposure than comparison products. Doses and formulations differed; short biomarker follow-up cannot establish long-term health benefit.
- Phase IIb Study of Intranasal Glutathione in Parkinson's Disease In 45 participants over 3 months, neither glutathione arm improved symptoms more than placebo. Improvement from baseline alone did not establish efficacy.
A half-life hasn’t been verified for this compound.
What it’s made of
- Length
- 3 amino acids
- Molecular weight
- Not verified
- Formula
- Not verified
Sequence 3 · N → C
- γE
- C
- G
γE = gamma-glutamyl linkage, distinct from an ordinary alpha-peptide bond.
Sequence and formulation must be confirmed for the exact material; similarly named products are not necessarily interchangeable.
Sources
Sources 17
How this page was made
How it may work: Redox regulation, antioxidant recycling and conjugation; oral, liposomal, nasal and topical delivery have different evidence.
Other names: GSH · Reduced glutathione
Preparation in studies: A product-specific preparation or sterility protocol has not been verified.
NAC supports glutathione synthesis; glutathione itself is not a substitute for established acetaminophen-overdose treatment.
Research last checked: Oct 12, 2026 (a targeted search, not a full review).
Community doses, how long people take it, timing and storage are compiled with AI from public peptide guides, clinics and forums, cross-checked against other sources where we could, and rewritten in plain language. “Combining it with others” is an AI assessment of how the compounds work. Study notes are written from each paper’s abstract where one exists. How we source
Original source guide