Glutathione
GSH / S-acetyl glutathione / liposomal glutathione · Longevity
The body's master antioxidant — heavily marketed injectable and oral, with an absorption story more complicated than the labels admit.
What the evidence says
Oral bioavailability findings are mixed — some short studies found little serum change, while at least one six-month randomized trial reported increased body stores with ordinary oral glutathione. Hard outcome data (skin, detox, longevity) is thin; the popular skin-lightening use rests on the weakest evidence and the most aggressive marketing.
What studies used
Published oral trials have used 250–1,000 mg/day. Published trials dosed daily without establishing a preferred time.
Reported from published studies and product labelling — a record of what was used in research, not a recommendation. What is right for you is a conversation with a clinician.
Watch out for
- Injectable vials from unregulated sources carry sterility risk — this category enters the same needle as everything else sold beside it
- NAC, a precursor, has its own separate absorption evidence — the two are often conflated in marketing
Evidence base
established literature
Large human evidence base: several phase 3 or 4 trial reports, plus multiple meta-analyses or systematic reviews.
This letter measures how much human research exists, not whether it works for you — the tier above (Limited) is the read on quality.
Research (12)
- Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune functionEur J Clin Nutr · 2018
- Oral delivery of therapeutic peptides and proteins: Technology landscape of lipid-based nanocarriersAdv Drug Deliv Rev · 2022
- The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: A systematic reviewJ Cosmet Dermatol · 2019
- Bioavailability and metabolismMol Aspects Med · 2002
- Oral Exposure of Arsenic-Contaminated Soils Triggers Hepatic Ferroptosis via Iron Dysregulation and Glutathione Metabolism Disruption: From Bioavailability to MechanismsEnviron Sci Technol · 2025
- Curcumin: the story so farEur J Cancer · 2005
- Enhanced oral bioavailability and in vivo antioxidant activity of chlorogenic acid via liposomal formulationInt J Pharm · 2016
- Design of novel proliposome formulation for antioxidant peptide, glutathione with enhanced oral bioavailability and stabilityDrug Deliv · 2019
- Development of Poly(lipoic acid) Nanoparticles with Improved Oral Bioavailability and Hepatoprotective Effects of QuercetinMol Pharm · 2022
- Ginsenoside F2-modified liposomes delivering FTY720 enhance glioblastoma targeting and antitumor activity via ferroptosisPhytomedicine · 2025
- Liposomal-glutathione provides maintenance of intracellular glutathione and neuroprotection in mesencephalic neuronal cellsNeurochem Res · 2010
- Nano-Structured Lipid Carrier-Based Oral Glutathione Formulation Mediates Renoprotection against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity, and Improves Oral Bioavailability of Glutathione Confirmed through RP-HPLC Micellar Liquid ChromatographyMolecules · 2021
Turn Glutathione into a plan that's yours
The info above is free. Membership makes it personal, the Coach answers questions about your exact stack, the Stack tracks it for you, and the Verified Sources shows you how to vet what you buy.
- ✓ AI Coach, ask anything about your stack. It does the dosing math, flags interactions, and tells you what to do next.
- ✓ Personal Stack, save your protocol, track it across devices, log doses, get a heads-up before a vial runs out.
- ✓ Verified Sources, the vetted reference for checking quality and sourcing, members only.
Cancel anytime · or save with $59.99/yr · Coach + Stack included