Glutathione
GSH / L-Glutathione / Gamma-Glutamylcysteinylglycine / Reduced Glutathione
A tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) that serves as the body's master antioxidant and primary detoxification molecule. Present in every cell, glutathione neutralizes reactive oxygen species, regenerates vitamins C and E, conjugates toxins for excretion, and supports immune cell function. Levels decline with age, stress, and toxic exposure. Liposomal and S-acetyl forms improve oral bioavailability.
Half-life
~1.5–3 hours (oral); minutes IV (rapidly distributed to tissues)
Typical Dose
250–1000 mg/day oral; 600–2000 mg IV
600/1000Route
oral
Category
immune
Evidence Overview
Strength of evidence across clinical, expert, and experimental lanes.
How Glutathione is dosed in practice
Usually taken by mouth. Typical range: 250–1000 mg/day oral; 600–2000 mg IV. Half-life: ~1.5–3 hours (oral); minutes IV (rapidly distributed to tissues). Each card gives the dose, frequency and duration from one evidence lane: Clinical (human trials), Expert (practitioner protocols) or Experimental (early or animal data). These ranges describe what has been studied or used; they are not a prescription.
Work out the units to draw with the reconstitution calculator, how long a vial lasts with the vial duration calculator, and how levels fall between doses with the half-life calculator.
Oral glutathione at 250–1,000 mg/day raised body glutathione stores over 1–6 months (2015, 2018). In a 2009 Parkinson's pilot, 1,400 mg IV three times weekly for 4 weeks showed no significant improvement over placebo.
- Randomized trials of oral glutathione (2015, 2018)
- Pilot trial in Parkinson's disease (2009)
Functional medicine cornerstone. IV push is the gold standard for rapid repletion. Liposomal oral forms (Quicksilver, Readisorb) achieve ~65% of IV levels. S-acetyl glutathione survives gastric acid. Always co-supplement with NAC and selenium for endogenous GSH production.
- Functional medicine clinical practice — detox and immune protocols
- Functional-medicine glutathione recommendations
- IV therapy clinic protocols for immune and detox support
Widely used supplement with strong user satisfaction. IV glutathione popular for skin brightening in aesthetic clinics. Some users report noticeable energy and immune improvements within days of starting liposomal form. Debate over sublingual vs liposomal vs S-acetyl forms.
- Consumer health forums — glutathione supplement reviews
- Aesthetic clinic patient reports for skin brightening
- Reddit r/Supplements — glutathione form comparison threads
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Upgrade to ProSafety & Contraindications
- Organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressants (may enhance immune function)
- Asthma (inhaled glutathione may trigger bronchospasm)
- Concurrent chemotherapy (may reduce efficacy of certain agents)
Glutathione: common questions
What is Glutathione?
A tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) that serves as the body's master antioxidant and primary detoxification molecule. Present in every cell, glutathione neutralizes reactive oxygen species, regenerates vitamins C and E, conjugates toxins for excretion, and supports immune cell function. Levels decline with age, stress, and toxic exposure. Liposomal and S-acetyl forms improve oral bioavailability.
How is Glutathione dosed?
Glutathione is usually taken by mouth. Typical range in DoseCraft's library: 250–1000 mg/day oral; 600–2000 mg IV. Clinical (human trials): 250–1,000 mg/day oral; 1,400 mg IV three times weekly in one Parkinson's pilot; Daily (oral); three times weekly (IV); 1–6 months (oral); 4 weeks (IV). Expert (practitioner protocols): 500 mg liposomal oral daily; 1000–2000 mg IV weekly; Daily oral; weekly or biweekly IV; Ongoing. Experimental (early or animal data): 500–1000 mg/day oral; Once or twice daily; Ongoing. These ranges describe what has been studied or used; they are not a prescription.
Is Glutathione FDA-approved?
Glutathione is sold as a dietary supplement, which the FDA does not approve for safety or effectiveness before sale.
What is the half-life of Glutathione?
DoseCraft's library lists a half-life of ~1.5–3 hours (oral); minutes IV (rapidly distributed to tissues). Half-life sets how often a compound is dosed and how long it takes to clear: about five half-lives.
Who should not use Glutathione?
Listed contraindications: Organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressants (may enhance immune function); Asthma (inhaled glutathione may trigger bronchospasm); Concurrent chemotherapy (may reduce efficacy of certain agents).
Information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any peptide regimen.
Page updated . How we grade evidence: methodology.