L-Glutathione
Amino Acid ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
The body's master antioxidant, critical for detoxification and immune function.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
L-Glutathione is an amino acid most often used for detoxification, antioxidant defense, immune support. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 250-500 mg daily, commonly taken as liposomal glutathione or s-acetyl glutathione (better oral bioavailability). This profile indexes 18 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: detoxification, antioxidant defense, immune support. 18 sources indexed (2000–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) that directly neutralizes ROS, regenerates vitamins C and E, conjugates toxins in phase II liver detoxification, and supports T-cell function.10
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Standard Reduced Glutathione.
Assumes about 250-500 mg/day. Liposomal and S-acetyl forms push the category upward fast. Updated 2026-04-02.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Glutathione in food varies with freshness and cooking; precursor intake also matters.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
1- 1Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Glutathione in DermatologyPMIDKhanna R, Rambhia P, Chapas A · The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2025
Khanna R, Rambhia P, Chapas A. Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Glutathione in Dermatology. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. 2025
Randomized controlled trials
6- 2Liposomal glutathione outperforms plain glutathione in uptake, cell regeneration and systemic availability: evidence from cellular and human modelsPMIDBresciani L et al. · British Journal of Nutrition · 2025
Liposomal glutathione showed 1.9-fold higher cellular uptake and 6x higher maximum plasma concentration than plain glutathione, maintaining levels >500 ng/mL at 24 hours.
- 3The effects of the oral supplementation of L-Cystine associated with reduced L-Glutathione-GSH on human skin pigmentation: a randomized, double-blinded, benchmark- and placebo-controlled clinical trialPMIDDuperray J, Sergheraert R, Chalothorn K, Tachalerdmanee P, Perin F · J Cosmet Dermatol · 2022
RCT of 124 Asian women found 12 weeks of oral L-Cystine (500 mg) + L-Glutathione (250 mg) significantly lightened skin and reduced facial dark spot size, outperforming placebo and either compound alone.
- 4Randomized Clinical Trial of How Long-Term Glutathione Supplementation Offers Protection from Oxidative Damage and Improves HbA1c in Elderly Type 2 Diabetic PatientsSource linkedPMIDKalamkar S, Acharya J, Madathil AK et al. · Antioxidants (Basel) · 2022
- 5The effects of 3 weeks of oral glutathione supplementation on whole body insulin sensitivity in obese males with and without type 2 diabetes: a randomized trialSource linkedPMIDSondergard SD, Cintin I, Kuhlman AB et al. · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · 2021
- 6Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune functionPMIDSinha R et al. · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2018
Liposomal GSH elevated whole blood GSH by 40%, erythrocyte GSH by 25%, plasma GSH by 28%, and PBMC GSH by 100% after 2 weeks, with enhanced immune function markers.
- 7Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathionePMIDRichie JP Jr et al. · European Journal of Nutrition · 2015
Oral GSH supplementation at 250 and 1000 mg/day for 6 months significantly increased blood GSH levels, natural killer cell cytotoxicity, and reduced oxidative stress markers.
Reviews & position papers
10- 8Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of Glutathione Supplementation for Skin Lightening: A Narrative ReviewPMIDAlzahrani TF, Alotaibi SM, Alzahrani AA et al. · Cureus · 2025
Alzahrani TF, Alotaibi SM, Alzahrani AA et al.. Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of Glutathione Supplementation for Skin Lightening: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2025
- 9Glutathione‑degrading enzymes in the complex landscape of tumors (Review)PMIDZhang T, Yao C, Zhou X et al. · International journal of oncology · 2024
Zhang T, Yao C, Zhou X et al.. Glutathione‑degrading enzymes in the complex landscape of tumors (Review). International journal of oncology. 2024
- 10An Update on Glutathione's Biosynthesis, Metabolism, Functions, and Medicinal PurposesPMIDLucchi L et al. · Antioxidants · 2023
GSH neutralizes ROS, regenerates vitamins C and E, conjugates toxins in phase II liver detoxification, and supports T-cell function as the body's master antioxidant.
- 11The Role of Glutathione in Prevention of COVID-19 Immunothrombosis: A ReviewPMIDGlassman I, Le N, Mirhosseini M et al. · Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition) · 2023
Glassman I, Le N, Mirhosseini M et al.. The Role of Glutathione in Prevention of COVID-19 Immunothrombosis: A Review. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition). 2023
- 12Augmented Glutathione Absorption from Oral Mucosa and its Effect on Skin Pigmentation: A Clinical ReviewPMIDSharma DK, Sharma P · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2022
Sharma DK, Sharma P. Augmented Glutathione Absorption from Oral Mucosa and its Effect on Skin Pigmentation: A Clinical Review. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. 2022
- 13The role of glutathione redox imbalance in autism spectrum disorder: A reviewPMIDBjørklund G, Tinkov AA, Hosnedlová B et al. · Free radical biology & medicine · 2020
Bjørklund G, Tinkov AA, Hosnedlová B et al.. The role of glutathione redox imbalance in autism spectrum disorder: A review. Free radical biology & medicine. 2020
- 14The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: A systematic reviewPMIDDilokthornsakul W et al. · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2019
Oral glutathione at 250-500 mg/day showed significant reduction in melanin index compared to placebo across 5 RCTs, though overall evidence remains inconclusive.
- 15Glutathione-related factors and oxidative stress in autism, a reviewPMIDGhanizadeh A, Akhondzadeh S, Hormozi M et al. · Current medicinal chemistry · 2012
Ghanizadeh A, Akhondzadeh S, Hormozi M et al.. Glutathione-related factors and oxidative stress in autism, a review. Current medicinal chemistry. 2012
- 16Does oral glutathione supplementation raise glutathione levels in the body?Source linkedPMIDAllen J, Bradley RD · J Altern Complement Med · 2011
- 17Glutathione and immune functionPMIDDroge W et al. · Proceedings of the Nutrition Society · 2000
Even moderate changes in intracellular glutathione have profound effects on lymphocyte functions; GSH regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immune response.
Common questions.
Quick answers about L-Glutathione, drawn from the data on this page.
What is L-Glutathione?
The body's master antioxidant, critical for detoxification and immune function.
What is L-Glutathione used for?
Commonly cited benefits of L-Glutathione include: Detoxification; Antioxidant defense; Immune support; Skin brightening. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of L-Glutathione?
A typical adult dose of L-Glutathione is 250-500 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is Liposomal glutathione or S-acetyl glutathione (better oral bioavailability). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of L-Glutathione?
Reported side effects include well tolerated, bloating. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for L-Glutathione?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
L-Glutathione in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.