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Lexicon
Longevity

Glutathione

The body's most important antioxidant, central to detoxification and cell protection, often used for skin and general wellbeing.

2 min read 13 sources

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Glutathione vial with white powder and the black TPD label on a white podium, next to a blue 3D molecule model with a yellow sulphur atom
Phase 3 · not approved

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Structure
3 amino acids

Glutamate, cysteine and glycine, with a sulphur group13

Stores in cheek cells
+260 %

higher dose, 6 months by mouth; red blood cells, plasma and lymphocytes +30 to 35%2

Natural killer cell activity
>2 -fold

higher dose after 3 months versus placebo2

Phase 3 with infusion
185 patients

no protection against nerve damage from chemotherapy4

Phase 3 in the registry
3 trials

with glutathione itself, one of them with several agents, as of 26 Oct 202611

  • Glutathione is a tripeptide the body makes itself and the most abundant antioxidant in the body. It protects cells against oxidative damage and binds toxic foreign substances.29
  • A single dose by mouth did not measurably raise the blood level. Taken daily for six months, however, the stores rose and fell again after stopping.32
  • As an infusion before each chemotherapy, glutathione did not protect against nerve damage in a phase 3 trial with 185 patients.4
  • In Parkinson's disease an infusion and a nasal spray brought no advantage over placebo in small studies.56
  • Evidence for skin lightening by injection is thin. ChEMBL lists glutathione without an approval. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.812
Profile

Updated May 2026

Class
Antioxidant

tripeptide

Use
Subcutaneous

in mg

Half-life
short
Status
Established molecule

injection data limited

Sizes
600 to 1,500 mg

3 sizes in the shop

Contents 16 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Glutathione?
  3. How it works
  4. What you need
  5. Reconstitution
  6. Dosing
  7. Injection
  8. What the research shows
  9. Research status
  10. On the skin
  11. Side effects
  12. Storage
  13. Related compounds
  14. FAQ
  15. Glossary
  16. Sources

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous tripeptide and the cell's most important antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals, is central to liver detoxification and keeps other antioxidants active. In the scene it is often used for skin, detox and general wellbeing.

Comparison

Glutathione and related entries

Lexicon entries that contain glutathione or are used in a similar way. Tap a card to open its entry.

Tripeptide, antioxidant Glutathione
Blend with glutathione GGH (GHK + Glutathione + Histidine + NADH) Blend with glutathione Immunological Enhancement Coenzyme NAD+ Inject Mitochondrial peptide SS-31 (Elamipretide)

Simplified: similar use does not mean the same effect. There are no robust comparison studies.

How it works

Glutathione scavenges reactive oxygen species and is a cofactor for detoxification enzymes. It also regenerates vitamins C and E. Under oxidative stress GSH levels fall. Topping them up is meant to relieve cells.

Where it acts

Where glutathione was studied

Tap a point or a card. Glutathione does not act through a receptor, shown are findings from studies.

  1. Blood

    Stores in red blood cells 29 to 35% higher after 6 months by mouth2

    Observed in trials
  2. Brain

    Parkinson's disease: nasal spray no better than placebo after three months6

    Observed in trials
  3. Skin

    Melanin index tended to be lower than with placebo, women over 12 weeks, by mouth7

    Observed in trials
Glass-like cells with blue nuclei, with blue molecule chains carrying a yellow sulphur atom and dark particles in between
Symbolic image.

What you need

Supplies

2 things, numbered as in the picture

Tick off what you already have. Vial and BAC water are our real shop photos at the same size.

Glutathione vial and bacteriostatic water at the same size with the black TPD label, next to two U-100 insulin syringes, two alcohol swabs and a sharps container with a blue lid

  1. Glutathione vial

    The glutathione vial (lyophilized powder).

    In the shop

  2. BAC water, syringes and swabs

    Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.

    In the shop Amazon (opens a new tab)

As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon - no extra cost for you.

Reconstitution

Use the peptide calculator. A 600mg vial with 3ml water gives 200mg per ml. Do not aim for much more than about 200mg per ml, glutathione only dissolves in water up to just under 300mg per ml: a 1200mg vial therefore needs 6ml and a 1500mg vial 7.5ml, i.e. more than one BAC vial. Just add the water to the vial and let it dissolve.

Step by step

Dissolving the powder

Four steps, the same for every vial size.

  1. 1Wipe the cap

    Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.

  2. 2Add BAC water

    Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.

  3. 3Swirl or shake

    Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

  4. 4Draw up

    With the U-100 insulin syringe.

Less water higher concentration fewer units on the syringe Example: 600 mg + 3 ml = 200 mg/ml

Dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts

Injection

The injection is subcutaneous, into the fat layer under the skin. Common spots are the abdomen (keep about two finger-widths clear of the navel), the front and the inner side of the thigh, or the back of the upper arm.

The short version:

Injection

Where and at what angle

Pick a spot or switch the angle. Subcutaneous means: into the fat layer, not the muscle.

Rotate the spot each time, never the same one twice in a row.

90°More fat under the skin

Rule of thumb: where there is more fat under the skin, insert straight at 90 degrees. In lean people with little fat, 45 degrees, so the needle stays in the fat layer. Simplified diagram.

  1. Clean the spot with an alcohol swab and let it dry

  2. Pinch up a small fold of skin

  3. Insert the needle: at 90 degrees where there is more fat under the skin, at 45 degrees in lean people with little fat

  4. Inject slowly, wait a moment, then withdraw

  5. Put the needle straight into the sharps container

Rotate the site each time so the tissue does not get irritated. Never the same spot twice in a row.

What the research shows

Glutathione itself is well understood. A clean study (Richie, 2015) showed that oral administration over months measurably raised the body's own glutathione stores. For injectable use and the cosmetic promises (skin lightening) the data is thinner, so stay honest here.

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

Glutathione stores after 6 months2

Rise from baseline, 54 healthy adults, daily by mouth

Whole blood2
Lower dose 17%
Red blood cells2
Lower dose 29%
Cells of the cheek lining2
Higher dose 260%

With the higher dose red blood cells, plasma and lymphocytes rose by 30 to 35%. One month after stopping the levels were back at baseline.

Symptoms of nerve damage during chemotherapy10

Mean in points on a scale of 0 to 100, higher = fewer symptoms, phase 3 trial

Nerve damage questionnaire10 Infusion before each chemotherapy, up to 6 cycles
Placebo 82.1%
Glutathione infusion 83.7%

No significant difference. The time to more severe nerve damage even slightly favoured placebo. The authors do not support glutathione for this purpose.

Test tubes with clear liquid, a glass liver model and lemon and lime halves on a bright lab bench
Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

Shown are trials with glutathione itself, as an infusion, nasal spray, inhalation, capsule or on the skin. Trials with precursors such as N-acetylcysteine are left out. As of 26 Oct 2026. 11

  1. Preclinical Cell and animal studies on oxidative stress and detoxification
  2. Phase 1 6 trials, 5 completed
  3. Phase 2 5 trials, 4 completed
  4. Phase 3 3 trials, 2 completed
  5. Approval not yet
211 participants in phase 3 Planned figures for running trials ChEMBL lists glutathione without an approval (highest phase 3). According to a review, glutathione for injection is only approved for severe liver disease and to protect against nerve damage from chemotherapy, not for skin lightening.11
Show all 9 phase 2, 3 and 4 trials on a timelineHide timeline 6 completed 2 running 1 stopped early 2 with results
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4

Bar: start to primary endpoint (planned for running trials). Green = completed, blue = progress until 26 Oct 2026, grey = stopped early. Phase 1: 6 trials on safety and pharmacokinetics, not shown as bars.

On the skin

Glutathione has also been tested as a lotion, in its oxidised form (GSSG). In a placebo-controlled study with 30 women the glutathione lotion went on one half of the face for ten weeks and a lotion without active ingredient on the other. On the glutathione side the melanin value fell more and the skin became moister and smoother, with no notable side effects (Watanabe 2014). The study was run by a glutathione manufacturer.

Hand touching a swirl of white cream on a light marble slab with water droplets and white flowers
Symbolic image.

Side effects

  • Generally well tolerated, mainly local reactions.
  • With very high or fast IV doses, circulatory reactions are possible.

Tolerability

Serious adverse events in the phase 3 trial

Patients on chemotherapy, infusion before each dose.

1 of 100 Placebo
7 of 100 Glutathione infusion
Event PlaceboGlutathione infusion
Serious adverse events10 1%7%

Figures from the registry record. The authors found no difference in apparent toxicities. In a small nasal spray study in Parkinson's disease one participant on the higher dose developed cardiomyopathy.1046

Storage

Before mixing the powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. After mixing, keep in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), do not freeze. It stays good there for at least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. Swirl or shake to mix, both are fine.

Shelf life

How long it keeps

Undissolved (powder) Room temperature, around 20 to 25 degrees, dark

Robust, no fridge needed. Best kept in the dark.

Dissolved (mixed) Fridge, 2 to 8 degrees, do not freeze

At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency.

  • Keep it dark
  • Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
  • Note the mixing date on the vial
Nine vials with white powder and blue caps in the door shelf of a bright fridge
Powder dark at room temperature, once dissolved into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), stable there for at least 4 to 6 months. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

Blends with Glutathione or a different path: all in the TPD lexicon.

Glutathione
GGH (GHK + Glutathione + Histidine + NADH) Contains glutathione plus GHK, histidine and NADH Immunological Enhancement Contains glutathione plus vitamin C and zinc NAD+ Inject Different path: coenzyme in energy metabolism SS-31 (Elamipretide) Different path: peptide at the mitochondria GHK-Cu Another tripeptide, with copper

FAQ

Common questions about Glutathione

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

Is glutathione approved?

ChEMBL lists glutathione without an approval, the highest phase is 3. A review names approvals for injectable glutathione only for severe liver disease and to protect against nerve damage from chemotherapy. There are none for skin lightening, detox or well-being. ClinicalTrials.gov lists three phase 3 trials with glutathione itself.12811

Does glutathione by mouth do anything?

A single dose in 7 healthy adults did not raise the blood level, enzymes in the gut and liver break glutathione down. Taken daily for six months, however, stores rose in 54 adults: by up to 35 percent in red blood cells and 260 percent in cheek cells. One month after stopping, levels were back at baseline.32

What do studies with infusion show?

In a phase 3 trial with 185 cancer patients an infusion before each chemotherapy did not protect against nerve damage. In 21 people with Parkinson's disease an infusion over four weeks was well tolerated, but the difference from placebo was not significant.45

Does glutathione lighten the skin?

There is little evidence. In a study of women over 12 weeks the melanin index with glutathione by mouth was only slightly lower than with placebo. A review criticises the widespread use as an injection: the data come from a single study of doubtful design. Some authorities have issued warnings. As a lotion in the oxidised form the melanin value fell more than with placebo in a split-face study with 30 women, but the study came from a manufacturer.781

How does glutathione work?

Glutathione is the most abundant small sulphur compound in cells. It neutralises oxidants, binds toxic foreign substances and maintains the balance between oxidation and reduction. The body makes it itself from three amino acids.913

Which side effects are known?

In the studies with capsules and with infusion in Parkinson's disease glutathione was well tolerated. In the phase 3 infusion trial 7 of 94 patients had a serious event according to the registry, versus 1 of 91 on placebo. In a nasal spray study one participant developed cardiomyopathy. There are no robust data on injections under the skin.75106

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

Antioxidant
A substance that neutralises aggressive oxygen compounds before they damage cells.
Free radicals
Highly reactive molecules, often from oxygen, that attack proteins, fats and DNA.
Infusion
Giving a substance directly into a vein over a longer time.
Lymphocytes
White blood cells of the immune system, including natural killer cells.
Lyophilisate
Freeze-dried powder. Without water the substance keeps much longer.
Oxidative stress
An imbalance in which more oxidants form than the cell can remove.
Placebo
Dummy treatment without the active substance. Comparing against it shows what is due to the substance itself.
Reduced and oxidised (GSH, GSSG)
GSH is the active form. After neutralising an oxidant it exists as GSSG and is converted back.
Subcutaneous
Into the fat layer just under the skin.
Tripeptide
A peptide made of exactly three amino acids. For glutathione these are glutamate, cysteine and glycine.

Evidence

Sources

Show all 13 sourcesHide sources 9 Studies2 Trial registry2 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Glutathione lotion on one half of the face versus placebo

    Watanabe et al., Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014

    DOI 10.2147/CCID.S68424 PMID 25378941
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. Randomised trial: glutathione by mouth over 6 months

    Richie et al., European Journal of Nutrition, 2015

    DOI 10.1007/s00394-014-0706-z PMID 24791752
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Barely any uptake of a single oral dose

    Witschi et al., European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1992

    DOI 10.1007/BF02284971 PMID 1362956
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Phase 3: infusion against nerve damage from chemotherapy

    Leal et al., Cancer, 2014

    DOI 10.1002/cncr.28654 PMID 24619793
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Pilot study with infusion in Parkinson's disease

    Hauser et al., Movement Disorders, 2009

    DOI 10.1002/mds.22401 PMID 19230029
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  6. Phase 2b with nasal spray in Parkinson's disease

    Mischley et al., Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 2017

    DOI 10.3233/JPD-161040 PMID 28436395
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  7. Oral glutathione and skin properties in women

    Weschawalit et al., Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

    DOI 10.2147/CCID.S128339 PMID 28490897
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  8. Review of glutathione for skin lightening

    Sonthalia et al., Dermatology Practical and Conceptual, 2018

    DOI 10.5826/dpc.0801a04 PMID 29445569
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  9. Overview of the protective roles and synthesis of glutathione

    Forman et al., Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 2009

    DOI 10.1016/j.mam.2008.08.006 PMID 18796312
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. Results of the phase 3 trial in the registry

    ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02311907 (Ergebnisse eingetragen)

    NCT02311907
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2
  2. All trials with glutathione on ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Glutathione in ChEMBL (not approved, highest phase 3)

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL1543)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL
  2. Structure of glutathione in PubChem

    PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine (CID 124886)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via PubChem

In the shop

Glutathione in the catalog

Sizes, prices and shipping times are on the product page.

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