Peptide Profile
Glutathione
Your body's master antioxidant — a tiny three-part protein that shields your cells and helps clear out toxins.
Compound Profile
Scientific & Efficacy Data
C10H17N3O6S
Molecular Formula
307.33 g/mol
Molecular Weight
Very short in blood — roughly 2 to 10 minutes as intact glutathione; tissue pools turn over more slowly
Half-Life
Low by mouth — intact glutathione is largely broken down in the gut by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; liposomal, intranasal, IV and inhaled routes bypass this
Bioavailability
70-18-8
CAS #
124886
PubChem ID ↗
Developed By · Not engineered — a natural molecule. Discovered 1888 (de Rey-Pailhade); named and characterized by F. Gowland Hopkins (1921); confirmed as a tripeptide in 1929
F. Gowland Hopkins (characterization); first observed by Joseph de Rey-Pailhade
University of Cambridge (Hopkins)
Primary Benefits
The core role — directly neutralizing free radicals and powering antioxidant enzymes [4]. Strongly supported by biochemistry.
Tags and helps clear toxins and drug byproducts via glutathione-S-transferase [4].
Higher oral dosing more than doubled natural killer cell activity in a 6-month trial [2].
Amino Acid Sequence
γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine (Glu-Cys-Gly; an unusual gamma peptide bond links the glutamate)Dosing
How much
do I take?
Starting Dose
250 mg per day (oral)
This is the lower dose used in the 6-month oral trial, which still raised body glutathione stores by roughly 17–29% in blood [2]. A gentle starting point.
Standard Dose
1,000 mg per day (oral)
The higher oral dose in the same trial raised blood glutathione about 30–35% and more than doubled natural killer immune-cell activity by 3 months [2]. Liposomal forms may improve absorption.
Advanced Dose
1,400 mg IV three times weekly, or 200 mg intranasal
Clinic-administered routes that bypass gut breakdown. IV 1,400 mg three times weekly was well tolerated in Parkinson's [1]; a single 200 mg intranasal dose raised brain glutathione [3]. Use only under medical supervision.
Timing
Best time to take
Oral glutathione is commonly taken in the morning. Some people split it or take it on an empty stomach, though trials simply used daily dosing [2].
With food?
Can be taken with or without food. An empty stomach may slightly reduce competition from dietary proteins, but consistency matters more than timing.
If stacking
Often paired with vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine (NAC, a cysteine source the body uses to build glutathione), alpha-lipoic acid, or selenium, which support the glutathione recycling system.
Adjusting Your Dose
Increase if
- +You tolerate the starting dose well and want stronger support
- +You are using a low-absorption oral form and feel no effect after several weeks
Decrease if
- -You notice stomach upset, bloating or loose stools
- -You experience any cough or chest tightness with inhaled forms
Signs of right dose
- ✓Steady energy and general well-being
- ✓No digestive upset
- ✓Lab work (if checked) shows improved glutathione or oxidative-stress markers
Dosing Calculator
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Suitability
Is this
right for me?
Best For
Everyday antioxidant support
Raising your body's own glutathione helps mop up free radicals — the unstable molecules behind cell wear-and-tear. Six months of daily oral dosing measurably increased body stores [2].
Liver and detox support
Glutathione tags toxins and drug byproducts so your liver can clear them out through the glutathione-S-transferase pathway [4].
Immune support
In the 6-month oral trial, the higher dose more than doubled the activity of natural killer cells, a front-line immune defender [2].
Brain-delivery research (Parkinson's)
Getting glutathione into the brain through the nose or a vein has been studied in Parkinson's disease, where it was well tolerated and reached brain tissue [1][3].
Consider Alternatives If
Who Should Avoid
Do not use if
- ×You have a known allergy to glutathione or a product ingredient
- ×You have asthma and are considering the inhaled/nebulized form [5]
Use with caution if
- !You are pregnant or breastfeeding (limited safety data)
- !You are undergoing chemotherapy — coordinate with your oncologist
- !You are sulfite-sensitive
Administration
How do I
use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
- •Oral capsules or liposomal liquid need no mixing
- •For injectable/IV vials (clinic use): bacteriostatic water or sterile saline
- •Alcohol swabs
- •Appropriate syringe
Injection
Route
Most users take glutathione by mouth and never inject. Clinical studies used intravenous (IV) infusion [1] or intranasal spray [3]; intramuscular injection is also used in some clinics.
Best sites
- •IV: arm vein (clinic only)
- •Intranasal: into a nostril
- •Intramuscular: upper outer thigh or shoulder (clinic only)
Technique
- 1.IV and IM routes should be performed by a trained healthcare professional
- 2.For intranasal, follow the compounded product's spray instructions
- 3.Always use sterile, single-use supplies
- 4.Never attempt IV dosing at home
Storage
Signs of degradation
Safety
Is it
safe?
Safety Profile
Glutathione has a reassuring safety record in studies. Taken by mouth at 250–1,000 mg a day for 6 months, people had no significant side effects [2], and IV glutathione at 1,400 mg three times a week was well tolerated with no safety concerns [1]. The clearest warning is for the inhaled form: in people with mild asthma, nebulized glutathione triggered coughing and airway tightening, likely from sulfite sensitivity [5].
Most human studies are small pilot trials lasting weeks to months, so long-term safety at high doses and across all routes is not fully mapped. The strongest safety data are for oral and short-course IV use; inhaled use carries a specific asthma caution [1][2][5].
Common Side Effects
Experienced by some users
Generally well tolerated
Across oral and IV studies, most people had no significant side effects [1][2].
Management: No action needed for most users; start low and build up.
Unpleasant smell or taste
Sulfur-containing glutathione can have a rotten-egg odor, most noticeable with inhaled or liquid forms.
Management: Use capsules or rinse the mouth; this is harmless.
Less Common
- •Mild stomach upset, bloating or loose stools
- •Transient cough
These typically resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Stop and Seek Help If
- ×Any wheezing, cough or chest tightness with inhaled forms
- ×Signs of an allergic reaction (rash, swelling, trouble breathing)
- ×Persistent stomach upset that does not settle with a lower dose
- ×Your doctor advises stopping before a procedure or new treatment
This information is educational and not medical advice. Glutathione is not an FDA-approved drug. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider before starting, especially if you have asthma, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take other medicines.
Interactions
With other peptides
- ✓No specific peptide interactions are well documented; generally considered compatible
With medications
- !Chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin) - Studied to reduce some chemo side effects, but could affect treatment — use only under oncologist guidance
- ✓Other prescription medicines - Discuss with your doctor before combining
With supplements
- ✓Vitamin C - Helps recycle glutathione back to its active form
- ✓N-acetylcysteine (NAC) - Supplies cysteine the body uses to build glutathione
- ✓Alpha-lipoic acid - Supports glutathione regeneration
- ✓Selenium - A cofactor for glutathione peroxidase
Effectiveness
Does it
work?
Evidence Level
Moderate human trials
What to Expect
Weeks 1–4
What you might notice
- •Often nothing dramatic yet
- •Possibly steadier energy or well-being
What's normal
- •Glutathione is building quietly in your blood and tissues
- •No obvious day-to-day change is normal this early
What's next
- →Keep dosing consistently — benefits build over time
Weeks 5–12
What you might notice
- •Possible improvements in general well-being
- •Immune measures can rise — natural killer activity more than doubled by 3 months at the higher oral dose [2]
What's normal
- •Body glutathione stores continue climbing in a dose-dependent way [2]
What's next
- →Consider whether to stay at your dose or adjust with your clinician
Months 4–6+
What you might notice
- •Body stores reach their fuller levels — about 30–35% higher in blood at the high oral dose [2]
What's normal
- •Effects plateau as stores fill; benefits fade after stopping (values returned to baseline after a 1-month washout) [2]
What's next
- →Decide on continued use; remember gains reverse once you stop
Signs It's Working
Physical
- ✓Steadier energy
- ✓General sense of recovery and well-being
Subjective
- ✓Feeling less run-down
- ✓Subjective resilience to stress or illness
Clinical/Lab
- ✓Higher measured blood or tissue glutathione [2]
- ✓Improved oxidative-stress markers
- ✓Increased natural killer cell activity [2]
Not Seeing Results?
Common reasons
- •Using a plain oral form that is largely broken down in the gut — try liposomal, NAC, or clinic-administered routes
- •Dose too low for your goal — the higher oral dose worked better in trials [2]
- •Not enough time — body stores build over weeks to months [2]
- •Expecting an immediate, obvious effect when changes are mostly internal
Key Research
[1]"Randomized, double-blind, pilot evaluation of intravenous glutathione in Parkinson's disease"
Hauser RA, Lyons KE, McClain T, Carter S, Perlmutter D, 2009
Finding: In 21 people with Parkinson's, IV glutathione 1,400 mg three times a week for 4 weeks was well tolerated with no safety concerns. Motor/daily-living scores improved by a mean of 2.8 units more than placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.32).
View Study[2]"Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione"
Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al., 2015
Finding: In 54 non-smoking adults, oral glutathione (250 or 1,000 mg/day for 6 months) raised body glutathione stores in a dose-dependent way — about 30–35% in blood compartments and 260% in cheek cells at the high dose. Natural killer immune cell activity more than doubled at the high dose by 3 months.
View Study[3]"Central nervous system uptake of intranasal glutathione in Parkinson's disease"
Mischley LK, Conley KE, Shankland EG, et al., 2016
Finding: In 15 people with mid-stage Parkinson's, a single 200 mg intranasal dose raised measured brain glutathione (by MRS) — roughly a 269% increase in the glutathione-to-creatine ratio at 45 minutes, staying elevated for at least an hour (P<0.001).
View Study[4]"The Key Role of GSH in Keeping the Redox Balance in Mammalian Cells: Mechanisms and Significance of GSH in Detoxification via Formation of Conjugates"
Kennedy L, Sandhu JK, Harper ME, Cuperlovic-Culf M, 2023
Finding: Reviews how glutathione protects cells: it neutralizes peroxides as a partner to glutathione peroxidase (cycling between GSH and GSSG via glutathione reductase and NADPH), tags toxins for removal through glutathione-S-transferase, and fine-tunes protein function through reversible S-glutathionylation.
View Study[5]"Nebulized glutathione induces bronchoconstriction in patients with mild asthma"
Marrades RM, Roca J, Barberà JA, et al., 1997
Finding: In people with mild asthma, inhaled (nebulized) glutathione caused cough, breathlessness and measurable airway narrowing. The effect tracked with sulfite sensitivity, flagging an important caution for the inhaled route in asthma.
View Study[6]"On the discovery of glutathione"
Simoni RD, Hill RL, Vaughan M (historical review of Hopkins' work), 1988
Finding: Traces glutathione's history: first observed in yeast by de Rey-Pailhade in 1888 (he called it philothion), extracted and named by F. Gowland Hopkins in 1921, and confirmed in 1929 as a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine and glycine.
View StudyFrequently Asked Questions