The Fast Facts
- Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress, a process linked to aging and various chronic diseases.
- Potential health benefits include supporting healthy aging, liver health, immune function, exercise recovery, and skin brightening. However, more research is needed.
- Our top picks for glutathione supplements include Thorne for athletes and Nutricost as a budget-friendly option.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant made from three amino acids: cysteine, glutamate, and glycine.
Its main role is helping to protect cells from oxidative damage, a process linked to aging and various chronic diseases.
Although your body produces glutathione naturally in the liver, levels tend to decline with age. Chronic illness, inadequate nutrition, alcohol use, smoking, and prolonged stress may also reduce levels.
Keep reading for our picks of the 5 best glutathione supplements.
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To help you decide which products are worth considering, Healthline researched the best glutathione supplements using the following criteria:
- Vetting: We vet all products to ensure they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards. These products meet the allowable health claims and labeling requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they’re manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs).
- Ingredients: We aimed to include several options that are free of potentially unwanted ingredients, such as artificial flavors or sweeteners, certain allergens, and additives and preservatives.
- Price: We included supplements to fit a wide range of budgets.
- User reviews: All the vitamins on this list have mostly favorable customer reviews.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when shopping for glutathione supplements.
- Price: Price is an important consideration. If you’ll be taking supplements for an extended period, it’s important to know how much you’ll be spending each month.
- Quality: Because the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way as medications, it’s important to select products from trusted brands. Ideally, look for products that are third-party tested to ensure purity and potency. - Drug interactions: It’s important to check with a healthcare professional before taking any new supplements, especially if you’re already taking prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Glutathione may provide a broad range of health and beauty benefits, including:
protecting the body from oxidative stressimproving liver function in nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseregulating the immune system and controlling how strongly it reacts to threatssupporting muscle recovery after fatiguereducing skin pigmentation in some formssupporting mental health - maintaining brain health and aging
However, evidence is still developing, especially in relation to glutathione supplementation, and more high quality human research is needed.
Medical Perspective“Research has only proven that glutathione is a very powerful antioxidant. Any other health claim about glutathione (and there are many promising connections) is in its infancy and more studies are needed.”
— Katherine Marengo, LDN, R.D.
Learn more about glutathione benefits and risks.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Oral and topical glutathione are generally well tolerated in studies and appear to be safe at typical doses, although long-term data are limited. Possible side effects include mild digestive symptoms like bloating or nausea.
You should avoid IV or compounded glutathione without medical supervision due to reported safety risks.
Yes. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is metabolized in part via glutathione, and high or prolonged doses can temporarily deplete liver glutathione levels as it helps detoxify a harmful byproduct of the drug.
There is no established recommended daily allowance (RDA) for glutathione, as it is not considered an essential dietary nutrient like vitamins or minerals.
In studies using glutathione supplementation, typical doses range from 250 to 1,000 mg per day, and many supplements on the market typically provide around 500 mg per day.
Yes, but only slightly and inconsistently.
Oral and topical glutathione may reduce melanin production, leading to mild skin lightening in some people. However, the effect varies, is not guaranteed, and the evidence is still limited. Injectable forms work faster but can carry serious health risks.
Glutathione is an important antioxidant that helps protect against oxidative stress.
It may offer several health and beauty benefits, including supporting immune function, liver health, and muscle recovery, though more research is needed.
When choosing a glutathione supplement, consider the added ingredients, the brand’s reputation, and its testing practices. Options vary widely, including formulas for athletes, budget-friendly picks, and higher-absorption forms.
As always, consider your individual needs and speak with a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement.