{"id":"glutathione","name":"Glutathione","aliases":["GSH","reduced glutathione","L-glutathione","IV glutathione"],"url":"https://lyoresearch.com/compounds/glutathione","class":{"id":"longevity-compounds","name":"Mitochondrial, antioxidant and longevity compounds","url":"https://lyoresearch.com/classes/longevity-compounds"},"summary":"Glutathione is a three-amino-acid molecule every cell makes and uses to handle oxidative stress. It is sold orally and, in some countries, intravenously for skin lightening. Systematic reviews of the small trials find it may brighten sun-exposed skin slightly, but call the evidence inconclusive because the studies are few, small and inconsistent. Oral absorption is itself questionable, and the intravenous use that carries the most risk has the least evidence — in 2026 the FDA linked at least 30 adverse events, some needing hospital care, to injectables compounded from supplement-grade glutathione contaminated with endotoxin.","overall_grade":"C","overall_grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","human_trials":"Small RCTs; systematic reviews inconclusive","regulatory_status":"Supplement; injectable use unapproved","molecule":{"formula":"C10H17N3O6S","molecular_weight":"307.33","cas":"70-18-8","pubchem_cid":124886,"note":null},"pharmacokinetics":{"basis":"human","route":"Intravenous in the PK study; oral supplements have negligible bioavailability","half_life":"About 14 minutes (intravenous, healthy volunteers). A 3 g oral dose did not raise plasma glutathione","licensed_regimen":null,"product":null,"source":{"title":"Aebi S, et al. High-dose intravenous glutathione in man: pharmacokinetics and effects on cyst(e)ine in plasma and urine. Eur J Clin Invest 1991","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1907548/"}},"outcomes":[{"outcome":"Skin lightening","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"small","adverse":false,"human_studies":"4 studies in systematic review (3 RCTs)","evidence":"Oral 500 mg/day and topical 2% oxidised glutathione reduced the melanin index in sun-exposed skin; no effect was seen in sun-protected skin. Reviewers judged the overall evidence inconclusive.","references":[{"citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","where":"J Cosmet Dermatol, 2019;18:728–737","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"Current evidence of the skin whitening effect of glutathione is still inconclusive due to the quality of included studies and inconsistent findings.","citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}},{"outcome":"Oral bioavailability","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"small","adverse":true,"human_studies":"Reviews","evidence":"Whether swallowed glutathione survives digestion in a useful form is unresolved, and is the standing objection to the oral products.","references":[{"citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","where":"J Cosmet Dermatol, 2019;18:728–737","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"However, the clinical efficacy of glutathione in oral form is still questionable due to its limited absorption and bioavailability.","citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}},{"outcome":"Intravenous use for skin","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":false,"human_studies":"No adequate controlled trial","evidence":"The intravenous route is the one most heavily marketed and the least studied. Regulators in several countries have warned against it, and injecting an unapproved product carries risks the skin trials never measured.","references":[{"citation":"Sarkar R, et al. Glutathione as a skin-lightening agent and in melasma: a systematic review.","where":"Int J Dermatol, 2025","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39444151/"}]},{"outcome":"Endotoxin reactions from compounded injectables","grade":"B","grade_meaning":"probable, not settled","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":true,"human_studies":"FDA case series (≥30 patients); recalls","evidence":"On 27 August 2026 the FDA reported at least 30 patients with fever, chills, pain, dizziness and shock-like symptoms after intravenous glutathione compounded from dietary-supplement-grade material, some hospitalised, and judged the picture consistent with excess endotoxin. A nationwide recall of affected lots followed in September, with nine further reports, and on 1 October 2026 another compounding pharmacy recalled ten lots after two patients needed emergency care; both had been given intravenously a product made for injection under the skin. Not a trial, but a regulator-verified harm signal for the injectable route.","references":[{"citation":"FDA. FDA reminds compounders not to use dietary supplement-grade glutathione in injectables.","where":"FDA statement, 27 Aug 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-reminds-compounders-not-use-dietary-supplement-grade-glutathione-injectables"},{"citation":"FDA. Nationwide recall of compounded glutathione injectables and two blends due to elevated endotoxin levels.","where":"FDA recall notice, posted 13 Sep 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/centric-compounding-issues-nationwide-recall-glutathione-myers-cocktail-and-tri-immune-boost-due"},{"citation":"FDA. Voluntary nationwide recall of compounded glutathione injection due to potential elevated endotoxin levels (company announcement).","where":"FDA recall notice, 1 Oct 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/greenwich-rx-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-compounded-glutathione-due-elevated-endotoxin-levels"}]},{"outcome":"Safety (oral, short-term)","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"small","adverse":true,"human_studies":"Small trials","evidence":"Short-term oral use was tolerated in the trials, with non-serious adverse events reported. Long-term and injectable safety are not established.","references":[{"citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","where":"J Cosmet Dermatol, 2019;18:728–737","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"Some adverse events but nonserious were reported.","citation":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/"}}],"regions":[{"region":"European Union","status":"Supplement; injectable unapproved","note":"Sold as a food supplement. No authorised injectable product for cosmetic use."},{"region":"United States","status":"Supplement; injectable unapproved","note":"Oral products sold as dietary supplements. Injectable glutathione is not FDA-approved. In August 2026 the FDA reminded compounders not to make injectables from supplement-grade glutathione after at least 30 endotoxin-type reactions, and a nationwide recall of contaminated lots followed in September. Another recall of ten lots followed on 1 October 2026, after two patients needed emergency care."},{"region":"United Kingdom","status":"Supplement","note":"Oral supplement; injectable cosmetic use is unlicensed."},{"region":"Australia","status":"Complementary medicine","note":"Oral listed products; injectable cosmetic use is not registered."},{"region":"Canada","status":"Natural health product","note":"Oral products may carry an NPN; injectable cosmetic use is not authorised."},{"region":"Sport (WADA)","status":"Not prohibited","note":"Not on the 2026 Prohibited List. Intravenous infusions above the permitted volume are separately restricted regardless of what is infused."}],"faq":[{"q":"Does glutathione lighten skin?","a":"Possibly, slightly, in sun-exposed areas — but the systematic reviews call the evidence inconclusive because the trials are few, small and inconsistent. It is not an established treatment."},{"q":"Is IV glutathione safe?","a":"It is the least studied and most heavily marketed route. There is no adequate controlled trial of it for skin, and in 2026 the FDA linked at least 30 adverse events — fever, chills, shock-like symptoms, some hospitalised — to injectables compounded from supplement-grade glutathione contaminated with endotoxin."},{"q":"Is glutathione a peptide?","a":"Yes — a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine and glycine, though an unusual one, joined through an atypical bond."}],"references":[{"cite":"Dilokthornsakul W, et al. The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: a systematic review.","where":"J Cosmet Dermatol, 2019;18:728–737","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30895708/","note":"4 studies; conclusion inconclusive."},{"cite":"Sarkar R, et al. Glutathione as a skin-lightening agent and in melasma: a systematic review.","where":"Int J Dermatol, 2025","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39444151/"},{"cite":"Arjinpathana N, Asawanonda P. Glutathione as an oral whitening agent: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.","where":"J Dermatolog Treat, 2012","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20524875/"},{"cite":"FDA. FDA reminds compounders not to use dietary supplement-grade glutathione in injectables.","where":"FDA statement, 27 Aug 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-reminds-compounders-not-use-dietary-supplement-grade-glutathione-injectables","note":"At least 30 patients; symptoms consistent with excessive endotoxin; some hospitalised."},{"cite":"FDA. Nationwide recall of compounded glutathione injectables and two blends due to elevated endotoxin levels.","where":"FDA recall notice, posted 13 Sep 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/centric-compounding-issues-nationwide-recall-glutathione-myers-cocktail-and-tri-immune-boost-due","note":"Three glutathione 200 mg/mL lots plus blends made with the same material; nine reports of fever, chills, chest pain, nausea, headache or malaise."},{"cite":"FDA. Voluntary nationwide recall of compounded glutathione injection due to potential elevated endotoxin levels (company announcement).","where":"FDA recall notice, 1 Oct 2026","url":"https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/greenwich-rx-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-compounded-glutathione-due-elevated-endotoxin-levels","note":"Ten lots of glutathione 200 mg/mL, distributed 26 June to 21 September 2026; two reports of emergency care after intravenous use of a product intended for subcutaneous injection."}],"last_reviewed":"2026-10-07","literature_searched_to":"2026-10-07","changelog":[{"date":"2026-10-07","note":"A further US recall of compounded glutathione injection for potential endotoxin (1 Oct 2026, ten lots, two emergency-care reports) added to the endotoxin row and the US status. Grades unchanged."},{"date":"2026-09-23","note":"FDA endotoxin cases (27 Aug 2026) and the September recall added as an adverse-effect row and to the US status. Grades otherwise unchanged."},{"date":"2026-09-03","note":"Initial publication. Grade C on small, inconsistent trials; intravenous cosmetic use graded D."}],"license":"CC BY 4.0 — cite as “LYO Research” with a link.","methodology":"https://lyoresearch.com/methodology"}