Glutathione
The body's main antioxidant — popular for skin lightening, with thin evidence for it.
Overview
Glutathione is a three-amino-acid peptide every cell makes on its own. It is the body's main internal antioxidant and helps the liver clear toxins. It is sold as oral supplements, IV drips and injections, mostly for 'skin brightening'. A few small trials show modest lightening, but results are inconsistent and no regulator has approved it for that use.
How it works
Its cysteine thiol (-SH) group neutralizes reactive oxygen species and recycles other antioxidants. For skin, it is thought to shift melanin production from dark eumelanin toward lighter pheomelanin and to inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme that starts melanin synthesis. How much of an injected dose reaches skin cells is unclear — it is broken down quickly in blood.
Evidence
3/5
A handful of small human trials (mostly oral, a few IV) with modest, inconsistent skin-lightening results. Well-studied as a natural molecule, but not as a cosmetic drug.
Half-life
Very short in blood after IV (minutes); levels return to baseline quickly
Known as
GSH, Reduced glutathione, L-Glutathione, γ-Glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine
Compound facts
- CAS Number
- 70-18-8
- Molecular Formula
- C10H17N3O6S
- Molecular Weight
- 307.32 g/mol
- Type
- Tripeptide (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly)
- Sequence
- γ-L-Glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine
- Active moiety
- Cysteine thiol (-SH) group
Reported benefits
Skin lightening
Small oral and IV trials report modest lightening in some people; effects fade after stopping and studies are short and small.
Antioxidant capacity
Raises glutathione levels in blood in some supplement studies; whether that changes health outcomes is unproven.
Chemotherapy nerve protection
Studied as an add-on to cisplatin-type chemotherapy to reduce nerve damage, with mixed results.
Energy / 'detox' feel
Users of IV drips often report feeling better; no controlled evidence for this.
“Anecdotal” means reported by users, not shown in controlled trials.
Community-reported regimens
Not recommendations. These are commonly cited ranges, shown so you can see what real-world use looks like.
| Plan | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community (IM / SC) Figures of 100–600 mg per injection are cited; 100–200 mg is a common starting range. Large volume — often split or given IM. | 150000 mcg | 1–3× per week | 4–8 weeks | Intramuscular or subcutaneous |
| IV push (clinic) 600–1200 mg slow IV is typical in clinics. IV should only be done by trained staff — not self-administered. | 600000 mcg | 1–2× per week | Course of several weeks | Intravenous |
| Oral supplement Trials used roughly 250–1000 mg per day. Not a calculator dose — follow the product label. | – | Daily | 8–12 weeks in studies | Oral |
Reconstitution calculator
Set up for Glutathione. Switch peptide or vial size any time.
1Mix
Add 2 mL water for 750 mg/mL
2Draw
Draw to 20 units = 0.2 mL = 150 mg
Drag the plunger to set your dose.
3Inject
Next site
Right belly, upper
Tap a site after you inject to keep a rotation.
Pinch the skin, stay 2 in. from the navel, then into a sharps bin.
- Doses per vial
- 10
- Vial lasts
- 35 days
- Good once mixed
- ~14 days
- Syringe
- 30-unit, 0.3 mL
The vial outlasts its ~14-day shelf life once mixed. A smaller vial wastes less.
Math only: concentration (mg/mL) = vial mg ÷ mL of water; units = dose (mg) ÷ concentration × 100. Always double-check against your own vial label and a clinician. This tool does not recommend a dose.
Reconstitution
Diluent: Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) — allows multiple draws from one vial.
- Wipe both vial tops with an alcohol swab and let dry.
- Draw the diluent, then inject it slowly down the inside wall of the vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently or let it sit; do not shake. Foam can damage peptides.
- Solution should be clear. Cloudy, stringy or discolored = discard.
- This is a big vial (1500 mg) — you need a lot of diluent, and each dose is a large volume compared with most peptides.
- The solution is acidic and can sting. A slow injection helps.
- Common mix: 1500 mg + 10 mL = 150 mg/mL (150 mg = 100 units).
Storage
Powder
Freezer / fridge
Keep sealed vial in the freezer (−20 °C) for long-term storage; fridge (2–8 °C) is fine for a few weeks. Keep dry and out of light.
After mixing
~14 days
Refrigerate at 2–8 °C. Never freeze after mixing. Keep upright, capped, and out of light.
Travel
Keep cool
Short trips at room temperature are generally fine for powder; keep mixed vials cold.
- Reduced glutathione oxidizes in solution over time. Mix only what you will use within about two weeks.
- A sulfur smell is normal for the powder.
Side effects & cautions
Reported side effects
- Injection-site pain or stinging
- Abdominal cramps, bloating or loose stools (oral)
- Rash or allergic reaction
- Rare serious skin reactions reported with IV skin-lightening use
- Lightening can be uneven, and it fades when you stop
Cautions
- No regulator has approved glutathione injections for skin lightening. The Philippine FDA and several other national agencies have issued public warnings about 'gluta drips', citing liver, kidney and nerve risks and infections from unsterile settings.
- Often mixed with high-dose vitamin C in drips — that combination carries its own risks (kidney stones; danger with G6PD deficiency).
- Lightening the skin reduces natural protection against UV. Use sunscreen.
- People with asthma may be sensitive to inhaled or nebulized forms.
- No reliable data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
FDA & international status
Not an FDA-approved drug; oral forms sold as supplements
There is no FDA-approved glutathione drug product in the US. Oral glutathione is sold as a dietary supplement, and injectable glutathione is prepared by compounding pharmacies. No glutathione product is approved anywhere for skin lightening.
Regulations change often — verify with the FDA, EMA, MHRA, Health Canada, TGA and WADA before acting.
Where to buy
| Size | Price | Per mg | Stock | Latest COA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 mg | $59.99 | $0.04 | In stock | 99.41% pure, lot GLT0003 ILS Labs, tested 2026-08-20 |
Amino Club list prices as of 2026-10-07, before promo codes. Multi-buy: 2+ units 5% off, 3+ units 7.5% off, 10+ units 40% off. Prices change; confirm on the product page. Mixing? Their bacteriostatic water is Amino H2O from $19.99.
Glutathione at Amino Club
Check sizes, current price and the certificate of analysis (COA) on the product page. Sold for in-vitro research only.
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- Look for a batch-specific COA with HPLC purity (≥98%) and mass-spec identity.
- Typical vial sizes: 1500 mg.
FAQ
Does glutathione really lighten skin?
Some small trials show a modest effect in some people, and it fades after stopping. It is far from guaranteed, and no regulator has approved it for this.
Is IV better than oral or injection?
IV reaches higher blood levels briefly, but glutathione is broken down within minutes. There is no good head-to-head evidence that one route works better for skin.
Why is the dose in milligrams, not micrograms?
Glutathione is a small, natural molecule used at much higher amounts than signaling peptides — hundreds of milligrams per dose, not hundreds of micrograms.