Mitochondrial & antioxidant
Glutathione
The body's main antioxidant tripeptide: biology well established, infused and oral products much less so.
What it is
Glutathione is a tripeptide of cysteine, glycine and glutamate, and the most abundant antioxidant inside human cells. Every cell makes it; the commercial interest is in supplements and infusions that push levels higher. No regulator approves glutathione for skin lightening, anti-ageing or 'detox', though clinicians use it as an adjunct in some liver disease and chemotherapy toxicity.
How it works
- 1
Neutralises reactive oxygen species through its cysteine thiol group.
- 2
Acts as the required cofactor for glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferases, which disarm peroxides and drug metabolites.
- 3
Recycles vitamins C and E back into their active forms.
- 4
Oral glutathione is largely broken down in the gut, which is why infused forms are claimed to work better — a claim with limited human support.
- 5
Skin lightening is proposed to work by shifting melanin production toward lighter pigment; the supporting trials are small and short.
What it's studied for
Reported and studied effects
- Measured glutathione levels rise transiently
- Modest, inconsistent skin-lightening effects in small studies
- Lower oxidative-stress markers
- No demonstrated clinical benefit for most marketing claims
Research protocol notes
Research context onlyResearch context only — there is no approved protocol for elective use. Studies have used oral doses of roughly 250–1000 mg daily, inhaled forms, and intravenous doses in the 600–2400 mg range given by a clinician. Intravenous use carries the risks of any infusion and belongs in clinical hands. 'Two to three times a week for 6–12 weeks' schedules circulate online but are not validated regimens.
These figures are described so you can understand what researchers did. They are not a dose, a schedule, or a suggestion — and they are not a substitute for a doctor.
Possible side effects and contraindications
Safety profile
Possible side effects
- Abdominal cramps, bloating and loose stools with oral use
- Flushing, chills or chest tightness during infusion
- Rare bronchospasm with inhaled glutathione
- Infection and vein injury from unsupervised intravenous use
Contraindications and cautions
- Asthma, with inhaled forms
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — insufficient data
- Liver or kidney impairment — no established dosing
- Any intravenous use without medical supervision
A side-effect list is never complete, and these are not the only situations that warrant caution. Anything unexpected, or anything you are unsure about, should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Evidence assessment
Its biological roles are well characterised and small human trials exist for skin and fertility uses, but effects are modest, studies are short, and no regulator approves these purposes.
References
- 01Oral and topical glutathione for skin pigmentation — PubMed search
- 02Glutathione in human disease and antioxidant therapy — PubMed search
References link to published literature, regulator pages or literature indexes. Where a link points to a search, it collects the peer-reviewed work on that molecule rather than a single study.
Related
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Other entries in Mitochondrial & antioxidant.
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FOXO4-DRI
A senolytic peptide that clears aged cells in mice; a laboratory tool, not a tested human therapy.
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Humanin
A mitochondrial peptide studied for cell protection and metabolism; the biology is real, the injected product is not.
Mitochondrial & antioxidant
MOTS-C
A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for metabolic control; the biology is new and human trials are tiny.