Glutathione

Does glutathione work?

Updated 10 Nov 2026

Short answer

In some trials it raised glutathione in the blood, but proof of health benefits is limited. In a 6-month trial in 54 healthy adults, 1,000 mg a day raised glutathione by 30% to 35% in red blood cells, plasma and lymphocytes.[1] A 4-week trial of the same daily amount found no change in glutathione or in markers of oxidative damage.[2] A 2026 review concluded that research supports how glutathione works in the body more than a proven treatment effect.[3]

For skin, 5 randomized trials found lighter skin with 250 to 500 mg a day by mouth.[4] For immune support, one trial measured natural killer cells, a type of immune cell. After 3 months of 1,000 mg a day, they worked more than twice as well as with placebo.[1] In cystic fibrosis, a Cochrane review found that inhaled and oral glutathione appear to improve lung function.[5] For the liver, one small study without a placebo group found a lower level of ALT, a liver enzyme.[6] For detox, one trial of a yeast extract with 50 mg of glutathione found less acetaldehyde in the blood after alcohol, but no difference in hangover symptoms.[7]

Sources (7)

  1. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, Calcagnotto A, Haley JS, Schell TD, et al. Eur J Nutr, 2015. PMID 24791752
  2. Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in human volunteers. Allen J, Bradley RD J Altern Complement Med, 2011. PMID 21875351
  3. Glutathione in redox homeostasis: Bridging molecular mechanisms, bioavailability constraints, and translational challenges in systemic therapeutics. Carnib BL, Matos ERSB, Lage TM, Pedro IDR, Ecclissato MCD, Teixeira RL, et al. Biomed Pharmacother, 2026. PMID 42585816
  4. Glutathione as a skin-lightening agent and in melasma: a systematic review. Sarkar R, Yadav V, Yadav T, P J, Mandal I Int J Dermatol, 2025. PMID 39444151
  5. Antioxidant supplementation for lung disease in cystic fibrosis. Ciofu O, Smith S, Lykkesfeldt J Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2019. PMID 31580490
  6. Efficacy of glutathione for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study. Honda Y, Kessoku T, Sumida Y, Kobayashi T, Kato T, Ogawa Y, et al. BMC Gastroenterol, 2017. PMID 28789631
  7. Effects of GSH on Alcohol Metabolism and Hangover Improvement in Humans: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial. Song G, Han H, Park S, Sa S, Chung W, Lee BY Nutrients, 2024. PMID 39408229

More about glutathione

What is glutathione?Is glutathione absorbed when taken by mouth?Do glutathione levels fall with age?Is glutathione safe?Does glutathione lighten skin?Does glutathione help the liver?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.