Glutathione is an endogenous tripeptide compound produced primarily in our liver and present in every cell in either reduced or oxidized form. Its critical role as a detoxifying agent and free radical scavenger makes it a master antioxidant.* The glutathione level can decrease in our body due to several factors, including aging, poor diet, lifestyle choices, and certain pathological conditions. This is when you likely need a glutathione supplement for assistance.
Get all the answers below regarding glutathione supplements, how glutathione supports various health functions, the types of glutathione supplements, the challenges of glutathione absorption in the body, and why certain glutathione supplement formulations work better than others. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
| Glutathione Supplement Health Benefits | Types of Glutathione Supplements |
| Oral Glutathione Supplement versus Other Forms | Common Absorption Challenges of Glutathione Supplements |
| Safety of Glutathione Supplements | Novel Glutathione Supplement Formulations |
| FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions |
Glutathione Supplement Health Benefits
The liver is a major site for detoxification and the high concentrations of glutathione in the liver indicate the role of this antioxidant in scavenging harmful free radicals and facilitating their safe degradation.* Glutathione supports various health functions utilizing multiple biochemical pathways, including:
- Antioxidant defense: Preventing the oxidation of biomolecules — directly scavenging various oxygen and nitrogen oxidants, detoxifying hydrogen and lipid peroxides, and others*
- Regulating cellular events: Influencing various cellular events, such as cell proliferation and cell death, protein and DNA synthesis, gene expression, immune responses, etc.*
- Nutrient metabolism: Promoting lipid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism in the body*
- Regenerating vitamins C and E: Recycling vitamins C and E to support the body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms*
The following table summarizes some of the key health benefits of glutathione supplements to support your body.
| Health Benefits of Glutathione | |
| Health Function | Therapeutic Applications |
| Brain |  Glutathione for Brain Health: New Possibilities for Addressing Cognitive Impairment Glutathione Supplements for Parkinson’s — An Overview of Emerging Research Do Alternative Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder Work? A Look at Glutathione, Secretin, and Immunoglobulin The Benefits of Glutathione for Autism Go Beyond Controlling Inflammation |
| Skin and Hair | Glutathione Benefits for Skin Glutathione Benefits for Hair |
Gastrointestinal | Examining the Benefits of Glutathione for IBS |
| Endocrine System | Does Glutathione Help Thyroid Health? Taking a Closer Look at the Possibilities of Supplementation How Does Glutathione Detox Your Liver? |
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Types of Glutathione Supplements
Glutathione supplement types are based on the mode of delivery, including oral, intranasal, intravenous/ intramuscular, and nebulous. Glutathione is conventionally recognized as a difficult-to-absorb molecule, and various delivery approaches are aimed at enhancing its bioavailability and absorption. The following table summarizes the different delivery routes of commercially available glutathione.
| Types of Glutathione Supplements | |||
| Delivery Route | Pros | Cons | |
| Oral Glutathione | Easy delivery, cost-effective | Rapid absorption in the intestine, resulting in low bioavailability | |
| Intranasal Glutathione | Non-invasive, easy to use, might bypass the blood-brain barrier to slow glutathione degradation | Nasal congestion, along with the large molecular size, can interfere with the delivery of glutathione | |
| Intravenous/ Intramuscular Glutathione | Bypasses glutathione dilution in the GI tract, leading to enhanced efficacy under certain conditions | Expensive, requires medical supervision; might be incompatible with specific health conditions. | |
| Nebulous Glutathione | Clinical trials have established this route as an adjunct therapy for certain respiratory conditions | Limited data on the advantages of this delivery method over other routes | |
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Oral Glutathione Supplement versus Other Forms
Oral delivery is the most common delivery method of glutathione supplementation. However, it is not the most effective method for glutathione absorption. Intestinal enzymes break down glutathione, resulting in its rapid absorption, metabolism, and elimination from the body.
Nevertheless, the majority of research studying glutathione’s bioavailability and absorption is based on oral supplements. The following table highlights some of the clinical studies establishing the efficacy of oral glutathione supplements.
| Effects of Oral Glutathione Supplements | |
| Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione: A clinical study1 analyzing the effects of oral glutathione supplementation over a period of six months showed that the daily consumption of glutathione supplements enhances the body’s stores of glutathione.* | |
| Effects of liposomal glutathione on the immune system: A pilot clinical study2 evaluating the effect of liposomal glutathione found that daily liposomal glutathione intake elevated it level in the body, positively influencing immune function and addressing oxidative stress levels.* |
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Common Absorption Challenges of Glutathione Supplements
Because glutathione is rapidly degraded in the stomach, only a small amount of glutathione typically reaches the cells where it is needed. The following table highlights the unfavorable conditions in the GI environment that hinder the absorption of glutathione supplements.
| Why is glutathione not easily absorbed? | |
| Primary absorption in upper jejunum: Glutathione is mostly absorbed in the upper jejunum of the small intestine, where the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) breaks it down. While it helps synthesize glutathione at the intracellular level, it also limits the intact absorption of glutathione from an oral supplement. | |
| Hydrolysis by the intestinal enzyme: The enzyme GGT dilutes glutathione, resulting in a low glutathione level in the blood, even after a high intake of an oral supplement. | |
| Elimination of circulating glutathione: Circulating glutathione undergoes degradation in the kidney and is eliminated from the body. |
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Safety of Glutathione Supplements
Glutathione supplements are generally considered safe when taken orally with no adverse side effects. Infrequent and mild side effects might include abdominal cramping, bloating, and stomach upset. A safety survey3 of intranasal glutathione highlighted the mild side effects, including irritation of nasal passages and headaches. Intravenous glutathione can cause redness, itching, and irritation at the injection site.
However, it is worth noting that most clinical studies have analyzed the safety of glutathione up to 500 mg daily for up to two months. Therefore, the data on the safety of prolonged glutathione usage is limited. There is also limited information about the potential contraindications of glutathione with prescription medications and its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is why it is always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before including a glutathione supplement in your diet.
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Novel Glutathione Supplement Formulations
Various approaches to glutathione absorption aim at avoiding the breakdown of glutathione molecules by intestinal enzymes and the resulting structural alterations of glutathione in an oral delivery module. Novel glutathione supplement formulations enhance the bioavailability of glutathione through:
- Using the acetylated form of glutathione as an ingredient: The acetylated form of glutathione (S-Acetyl-Glutathione) is more readily absorbed and is a highly stable form of glutathione that permeates the mitochondrial membrane and demonstrates optimal absorption and efficacy.*
- Implementing nanotechnology for nutrient delivery: A nanostructured nutrient delivery system enables the encapsulation of glutathione molecules in lipid carriers to develop a safe, stable oral formulation with enhanced bioavailability and absorption.
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FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Glutathione Supplements
Is it safe to take a glutathione supplement during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
There is limited data on the safety and efficacy of glutathione supplementation during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, then consult with your healthcare provider before including a glutathione supplement in your diet.
Can I take a glutathione supplement with prescription medicine?
There is limited data on the potential contraindications of glutathione with prescription medicines. It is always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before taking a glutathione supplement with any prescription medicine.
How to determine the efficacy of a glutathione supplement formulation?
The bioefficacy of an oral glutathione supplement formulation is determined by its bioavailability and absorption of the active ingredient in the body.
Tesseract Medical Research’s SafeCell® is an S-Acetyl-Glutathione complex formulated for optimal bioavailability and absorption. The supplement formulation is suitable for daily use and enhances the efficacy of glutathione therapy. Tesseract’s oral supplement transcends the common absorption challenges of glutathione with its proprietary CyLoc® - DexKey® nutrient delivery technology.
The nanomolecular nutrient delivery technology delivers billions of molecules of acetylated glutathione directly into the intestinal tract — one at a time. Each glutathione molecule is encased by the CyLoc® technology to protect it from early degradation during its transit through the GI tract. The DexKey® technology ensures targeted delivery of each molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract for maximum absorption. Unprecedented glutathione absorption allows for micro-dosing — the intake of glutathione in lesser amounts than previously required to achieve therapeutic benefits and support health functions.*
Tesseract Medical Research is committed to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques, along with a well-designed quality control system, to develop the finest-quality supplements.
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The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing of multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Visit our website for more information about how Tesseract’s products can help support your neurological health and promote healthy aging.*
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Citations
1Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al. Eur J Nutr 2015 Mar;54(2):251-263. doi: 10.1007/s00394-014-0706-z. Epub 2014 May 5. PMID: 24791752.
2Sinha R, Sinha I, Calcagnotto A, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018 Jan;72(1):105-111. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.132. Epub 2017 Aug 30. PMID: 28853742; PMCID: PMC6389332.
3Mischley LK, Vespignani MF, Finnell JS. J Altern Complement Med 2013 May;19(5):459-463. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0673. Epub 2012 Dec 16. PMID: 23240940; PMCID: PMC3651682.
