Is Glutathione Right for You?
Perhaps you’ve heard glutathione can treat several diseases, help you age gracefully, and make your skin look younger. But what is glutathione and is there data to support the hype?
What Is It?
Glutathione (GSH) is a combination of 3 amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, and glycine) made by the liver and found in nearly all living cells. It has many roles in the body but one of the most important is as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect your body's cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. Many patients with chronic conditions have low GSH levels.
What Is It Used For?
GSH has been studied for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, peripheral obstructive arterial disease, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, preterm infant lung function, autism, chronic ear infections, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and exercise-induced fatigue. Results have shown possible improvement in many of these conditions; however, research is limited.
GSH has also been studied in skin lightening, particularly for conditions like melasma (i.e., a skin condition that causes brown or gray patches to form on sun-exposed areas of the skin). Studies have shown benefit with topical and oral forms of GSH for this use, but the appropriate dose, strength, and length of therapy are unknown.
Recently, GSH use has been promoted among beauty influencers for skin brightening, anti-aging, and antioxidant effects. How well GSH works for anti-aging and skin brightening is not well studied.
How Is It Taken?
GSH has been given topically, by mouth, and as an injection.
Topically, GSH creams and washes are mainly used for skin lightening with better results seen with higher strengths. Newer topical formulations include soaps and even a chemical peel.
GSH can also be taken by mouth via capsules, sublingual tablets, liquids, and gummies. However, how well it works when taken by mouth is unclear. GSH is not well absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract making it necessary for higher doses to be taken to see significant increases of GSH levels in the body. Further, making higher strength GSH capsules is expensive and difficult to do given the chemical nature of GSH.
GSH capsules are also frequently prepared with other ingredients like vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, and other antioxidants. It is not clear how well any of these substances are absorbed when mixed together. Lastly, GSH liquids have a sulfur taste making them difficult to take.
Giving GHS as an injection solves the absorption issue; however, not enough data currently exist to support its use via the injectable route.
Is It Safe?
GSH used topically or by mouth is believed to be relatively safe with few reported side effects.
GSH injection has been used in the Philippines for skin lightening for some time. Its use was associated with enough side effects that a warning was issued by the drug safety agency in the Philippines. Safety events included severe skin reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, kidney and liver damage, serious blood infections, thyroid issues, and severe allergic reactions.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a warning regarding compounded GSH for injection following reports of side effects from at least 30 individuals due to contamination with endotoxins. These side effects included fever, chills, pain, dizziness, and symptoms of septic shock.
Safety concerns regarding obtaining these substances for injections through unlicensed retailers on the web are still a concern as discussed in another article. Make sure if you are obtaining compounded GSH for injection that you obtain it from a licensed pharmacy and under the supervision of a medical provider.
Conclusion
GSH is an antioxidant with potential benefits for a wide variety of conditions. However, much remains unknown regarding its use. More studies are needed on how well it works for specific disease states and the best way to take GSH to maximize benefits and minimize risks. If you feel GSH may be good for you, have an open discussion with your doctor or pharmacist about what you want to use it for and how best to use it.