Glutathione 1500 mg

Glutathione — 1500 mg

Purity: ≥98% (HPLC)
Form: lyophilized powder, vial
Storage: −20 °C (before opening), +2…+8 °C (after reconstitution, no more than 28 days)
Verification: Janoshik Analytical (Czech Republic) — independent blind testing of each batch
Synonyms: Glutathione, GSH, L-Glutathione, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine

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Contents

1. What is glutathione?
2. Why glutathione is called the "master antioxidant"
3. Molecular structure
4. How antioxidant defense works — in simple terms
5. Glutathione and detoxification
6. Glutathione in skin research
7. Age-related decline of glutathione
8. Sources

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1. What is glutathione?

Glutathione is a tripeptide consisting of three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is not a synthetic molecule: glutathione is produced in every cell of the human body and is the body's principal intracellular antioxidant.

The molecule was discovered in 1921 by Frederick Hopkins — the same biochemist who received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of vitamins. Since then, glutathione has become one of the most studied molecules in biochemistry: more than 180,000 publications in PubMed.

Glutathione is studied in three main contexts: antioxidant protection of cells, detoxification (elimination of toxins and heavy metals through the liver), and effects on skin pigmentation.

For research use only. Not a medicinal product. Not intended for use in humans or animals.

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2. Why glutathione is called the "master antioxidant"

There are many antioxidants — vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10. But glutathione holds a special place among them for several reasons:

• Present in every cell. Most antioxidants are obtained externally from food. The body synthesizes glutathione itself — in millimolar concentrations, which makes it the most abundant intracellular antioxidant [1].

• Regenerates other antioxidants. Glutathione is able to restore the oxidized forms of vitamins C and E, returning them to their working state. In essence, it "recharges" other antioxidants [2].

• Works both as an antioxidant and as a detoxicant. In addition to neutralizing free radicals, glutathione participates in conjugation — binding toxins and heavy metals for their subsequent elimination from the body [3].

• Levels decline with age. Starting at around age 45, the concentration of glutathione in tissues gradually falls — and this correlates with an increase in oxidative stress [4].

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3. Molecular structure

Parameter	Value
Amino acid sequence	γ-Glu-Cys-Gly
Molecular formula	C₁₀H₁₇N₃O₆S
Molecular weight	307.32 g/mol
CAS number	70-18-8
PubChem CID	124886
Type	Natural tripeptide
Forms	Reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG)
Key element	The thiol group (-SH) of cysteine — it is the one that donates an electron to a free radical

An unusual detail: the bond between glutamic acid and cysteine in glutathione is not an ordinary peptide bond, but a γ-bond (via the side chain). This makes the molecule resistant to most peptidases — the enzymes that normally break down peptides.

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4. How antioxidant defense works — in simple terms

Every cell in the body constantly produces byproducts — free radicals. These are molecules with an unpaired electron that "take away" electrons from neighboring molecules, damaging them. This process is called oxidative stress.

Glutathione works as an "electron donor." Its thiol group (-SH) donates an electron to a free radical, neutralizing it. In doing so, two molecules of reduced glutathione (GSH) combine into one molecule of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). The enzyme glutathione reductase then "splits" GSSG back into two GSH molecules — and the cycle repeats.

The GSH/GSSG ratio in the cell is one of the key indicators of oxidative status. In a healthy cell, more than 90% of glutathione is in the reduced form (GSH) [1].

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5. Glutathione and detoxification

The second key function of glutathione is participation in the detoxification system, which works predominantly in the liver.

The process is called "conjugation": the enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) "attaches" a glutathione molecule to a toxin, heavy metal, or metabolic product. The resulting conjugate becomes water-soluble and is eliminated from the body through the kidneys or bile [3].

Among the substances whose elimination has been described as involving glutathione:

• Products of lipid peroxidation
• Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium)
• Drug metabolites (paracetamol is one of the most studied examples)
• Carcinogens and xenobiotics

This is precisely why glutathione is often mentioned in the context of liver support: the liver is the organ with the highest concentration of glutathione in the body.

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6. Glutathione in skin research

In addition to its antioxidant and detoxification functions, glutathione is studied in the context of skin pigmentation. This is a relatively new area of research that has been actively developing over the past 10–15 years.

Two mechanisms of influence on pigmentation have been described:

Direct: inhibition of tyrosinase — an enzyme that is key in the chain of melanin synthesis [5].

Indirect: switching melanin synthesis from eumelanin (dark pigment) to pheomelanin (light pigment). This occurs through the binding of glutathione's thiol group to dopaquinone — an intermediate product in the melanin synthesis chain [5][6].

In a randomized controlled trial (2014) on healthy women, an improvement in skin pigmentation parameters was described with topical application of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) compared with placebo [7].

It is important to note: questions about the optimal route of administration, the duration of the course, and the long-term efficacy of glutathione in the dermatological context remain the subject of ongoing research [5][6].

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7. Age-related decline of glutathione

One of the reasons for the scientific interest in glutathione is its connection to age-related processes.

With age, a decline is observed in both the synthesis and the total pool of glutathione in tissues. This correlates with an increase in markers of oxidative stress — in particular, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of DNA damage [4].

In a randomized clinical trial (2022), the effect of six months of oral glutathione supplementation (500 mg/day) was studied in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors described a reduction in markers of oxidative damage and an improvement in HbA1c values in the group receiving glutathione compared with the control group [4].

These data are of interest; however, the scale of the study and its design do not allow for unambiguous conclusions — larger confirmatory studies are needed.

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Sources

1. Forman H.J., Zhang H., Rinna A. Glutathione: overview of its protective roles, measurement, and biosynthesis. Mol. Aspects Med., 30(1-2): 1–12, 2009. PubMed

2. Meister A. Glutathione metabolism and its selective modification. J. Biol. Chem., 263(33): 17205–17208, 1988. PubMed

3. Ballatori N. et al. Glutathione dysregulation and the etiology and progression of human diseases. Biol. Chem., 390(3): 191–214, 2009. PubMed

4. Kalamkar S. et al. Randomized Clinical Trial of How Long-Term Glutathione Supplementation Offers Protection from Oxidative Damage and Improves HbA1c in Elderly Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Antioxidants, 11(5): 1026, 2022. PMC

5. Sonthalia S. et al. Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies. Indian J. Dermatol. Venereol. Leprol., 82(3): 262–272, 2016. PubMed

6. Hamzah N. et al. Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of Glutathione Supplementation for Skin Lightening: A Narrative Review. Cosmetics, 12(1): 19, 2025. PMC

7. Watanabe F. et al. Skin-whitening and skin-condition-improving effects of topical oxidized glutathione: a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy women. Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol., 7: 267–274, 2014.

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This material was prepared by the LONGIVIYA editorial team based on published scientific research. The information is for educational purposes only and is not a medical recommendation.

For research use only. Not a medicinal product. Not intended for use in humans or animals. Independent verification of each batch: Janoshik Analytical (Czech Republic).