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Glutathione

GSH
Longevity · CAS 70-18-8
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Category
Longevity
Evidence grade
C
PubMed records
23,989
Female-tagged
5,187
Sex-analysis
33
CAS
70-18-8
C
Evidence grade C, Early human data only (Phase 1 / small-n) across 23989 indexed studies. How grades work →
Female evidence: Extrapolated
Glutathione: of 23,989 PubMed records, 5,187 are tagged as including female subjects and 33 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-21. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine, and it is one of the most widely used tool compounds in cellular redox research. Its reactive thiol group, contributed by the cysteine residue, gives it a well-characterized chemistry that makes it a convenient reference material for studying reduction and oxidation at the cellular level.

In vitro and in preclinical systems, glutathione has been studied for its role in reactive-oxygen-species chemistry, for the glutathione and glutathione-disulfide (GSH/GSSG) redox cycle, and for thiol-dependent enzyme activity. Researchers modeling oxidative-stress responses and redox-signaling mechanisms have used it as a research material to probe how cells manage their redox environment.

What makes glutathione a useful entry for a longevity and cellular-aging catalog is that its mechanism is textbook and its behavior is highly reproducible, making it a baseline against which other redox-active compounds can be characterized. Supplied for in-vitro and laboratory research only.

Summary

Glutathione is an endogenous antioxidant tripeptide marketed as an oral, IV, and topical 'skin-lightening' agent. Human trials exist and have enrolled predominantly female participants, but systematic reviews find the evidence for skin lightening weak and inconsistent, and regulators have warned about serious adverse events from intravenous use.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No study relates glutathione supplementation to menstrual cycle phase.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
Safety of supplemental (especially IV) glutathione in pregnancy or lactation is not established.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
No controlled data on interactions with reproductive or thyroid hormones.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No perimenopause- or menopause-specific studies.
Sex differences
Unstudied
Skin-lightening trials enrolled predominantly women, but did not analyze outcomes by sex or hormonal status, and their overall efficacy evidence is weak.

Mechanism

Acts as a major intracellular antioxidant and enzyme cofactor; its proposed skin-lightening effect is attributed to inhibition of tyrosinase and a shift from eumelanin toward pheomelanin.

Reported dosing & routes

◐

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Regimens vary widely (e.g., ~250–500 mg/day oral, or IV protocols); efficacy and safety of high-dose IV use are not established.
Routesoral, intravenous, topical
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: intravenous use: serious skin reactions have been reported and regulators have issued warnings

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

IV administration linked to adverse events including rash and, rarely, severe skin reactions

Glutathione reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Glutathione

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Glutathione's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione, also known as GSH, is a research compound in our longevity category. Glutathione is an endogenous antioxidant tripeptide marketed as an oral, IV, and topical 'skin-lightening' agent.

Is Glutathione studied in women?

Glutathione: of 23,989 PubMed records, 5,187 are tagged as including female subjects and 33 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this extrapolated: women appear in the record, but no study is tagged for a sex-specific analysis, so female-relevant conclusions are inferred from mixed or male data rather than measured in women. See our methodology.

Has Glutathione been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. Safety of supplemental (especially IV) glutathione in pregnancy or lactation is not established. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Glutathione have, and why?

Glutathione carries evidence grade C. Early human data only (Phase 1 / small-n) across 23989 indexed studies.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Glutathione?

No. A female-specific dose for Glutathione is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Glutathione administered in research?

In the published literature, Glutathione is administered via oral, intravenous, topical. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Glutathione?

Effects reported in the research literature include IV administration linked to adverse events including rash and, rarely, severe skin reactions. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

What is the CAS number for Glutathione?

The CAS registry number for Glutathione is 70-18-8. It is also referred to as GSH, L-Glutathione, Reduced glutathione. Use it to confirm identity against a Certificate of Analysis.

How should Glutathione be stored and handled?

Glutathione sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Glutathione for research?

For laboratory research use, Glutathione is available from our research-use partner, Aurevena Research. Applying code research15 takes 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Buy Glutathione at Aurevena Research
Research-use supplier: Glutathione is available from our research-use vendor for laboratory use. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Buy now →

Citations (PMID)

27088927 · 39444151

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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.