Community protocol
Third-partyGlutathione 1500mg
- 01Reconstitution solution
- 6 mL
- 02Dose
- 75 mg
- 03Syringe units
- 30 units
- 04Frequency
- 3x/week
- 05Cycle length
- 180 days
- 06Bacteriostatic water
- 6 mL
- 07Bottle size
- 1,500 mg
- 08Bottles needed
- 4
Glutathione
The body's principal intracellular antioxidant. Approved intravenously in some countries for specific uses; the skin-lightening and anti-ageing claims are far weaker than the marketing.
Overview
Glutathione is a three-amino-acid molecule that every cell makes for itself, and it is the main thing standing between cellular machinery and oxidative damage. It also has a role in detoxification — it is what the liver conjugates many drugs and toxins to before excreting them. The reason supplementation is complicated is that cells synthesise it internally from precursors, and swallowed glutathione is largely broken back down into those precursors before it gets anywhere.
γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, synthesised intracellularly by glutamate-cysteine ligase and glutathione synthetase. Serves as the reducing substrate for glutathione peroxidases in hydrogen peroxide detoxification and for glutathione S-transferases in phase II conjugation. Oral bioavailability is poor because the gamma-glutamyl linkage is cleaved by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase at the intestinal brush border; N-acetylcysteine, which supplies rate-limiting cysteine, raises intracellular glutathione more reliably than oral GSH. Intravenous glutathione has been evaluated in Parkinson's disease and cisplatin-induced neuropathy with modest and inconsistent results. Skin-lightening use rests on tyrosinase inhibition and a shift from eumelanin to phaeomelanin, supported by small trials of variable quality.
Research areas
Oxidative stressSkin pigmentationChemotherapy neuroprotectionDetoxification
Community-specified data
Community dosage information
Not medical guidance. These third-party figures have not been independently verified, clinically reviewed, or endorsed by DB Peptide. They may be inaccurate or unsafe and should not replace product labelling or advice from a qualified clinician.
Dosing reported in the literature
Every protocol below is reproduced from a published study or approved labelling, with its source named. These are records of what was studied — not recommendations, and not a suggestion that any of them is appropriate for any person.
| Protocol as reported | Source |
|---|---|
| 1400 mg intravenously three times weekly for 4 weeks in Parkinson's diseaseNo significant benefit over placebo on the primary endpoint. | Hauser et al., Movement Disorders 2009 |
| 500 mg orally daily for 4 weeks with skin melanin index measured | Arjinpathana and Asawanonda, Journal of Dermatological Treatment 2012 |
Trial status
Small randomised trials in Parkinson's disease, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and skin pigmentation. Results are modest and inconsistent.
Reported safety signals
- The FDA has warned against injectable glutathione products marketed for skin lightening, citing unapproved status and contamination risk.
- Serious adverse events including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and thyroid dysfunction have been reported with high-dose intravenous use for cosmetic purposes.
- Oral bioavailability is poor; much of what is swallowed is degraded before absorption.
- Inhaled glutathione can trigger bronchospasm in people with asthma.
Common questions
Do glutathione IV drips do anything?
For the cosmetic and "detox" claims, there is no convincing controlled evidence, and regulators have specifically warned about unapproved injectable products. Where it has been tested rigorously — Parkinson's disease is the clearest example — it has not separated from placebo.
Primary sources
Medical disclaimer
This page is for informational and research purposes only. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. The compounds discussed are research chemicals. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any protocol.
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