Glutathione FAQ: common questions answered
An antioxidant with mixed oral evidence and important risks from compounded injections.
Also called: GSH, Reduced L-glutathione, L-glutathione, GSSG, oxidized glutathione.
Antioxidant peptides · Endogenous thiol antioxidant; chemically a gamma-glutamyl tripeptide.
- Is Glutathione FDA-approved? No systemic wellness or skin-lightening approval. PCAC voted 8–5, one abstention, to support listing on 2022-06-08. Category 1 is conditional enforcement discretion, not FDA approval.
- How do people take it? Under the skin, about five times weekly. Source: reported by users, not an established dose.
- What's the difference between Glutathione and NAD+ and precursors? Glutathione: an antioxidant with mixed oral evidence and important risks from compounded injections. NAD+ and precursors: nAD+ helps cells use energy; wellness injection benefits remain unproven. Why people pair them: listed in online longevity stacks. No trial establishes an added benefit from combining it with glutathione.
- Can I take it with NAD+? Listed in online longevity stacks. No trial establishes an added benefit from combining it with glutathione. Source: reported by users. Ask a doctor before combining anything.
- Is it banned in sport? No, it is not on the banned list (WADA 2026). Glutathione is not named as prohibited. IV totals >100 mL per 12 hours are prohibited except legitimate hospital, surgery or diagnostic care; other use may need a TUE. M2.2 separately addresses total IV infusions or injections over 100 mL per 12 hours, except legitimate hospital treatment, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations.
- How long does a mixed vial last? A validated beyond-use date is formulation-specific. Forum mixing recipes do not establish sterility or shelf life.
Related to Glutathione
- NAD+ and precursors: NAD+ helps cells use energy; wellness injection benefits remain unproven.
Sources
- 503B Bulk Drug Substances List, FDA · FDA · 2026
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA · FDA · 2026
- FDA reminds compounders not to use dietary supplement grade glutathione for injectables, FDA · 2026
- Find product information about medicines, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency · MHRA · 2026
- The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Agency · WADA · 2026
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA · FDA · 2025
- Advertising guidance for businesses involved with intravenous (IV) vitamin and related therapies: Complying with therapeutic goods advertising requirements, Therapeutic Goods Administration · 2023
- Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting June 8, 2022 Summary Minutes, FDA · 2022
- 30ml Reduced-Glutathione 200mg/ml (2020-11-13), Health Canada · 2020
- FDA highlights concerns with using dietary ingredient glutathione to compound sterile injectables, FDA · 2019
- BSS PLUS- balanced salt solution enriched with bicarbonate, dextrose, and glutathione kit, Alcon Laboratories, Inc. · DailyMed
- EU/3/06/361 - orphan designation for treatment of cystic fibrosis, European Medicines Agency
- Product information, Health Canada
- Validation of an HPLC-UV method for the analysis of glutathione and its impurities, FDA
- A cluster analysis of 466 patients demonstrates that glutathione supplementation could preferentially benefit advanced unstable cirrhosis phenotype rather than stable cirrhosis., Philips CA et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026
Sources checked: 2026-10-18.
Information only, not medical advice. Peptifacts does not sell anything and does not link to sellers.