Glutathione: Does It Have Longevity Benefits?

Loved by A-list celebrities, glutathione supplements are praised for their longevity benefits. So is it the key to a longer and healthier life, or just another wellness grift? We dove into the science behind the latest trend.

Actor and wellness guru, Gwyneth Paltrow, revealed using glutathione drips, calling it her "favorite IV drips," despite experts' warnings that intravenous infusions of supplements are unnecessary to healthy individuals and even carry health risks.

Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner are also rumored to use glutathione, dubbed "the master antioxidant."

Glutathione is the most abundant antioxidant in the human body. Antioxidants are molecules that can neutralize free radicals, molecules that cause damage to our cells.

Raghu Sinha, MS, Ph.D., a professor at Penn State, explains that glutathione has various critical functions, including protecting macromolecules from oxidative damage and maintaining immune functions. However, as people age, glutathione depletes.

"Low glutathione levels have been associated with increased risks for aging-related diseases including but not limited to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and diabetes," Sinha tells Healthnews.

Benefits of glutathione supplements

Much research on glutathione supplementation is conducted in animals, while human studies are often small in sample size and lack convincing evidence.

In a 2015 trial funded by the maker of the tested supplement, 54 individuals took either oral glutathione or placebo for six months. The supplementation was shown to be effective in increasing body compartment stores of glutathione, although it dropped to the initial levels after one month of discontinuation of the treatment.

Another small trial that included 39 adults who were randomized into 500 mg of oral glutathione twice daily or placebo found no significant differences in the levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress, including glutathione status, between the groups. Oxidative stress is a state in which the amount of free radicals exceeds the ability of our antioxidant defense system to neutralize them, leading to cell damage. It is thought to play a role in the development of various diseases, including cancer.

A study co-authored by Sinha involving 12 individuals who received oral liposomal glutathione of 500mg-1000mg daily discovered that supplementation can increase body stores of glutathione. Moreover, it may increase lymphocyte proliferation, an important part of the immune system response, as well as the activity of the immune system cells involved in killing infected or abnormal cells in the body.

Several studies in laboratory animals have demonstrated that oral glutathione is bioavailable and effective at enhancing blood and tissue glutathione levels and can protect against aging-related impairments in immune function, influenza infections, and cancer.

Sinha

The risks of glutathione supplements

IV glutathione therapy is commonly marketed as a method for skin lightening and brightening. Providers claim that the procedure can encourage new cell growth, reduce age spots, and even out skin tone.

However, some experts say using IV glutathione therapy for skin care may pose significant health risks. In 2016, Ophelia Dadzie, a consultant dermatologist within the National Health Service and director of London Ethnic Skin Limited, warned that the potential adverse effects of the procedure include toxicity of the nervous system, kidney and liver, and headaches, among others.

In 2019, high levels of endotoxins discovered in injectable glutathione prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a warning against using it in sterile drugs. The FDA has given glutathione "generally recognized as safe" status, but only for use in food products.

Some evidence suggests that glutathione does not have longevity benefits and poses some risks. A 2021 study in roundworms found that chronic administration of glutathione or its precursor, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), accelerated aging. Meanwhile, its pharmacological restriction increased resistance to damage in worms and human cells.

However, the findings on glutathione longevity benefits and risks in animals should be interpreted with caution, as animal studies are often poor predictors of the effects in humans.

There is no strong evidence that supplementation with glutathione can improve longevity or make humans age faster. However, one thing is clear: intravenous injections do not benefit everyone and should always be administered only by medical practitioners.