Written by Steve Theunissen | ISSA: CPT & Fitness Nutrition
Fact checked by Robert Iafelice, MS, RD, LDN
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Glutathione has become a popular supplement in recent years, with many gymgoers taking it as part of their post-workout recovery. Its main benefit is to act as an antioxidant that negates the harmful effects of free radicals. In fact, it is often referred to as the mother of all antioxidants.
In this article, we shine a spotlight on the best glutathione supplements you can buy today.
Read on to get the full story on glutathione supplements.
8 Best Glutathione Supplements
- Overall Best: Nature's Craft Glutathione
- Budget Pick: BulkSupplements Glutathione
- Premium Pick: Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione Complex
- Liquid Form: Starhonor Glutathione
- Soft Gel Capsule: Douglas Labs Glutathione
- Best Tasting Liquid Form: Quicksilver Scientific Glutathoine
- For Athletes: Thorne Glutathione
- Reduced Glutathione Supplement: NusaPure Glutathione
SFS Pick
Nature's Craft
Budget Pick
BulkSupplements
Premium Pick
Quicksilver Glutathione
1. Overall Best Glutathione Supplement: Nature's Craft Glutathione
Nature's Craft Glutathione is the best glutathione supplement, making it one of the most absorbable and bioavailable forms of this substance. The ingredients used by Nature's Craft are from non-GMO sources.
In addition to glutathione, this supplement includes milk thistle extract. Milk thistle is a thorny plant that is native to California. It has been known for centuries to improve liver health. When crushed, the leaves of the plant produce a milky substance, giving rise to the plant's name.
The ingredient in milk thistle that makes it so good for the liver is a flavanoid called silymarin. This compound is a powerful antioxidant that helps to detoxify the liver while also regenerating liver damage.1
The third ingredient in Nature's Craft Glutathione is Alpha Lipoic Acid. This is a proven free radical-fighting antioxidant. It has also been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels.
You receive 500 mg of glutathione and 100 mg of milk thistle extract in each capsule of Nature's Craft Glutathione. It is produced in GMP-certified facilities to guarantee the highest standards of quality and purity.
Nature's Craft Glutathione does not include any flavors or preservatives.
This is a capsule form of glutathione. You get 60 capsules per container, providing a 30-day supply. With a daily dose being two capsules, you get 1000 mg per day of glutathione and 200 mg of milk thistle extract.
A month's supply of Nature's Craft Glutathione will cost you just over $40. That works out to a per daily dose cost of less than $1.50. That is a little higher than the average cost across the market.
Pros
- Contains the liposomal form of glutathione for greater bioavailability and absorption
- Includes 100 mg of milk thistle extract
- Improves liver functioning
- High-dosed at 500 mg per capsule
- Non-GMO
Cons
- Not flavor enhanced
We take amino acid nutritional supplements seriously which is why our GSH amino acid supplement has 1000mg of L-glutathione plus 100mg Alpha lipoic acid and 200mg Milk thistle...
2. Best Budget Glutathione Supplement: BulkSupplements Glutathione
Bulk Supplements are well known and well regarded as a quality producer of bulk-form supplements at a very competitive price point. They provide their glutathione in powder form rather than the more common capsule form. Some people prefer to take their supps in powder form as it allows them to add it to their post-workout drink mix or other beverage.
This is a reduced form of glutathione. That means that the oxygen levels in the amino acids have been reduced while the hydrogen and electron levels have been bulked up to supercharge the ability to fight free radical damage.
Bulk Supplements Glutathione contains no added sugar and is sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
The recommended daily dosage of this product is 500 mg per day.
You get nothing but pure glutathione in Bulk Supplements Glutathione. It is free of added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, or any additives.
It should be pointed out that it can be challenging to determine your precise dosage while taking glutathione in powder form. You should take the supplement in capsule form if you want a quicker and easier approach to getting the same amount every day.
Pros
- Well priced
- Powder form so it can be added to your pre-workout
- Reduced form for greater free radical fighting ability
Cons
- Powder form may make it hard to get a consistent dose
L-glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps support healthy liver function, promotes healthy skin, and helps maintain healthy glucose levels...
3. Best Premium Glutathione Supplement: Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione
Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione Complex is a liquid liposomal product. It combines one other proven antioxidant with B complex vitamins:
- Milk Thistle Extract
- B-Complex Vitamins
Milk Thistle extract comes from a plant that is native to California. It is a powerful antioxidant that is especially beneficial for liver health. The B complex vitamins will boost energy levels, improve the health of your cells, aid digestion, and enhance cognitive functioning.
The glutathione in this product is in liposomal form. That means that the amino acids that comprise it - glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid - are encapsulated in fat bubbles in order to make them more bioavailable and absorbable.
Quicksilver uses an advanced liposomal process that makes this product even more bioavailable than most. Many competitors use low-grade phospholipids and cheap shear methods that result in large, poorly absorbed particles. In contrast, Quicksilver has improved upon the technology to create liposomal spheres that are as much as ten times smaller than the competition. These smaller, single-layer spheres are also more stable.
This liposomal glutathione supplement is vegan-friendly and has been tested to be allergen-free. The glutathione is sourced from phospholipids from sunflowers, not soy. It also contains natural citrus and mint oils.
The daily dose of Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione Complex is 5 ml (one teaspoon). You get 20 servings in each bottle that sells for under $80. That works out to a daily cost of less than $4. That is a lot more than you would pay for a capsule or powder form of glutathione.
Pros
- Liquid form
- Contains B Complex Vitamins and Milk Thistle
- Advanced liposomal technology for faster absorption
- High bioavailability
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- Expensive
We add bioavailable vitamin b nutrients to our glutathione supplements to optimize energy, offer immune support, support brain health, and meet the extra metabolic demands...
4. Best Liquid Glutathione Supplement: Starhonor Glutathione
Starhonor Glutathione is another liquid form of liposomal glutathione. The product label claims that you get 1500 mg in every daily dose.
This is a special formulation designed for women. It contains Phosphyatidylcholine from non-GMO sunflower oil to shield your body from oxidation and "free radical"-related rust damage and liposomal glutathione to prevent melanin formation. This can help you achieve clearer, younger-looking skin thanks to the potent antioxidant and anti-aging properties of the liposomal glutathione liquid!
A 30-serving bottle of Starhonor Glutathione costs a tad more than $20, for a per-serving cost of less than a dollar.
Pros
- Liquid form for faster absorption
- 1500 mg per serving
- Contains phosphatidylcholine
- Supports the glutathione recycling pathway
Cons
- Sweet citrus taste may not appeal
Adopting the strongest and most effective liposome encapsulation technology, the liposome blend content is as high as 500mg, which can protect your stomach from the erosion of gastric acid...
5. Best Soft Gel Capsule Glutathione: Douglas Labs Glutathione
There is 250 mg of glutathione in every capsule of Douglas Labs. This is a reduced liposomal form of the supplement. That means that you are getting a highly bioavailable and absorbable form of glutathione that has also been strengthened to be better at fighting oxidative stress.
As well as a 250 mg dose of glutathione, this soft gel capsule supplement includes a 375 mg proprietary blend of glutathione and essential phospholipids. There is also a 125 mg phospholipid complex. The phospholipid is sourced from soy, so people who are allergic to soy should stay away from this product.
This product is encased in a bovine gelatin capsule, so it is not vegan-friendly. Other ingredients are extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, glycerine, and calcium carbonate.
Douglas Laboratories is a well-established international health supplement manufacturer that has been in business for 65 years. They have a reputation for producing only the highest purity supplements that are 3rd party tested for purity.
A serving size is one soft gel capsule, and there are 45 capsules in each container. That provides you with six weeks of supplementation with every container. The cost per container is just over $70, for a per dose price of more than $1.50.
Pros
- Liposomal glutathione for greater bioavailability and absorbability
- Reduced to make it a more potent fighter of oxidative stress
Cons
- Expensive
- Contains soy and gelatin(not vegan friendly)
Our uncompromising operational practices at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities surpass GMP standards and manufacturing regulations. All of our products are GMO-free...
6. Best Tasting Liquid Glutathione Supplement: Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione
This is the second glutathione product from Quicksilver Scientific to make it onto our list of the 8 best glutathione supplements on the market right now. That tells you a whole lot about the quality of this company.
This version of the supplement combines 100 mg of opiatic glutathione with 75 mg of phosphatidylcholine, which is derived from purified sunflower seed lecithin. It is accented with natural citrus and mint oils for a delicious odor and the extra benefits health benefits of citrus and mint.
The advanced phospholipid delivery system that is used by Quicksilver prevents glutathione from breaking down in the stomach before it even reaches your muscle cells. Instead, it rapidly transports the essential active ingredients to your muscles in the most bioavailable form possible.
This is a vegan-friendly product that has been tested to be allergen and soy-protein-free. It's also non-GMO and gluten-free. All Quicksilver supplemental are manufactured in a cGMP facility and are 3rd party tested for purity.
A serving size of Quicksilver Scientific Glutathione is 1 ml, which is the equivalent of two pumps. Each bottle will provide you with 50 servings. The cost per bottle is just under $50. That breaks down to a per-serving cost of under a dollar.
Pros
- Liquid form for faster delivery
- Advanced liposomal technology for faster absorption
- High bioavailability
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- Quite expensive
Many oral glutathione supplements break down in the stomach before even reaching cells. This glutathione liposomal innovation uses an advanced phospholipid delivery system...
7. Best Glutathione Supplement For Athletes: Thorne Glutathione
Thorne Glutathione is a sustained-release form of glutathione. That means that the active ingredient is released over a period of time to deliver a longer effective period. This protects glutathione from stomach acid and digestive enzymes and provides a steady release of the ingredients into the bloodstream.
Thorne Glutathione has been NSF certified for sport. That means that it is tested for compliance with label claims and to ensure the absence of more than 200 substances banned by many major athletic organizations, including stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, and masking agents. This is important because a surprising number of supplements are laced with illicit products that could get you banned from sporting competition. You never have that worry when you buy a Thorne supplement.
Each capsule of Thorne Glutathiomne contains 175 mg of pure glutathione. Other ingredients are Calcium Laurate, High and Low Viscosity Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hypromellose Capsule, Leucine, Magnesium (Citrate), and Silicon Dioxide.
The serving size for this product is one capsule, and there are 60 capsules in each container. You will pay around $45 per bottle, working out to an average of 75 cents per capsule.
Pros
- Certified NSF for sport
- Advanced technology for faster absorption
- Great sustained release
- Decent price
Cons
- Some users suffered from upset stomachs
Sustained-Release: Exclusive formula resists breakdown by stomach acid. Every Thorne product is made with the purest possible ingredients - without gluten or other major allergens...
8. Best Reduced Glutathione Supplement: NusaPure Glutathione
NusaPurse Glutathione is a capsule form of the supplement. Each serving provides you with 500 mg of glutathione in its reduced form. That means that oxygen has been removed while electrons and hydrogen have been added to make the product more effective as a free radical fighter.
There are no preservatives, additives, or flavor enhancers in this product. It's just pure, unadulterated glutathione. A daily dose of this supplement is 2 capsules. There are 180 capsules in each container, providing you with a 90-day supply. At the cost of around $28 per container, that works out to just over 60 cents per serving.
NusaPurse manufactures its supplements in the United States in a cGMP facility. This supplement is 100% Vegetarian/Vegan, Non-GMO & Gluten Free.
Pros
- 500 mg glutathione per serving
- Reduced form for enhanced free radical fighting ability
- Preservative free
- Vegan-friendly and gluten-free
Cons
- No additional antioxidant ingredients
Our formulation delivers 500 mg per serving - Max strength Glutathione. 180 veggie capsules for a 90 Day Supply...
What Is Glutathione?
Glutathione, sometimes referred to as GHS, is a substance that the liver and the nerve cells in the central nervous system naturally create. The amino acids Glycine, Cysteine, and Glutamic Acid make up glutathione.
Glutathione is classed as an antioxidant. It works to prevent the cells in the body from being harmed by free radicals. An excess of free radicals compared to antioxidants will lead to inflammation and a number of health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer's disease.
Glutathione also contributes to protein synthesis, enzyme activation, as well as DNA synthesis and repair. In order to be absorbed and digested, nutrients must be broken down, and glutathione is also involved in this process.
Benefits Of Glutathione:
There have been many claimed benefits of taking a glutathione supplement, including the ability to lighten the skin. While antioxidants will promote healthy skin, there is little solid research supporting the skin-lightening claim. The following benefits of taking a glutathione supplement do have plenty of research behind them.
1. Reduces Oxidative Stress
Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants that exist. It has the power to counteract the harmful effects of free radical molecules, which harm the body's cells. People who regularly engage in intense exercise will especially benefit, as the hard training is thought to promote free radical activity.2
2. Improves Insulin Sensitivity
One of the effects of advancing age is that we produce less glutathione. Research conducted by the Baylor College of Medicine investigated the relationship between this age-related decline in glutathione and insulin resistance. It was found that there was a direct correlation between low glutathione levels and low insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is related to increased fat storage, so improving glutathione levels may help to improve weight loss. 3
3. Promotes Healthy Liver Function
Low antioxidant intake can have a detrimental effect on the liver. In extreme cases, this can result in the death of liver cells and/or fatty liver disease. By increasing your antioxidant intake by way of a glutathione supplement, you will be promoting healthy liver function and can help it detoxify harmful compounds.
In one study, people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who took 300 mg of glutathione daily for 16 weeks had marked improvement in the health of their liver.4
Here are a half dozen additional benefits of glutathione:
- Supports psoriasis.
- Reduces fatty liver disease-related cell damage.
- Improves insulin sensitivity.
- For people with peripheral artery disease, it enables improved mobility.
- Reduces Parkinson's disease symptoms.
- Helps counteract aging indicators.
- Promotes a healthy immune system.
What to Look for When Buying Glutathione Supplements:
Not all glutathione products are equal. Rather than just grabbing the first container on the shelf, you should do your due diligence to make sure you get a high quality glutathione supplement. Here are five specific things to look out for.
1. Ingredients
Make sure the product's glutathione is non-GMO by checking the label. It shouldn't be produced using soy lecithin, which has GMOs. Non-GMO sunflower lecithin is a significantly superior choice.
Sulfur is found in large concentrations of glutathione, giving it a sulfurous flavor and odor. Many producers sweeten the product with sugar and other ingredients to disguise this. Make sure the product doesn't contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame. Instead, go for a supplement that incorporates a natural sweetener such as stevia.
It doesn't matter how high-quality a supplement's ingredients are if your body can't absorb them. That's why we should use liposomal glutathione, which has the best bioavailability and absorbency.
Liposomal glutathione has been liposomally encapsulated in tiny fat bubbles to safeguard the three amino acids that make up the molecule (cysteine, glutamine, and glycerine). It enhances the compound's bioavailability by allowing them to flow directly through the small intestine and into the bloodstream.
You should also check the label to see if the glutathione has been reduced. This involves lowering the amount of oxygen and increasing the levels of hydrogen and electrons to make the product a more effective free radical fighter.
2. Dosage per serving
Check that the dosage per serving on the product label is in line with clinical recommendations. If it isn't, you won't receive the benefits that have been revealed through research studies.
This is not really possible with glutathione, however. There aren't any direct, evidence-based suggestions for the dosage of glutathione supplements at this time. Studies have often utilized widely varying dosages and been tailored to the therapy of particular illnesses.
We advise that you adhere to the manufacturer's dosage recommendations in the absence of a clear clinical suggestion.
We also recommend staying away from products that do not provide full transparency on the label. Many supplement manufacturers hide their ingredient dosages behind proprietary blends; This is when a group of ingredients is listed together under a catchy blend name, and only the total dosage of the combined ingredients is given. As a result, you do not know how much of each ingredient you are getting. Unscrupulous manufacturers will often include very low doses of the most expensive ingredients and bulk up the quantity with cheap filler ingredients.
3. Testing
You should only deal with companies that employ independent laboratories to carry out 3rd party testing on their products. The product label will include a designation that the supplement has been 3rd party tested. When you choose these products, you can be confident that what you are putting into your body is exactly what is stated on the label.
4. Price
The prices of glutathione supplements vary widely. The best way to compare them is on a price-per-dosage basis. When we do this, we see a range from 12 cents on the low side to 63 cents on the high side. The average price per dose is around 20 cents.
5. Reviews
It is always beneficial to check online reviews for supplements. Doing so allows you to get real-life feedback from actual users. As well as checking to see whether the product provides the advertised benefits, you should also take note of any adverse side effects, such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Pay attention, too, to the level of customer service and speed of delivery.
Glutathione Supplement FAQ
Do Glutathione Supplements Work?
Yes, glutathione supplements do work. It is an important antioxidant that works to negate the effects of oxidative stress by neutralizing free radical molecules. By giving up one of its electrons, the antioxidant effectively turns off the free radical, making it an inert molecule.
How Long Does Glutathione Take to Work?
The length of time before you get significant improvements from glutathione supplementation differs from one person to the next. People with very low antioxidant levels will take longer as they rebuild those levels. The key to success with glutathione supplementation is to take it consistently.
In one study, regular supplementation with a glutathione supplement at a dosage of 250 mg per day significantly decreased oxidative stress activity after six months.5
What is the BEST Form of Glutathione to Take?
The best form of glutathione to take is liposomal glutathione. In this form, the three amino acids that makeup glutathione (Glycine, Cysteine, and Glutamic Acid) are encapsulated inside tiny fat bubbles. This makes them more bioavailable and absorbable. This means that the glutathione supplement works better and faster.
We also recommend buying a reduced form of glutathione. In this form, the oxygen level has been reduced while the hydrogen and electron levels have been boosted. These changes make reduced glutathione a more effective free radical fighter.
Does glutathione really lighten a person's skin?
There is some evidence to suggest that glutathione may lighten the skin. It is advertised as a skin-lightening product in various parts of the world. However, it appears that the skin-lightening effect of glutathione only operates when it is topically applied prior to exercise.6
Who should take glutathione?
Everybody can benefit from supplementing with glutathione. That is because it is a potent antioxidant. Heavy exercisers may have higher levels of free radical activity. Therefore it is especially advantageous for those who routinely engage in intense exercise. Those with fatty liver disease, low energy levels, or other liver-related ailments will also benefit from taking a glutathione supplement.
SUMMARY
As far as dietary supplements go, glutathione is a very beneficial and powerful antioxidant. As such, it is able to negate the free radical damage resulting from oxidative stress. People who exercise intensely are more liable than most to be affected by free radical cell damage. The best supplement to help with glutathione production on today's market is from Nature's Craft, which combines 500 mg of liposomal glutathione with 100 mg of milk thistle extract.
We take amino acid nutritional supplements seriously which is why our GSH amino acid supplement has 1000mg of L-glutathione plus 100mg Alpha lipoic acid and 200mg Milk thistle...
Looking for more supplements to boost your liver health? Check out our post that covers the Best Milk Thistle Supplements on the market.
Research
- Abenavoli L, Capasso R, Milic N, Capasso F. Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future. Phytother Res. 2010 Oct;24(10):1423-32. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3207. PMID: 20564545.
- Adeoye O, Olawumi J, Opeyemi A, Christiania O. Review on the role of glutathione on oxidative stress and infertility. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2018 Mar 1;22(1):61-66. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20180003. PMID: 29266896; PMCID: PMC5844662.
- Kumar P, Liu C, Hsu JW, Chacko S, Minard C, Jahoor F, Sekhar RV. Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition: Results of a pilot clinical trial. Clin Transl Med. 2021 Mar;11(3):e372. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.372. PMID: 33783984; PMCID: PMC8002905.
- Honda Y, Kessoku T, Sumida Y, Kobayashi T, Kato T, Ogawa Y, Tomeno W, Imajo K, Fujita K, Yoneda M, Kataoka K, Taguri M, Yamanaka T, Seko Y, Tanaka S, Saito S, Ono M, Oeda S, Eguchi Y, Aoi W, Sato K, Itoh Y, Nakajima A. Efficacy of glutathione for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2017 Aug 8;17(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s12876-017-0652-3. PMID: 28789631; PMCID: PMC5549431.
- JP Richie Jr, S Nichenametla, W Neidig, et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Eur J Nutr. 2015;54(2):251-263.
- Sonthalia S, Daulatabad D, Sarkar R. Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2016 May-Jun;82(3):262-72. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.179088. PMID: 27088927.
Steve Theunissen
Author