Form Comparison

Liposomal Glutathione vs Reduced Glutathione

How liposomal glutathione and reduced glutathione differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Reduced glutathione (Setria) has the longer trial: six months at 1,000 mg a day raised body glutathione stores, even though single doses do not raise plasma levels. Liposomal glutathione's support is a 12-person open-label pilot with no placebo group. Choose reduced glutathione for the better evidence at a lower price, or skip both for NAC, the cheaper glutathione precursor.

Side by Side

Liposomal Glutathione Reduced Glutathione (GSH)
Absorption Variable Low
How it is absorbed Packaged in phospholipid vesicles to limit gut breakdown. A 12-person open-label pilot reported higher body stores within two weeks. Largely broken down by gamma-glutamyl transferase in the gut. Single doses do not raise plasma glutathione, though six months at 1,000 mg daily raised body stores in one trial.
Typical dose 500-1,000 mg daily 250-1,000 mg daily
Common uses antioxidant support antioxidant support
Side effects Bloating; unpleasant taste in liquid forms. Bloating, rare cramps.
Cost High Moderate
Also called None L-glutathione, Setria

When to Choose Liposomal Glutathione

Choose liposomal glutathione when you accept a high price for a small, uncontrolled evidence base. The supporting data are a small pilot without a placebo group.

Liposomal Glutathione

Faster rise in a small uncontrolled pilot, at a higher price.

What to look for: Milligrams of glutathione per serving stated, not just milligrams of liposomal liquid.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

When to Choose Reduced Glutathione (GSH)

Choose reduced glutathione when you want the form with the longest trial. Setria, the ingredient in the six-month trial, is a fermented reduced glutathione.

Reduced Glutathione (GSH)

The only form with a six-month controlled trial showing higher body stores, at 1,000 mg daily.

What to look for: Reduced glutathione or Setria, 500-1,000 mg daily, taken consistently.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

Products on Titrate

884 of the 214,745 labels in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database list glutathione as an active ingredient (379 on market). 304 are sold as glutathione products by name.

Open supplement search

Glutathione does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

Related

References

Witschi A, Reddy S, Stofer B, Lauterburg BH. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1992;43(6):667-669.

Marrades RM, Roca J, Barberà JA, de Jover L, MacNee W, Rodriguez-Roisin R. Nebulized glutathione induces bronchoconstriction in patients with mild asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;156(2):425-430.

Hauser RA, Lyons KE, McClain T, Carter S, Perlmutter D. Randomized, double-blind, pilot evaluation of intravenous glutathione in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2009;24(7):979-983.

Allen J, Bradley RD. Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in human volunteers. J Altern Complement Med. 2011;17(9):827-833.

Sekhar RV, Patel SG, Guthikonda AP, et al. Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(3):847-853.

Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Eur J Nutr. 2015;54(2):251-263.

Sinha R, Sinha I, Calcagnotto A, et al. Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune function. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018;72(1):105-111.