antioxidant · for acne
Glutathione
Meant to support the liver in clearing waste and to cut oxidative stress in skin.
Say that in clinical terms
Supports liver phase II detoxification pathways, reduces oxidative stress in skin cells.
How strong is the research?
A 40-person trial of 500 mg daily for 4 weeks changed neither inflammation nor the skin itself.
1 paper read, 1 against.
Tested as: oral glutathione (non-liposomal)
Who was studied: No trial of glutathione for acne exists. The cited paper is about skin pigment.
A proper search found trials of this compound, but not in the form named here — oral glutathione (non-liposomal). Evidence for one form is not evidence for another.
How much to take
daily
250–500 mg
Works synergistically with vitamin C. Skin benefits emerge after 8-12 weeks.
Before you take it
- No NIH ODS Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for glutathione; neither oral nor liposomal forms carry an established UL.
- Potential interaction with cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapy agents: glutathione-S-transferases can conjugate GSH with cisplatin, and elevated intracellular glutathione correlates with platinum-based drug resistance; patients receiving oncology protocols should consult a physician before supplementing.
- Insufficient clinical safety data for glutathione supplementation at supplemental doses during pregnancy and lactation.
- Long-term safety of chronic oral or liposomal glutathione supplementation at supplemental doses has not been established in clinical trials.
What we make of it
The source is a review about skin pigment, with no acne data.
The detail
What we cite is a review of glutathione for anti-ageing and skin lightening. It contains no acne data at all, and the liver-detox reasoning behind the claim is not tested anywhere in it.