KNINDEX

What does the clinical evidence actually show for Glutathione?

Below are all 14 sources this site cites — including findings of limited effect. That's our editorial policy.

ISSN Position Stand 2017 (Kreider)

ISSN official position stand
Finding
Established evidence for high-intensity performance and lean mass. Maintenance 3–5 g/day (loading optional). Safe up to 5 years / 30 g/day in healthy individuals. The only consistent side effect is initial water-related weight gain.

View study · PMID 28615996

Hultman 1996, J Appl Physiol

Clinical trial
Dose
3 g/day × 4 weeks (vs loading)
Finding
3 g/day for 4 weeks achieves the same muscle saturation as loading — loading is not required.

View study · PMID 8828669

Antonio 2021, JISSN

Review of common questions and misconceptions
Finding
Evidence review of kidney damage, hair loss, dehydration/cramping myths: not supported in healthy individuals. The hair-loss claim rests on a single small study (DHT rose within normal range).

View study · PMID 33557850

Jagim 2012, JISSN

Head-to-head RCT
Finding
Buffered creatine (Kre-Alkalyn) showed no advantage over monohydrate in muscle creatine content, body composition, or training adaptations.

View study · PMID 22971354

Prokopidis 2023, Nutr Rev

Meta-analysis
Finding
Small improvement in memory in healthy individuals, most notable in adults aged 66–76.

View study · PMID 35984306

Xu 2024, Front Nutr

Meta-analysis
Finding
Adult cognition: significant improvement in some domains including memory and attention speed.

View study · PMID 39070254

Sandkühler 2023, BMC Medicine

Randomized controlled trial
Finding
Effects on cognition in healthy adults were small and uncertain — caution against over-interpreting cognitive benefits.

View study

EFSA 2024

Health-claim scientific opinion
Finding
The creatine–cognition health claim was rejected for insufficient evidence — cognitive benefit is not yet at a claimable level.

View study · DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9100

de Souza e Silva 2019, J Ren Nutr

Meta-analysis
Finding
Creatine supplementation showed no adverse effect on renal function markers in healthy individuals.

View study

Chilibeck 2017, OAJSM

Meta-analysis
Finding
Older adults, resistance training + creatine: +1.37 kg lean mass vs placebo, with additional upper/lower-body strength gains.

View study · PMID 29138605

Richie 2015, Eur J Nutr

RCT
Dose
250–1,000 mg/day for 6 months
Finding
Oral glutathione supplementation raised blood and tissue GSH levels. The study did not demonstrate improvement in clinical disease endpoints.

View study

Arjinpathana & Asawanonda 2012, J Dermatolog Treat

Double-blind RCT (small)
Dose
500 mg/day orally for 4 weeks
Finding
Reported a reduction in melanin index. Small sample and short duration limit generalisability.

View study

Weschawalit 2017, CCID

RCT (small)
Dose
250 mg/day for 12 weeks
Finding
Reported a trend toward improved skin elasticity and reduced wrinkles — a trend, not a definitive conclusion.

View study

Sinha 2018, Eur J Clin Nutr

RCT
Finding
Reported improved absorption with a liposomal formulation, indicating that formulation design is a key variable for oral glutathione.

View study