Glutathione review: no published study of IV glutathione for skin lightening (SAMJ 2016)
A 2016 South African Medical Journal review found no published study of intravenous glutathione for skin lightening and no study of long-term IV glutathione for any indication. Studies of oral, lozenge and topical glutathione for lightening were small and lasted 4-12 weeks.
Context: Narrative MEDLINE review to September 2015; human studies only.
Limitations: Review, not a trial. It documents an evidence gap for IV skin-lightening use; it does not establish safety or efficacy of any dose.
Route: IV (no study found); oral, lozenge, topical in the studies reviewed
Oral glutathione PK: micellar 300 mg vs standard 500 mg in healthy adults (n = 14)
In a randomized double-blind crossover study of 14 healthy adults, a single 300 mg dose of a micellar glutathione formulation raised baseline-adjusted whole-blood glutathione about 2.5-fold more (iAUC0-24) than 500 mg of standard glutathione. 600 mg/day for 30 days produced no significant change in routine blood safety markers.