Comparison
Glutathione vs N-Acetyl Cysteine
Side-by-side of Glutathione and N-Acetyl Cysteine. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is the body's primary intracellular antioxidant. Oral supplementation has variable bioavailability; sublingual, liposomal, and IV forms.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
NAC supplement benefits cover glutathione synthesis, liver and antioxidant support, and hangover recovery. Evidence strongest at 1200-2400 mg/day.
Effects at a glance
Glutathione
- •Body's primary intracellular antioxidant; tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine, glycine
- •Oral bioavailability poor; sublingual, liposomal, IV more reliable
- •Richie 2014 trial showed body GSH store increases at 250-1000 mg/day for 6 months
- •NAC supplementation often more cost-effective indirect strategy
- •Modest signals in NAFLD, skin aging, immune support; weak in cardiovascular
N-Acetyl Cysteine
- •Replenishes intracellular glutathione by supplying cysteine, the rate-limiting amino acid for synthesis
- •First-line antidote for acetaminophen toxicity, restoring hepatic glutathione before fulminant injury occurs
- •Reduces sputum viscosity in chronic bronchitis and COPD at 600 to 1200 mg/day over months
- •Modest symptom reductions in OCD and trichotillomania at 1200 to 2400 mg/day across small RCTs
- •Mixed evidence for psychiatric adjunct use in bipolar depression and schizophrenia negative symptoms
- •Inhaled forms can trigger bronchospasm in active asthma; oral use is the standard biohacker route
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Glutathione | N-Acetyl Cysteine |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | GSH, L-glutathione, reduced glutathione | NAC |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 5.6 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 500 | 1200 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, often divided | 1 to 3 times daily, split dosing preferred |
| Routes | oral, sublingual, intravenous | oral, iv |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 307.32 | 163.19 |
| Molecular formula | C10H17N3O6S | C5H9NO3S |
| Mechanism | Tripeptide antioxidant; substrate for glutathione peroxidase (H2O2 reduction), GST (xenobiotic conjugation), glutaredoxin (redox signaling). GSH:GSSG ratio is the central cellular redox indicator. | Deacetylated to cysteine, the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis; also directly scavenges reactive oxygen species and modulates glutamate signaling. |
| Legal status | OTC dietary supplement | OTC in most jurisdictions; restricted periods in US history (FDA reclassified 2022) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | OTC supplement (US, post-2022); Rx indications also exist (acetaminophen overdose, mucolytic) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data at supplemental doses; endogenous compound is safe | Used clinically in pregnancy for specific indications; consult clinician |
| CAS | 70-18-8 | 616-91-1 |
| PubChem CID | 124886 | 12035 |
| Wikidata | Q116907 | Q413299 |
Safety profile
Glutathione
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
Contraindications
- asthma (IV / inhaled forms specifically)
- active chemotherapy without oncologist guidance
Interactions
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical interference with GSH-depletion-dependent agents(moderate)
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Common side effects
- sulfur-like taste or odor
- nausea
- flatulence
- diarrhea
Contraindications
- active asthma attack (inhaled form can trigger bronchospasm)
- known NAC hypersensitivity
Interactions
- nitroglycerin: potentiates vasodilation, risk of hypotension and headache(moderate)
- activated charcoal: reduces NAC absorption when used for acetaminophen overdose(moderate)
- anticoagulants: theoretical additive antiplatelet effect at high doses(minor)
Which Should You Take?
N-Acetyl Cysteine comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Glutathione is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Glutathione.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Glutathione ~0.5 hr vs N-Acetyl Cysteine ~5.6 hr). N-Acetyl Cysteine reaches steady state faster; Glutathione is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: N-Acetyl Cysteine. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Glutathione only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Glutathione and N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Glutathione and N-Acetyl Cysteine differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Glutathione or N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Glutathione half-life is 0.5 hours; N-Acetyl Cysteine half-life is 5.6 hours.
Can you stack Glutathione with N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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