Comparison
Glutathione vs Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
Side-by-side of Glutathione and Omega-3 (EPA/DHA). 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.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
Omega 3 fish oil profile: EPA/DHA marine fatty acids, 2-4 g/day cuts triglycerides 20-30%, REDUCE-IT showed 25% cardiovascular risk reduction on icosapent eth.
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
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
- •Reduces fasting triglycerides 20-50% at 2-4 g/day in hypertriglyceridemic patients
- •REDUCE-IT showed 25% relative risk reduction in major CV events at 4 g/day icosapent ethyl
- •Modest antidepressant effect (SMD ~0.40) for EPA-dominant formulations at 1-2 g/day
- •Atrial fibrillation incidence rises ~30-50% at 4 g/day; relevant for older patients with pre-existing CV disease
- •Tissue omega-3 index (RBC EPA + DHA) target ~8%; Western baseline typically 4-5%
- •Triglyceride and re-esterified triglyceride forms absorb ~70% better than ethyl esters in fasted state
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Glutathione | Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | GSH, L-glutathione, reduced glutathione | fish oil, EPA, DHA, marine omega-3 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 48 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 500 | 2000 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, often divided | 1 to 2 times daily with food |
| Routes | oral, sublingual, intravenous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 4 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 12 |
| Molecular weight | 307.32 | 302.45 |
| Molecular formula | C10H17N3O6S | C20H30O2 (EPA); C22H32O2 (DHA) |
| Mechanism | Tripeptide antioxidant; substrate for glutathione peroxidase (H2O2 reduction), GST (xenobiotic conjugation), glutaredoxin (redox signaling). GSH:GSSG ratio is the central cellular redox indicator. | Substitutes arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids, shifting eicosanoid production toward less-inflammatory 3-series prostaglandins and 5-series leukotrienes. Activates PPAR-alpha to lower hepatic VLDL/triglyceride synthesis. DHA modulates synaptic membrane fluidity and neuronal function. |
| Legal status | OTC dietary supplement | Dietary supplement; prescription forms (icosapent ethyl, omega-3 acid ethyl esters) for severe hypertriglyceridemia |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data at supplemental doses; endogenous compound is safe | Recommended at 200 to 600 mg DHA/day for fetal development |
| CAS | 70-18-8 | 10417-94-4 |
| PubChem CID | 124886 | 446284 |
| Wikidata | Q116907 | Q207688 |
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)
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
Common side effects
- fishy aftertaste
- eructation (fish burps)
- mild dyspepsia
- loose stools at high doses
Contraindications
- fish allergy (use algal omega-3 alternative)
- active bleeding disorders
- scheduled surgery (discontinue 5-7 days prior)
Interactions
- warfarin and DOACs: additive antiplatelet effect at 2+ g/day; meaningful bleeding risk(moderate)
- aspirin and antiplatelet agents: additive bleeding risk at high doses(moderate)
- statins: complementary cardiovascular effects; no pharmacokinetic interaction(minor)
- antiarrhythmics: high-dose omega-3 increases AF risk; relevant in pre-existing arrhythmia(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Glutathione is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick Glutathione.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Glutathione.
- → If your priority is cardiovascular health, pick Omega-3 (EPA/DHA).
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Omega-3 (EPA/DHA).
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Glutathione ~0.5 hr vs Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) ~48 hr). Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) reaches steady state faster; Glutathione is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Omega-3 (EPA/DHA). Lower friction to source, 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 Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)?
Glutathione and Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) 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 Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)?
Glutathione half-life is 0.5 hours; Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) half-life is 48 hours.
Can you stack Glutathione with Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)?
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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