Wellness Tok is filled with the newest anti-aging trend.
Some users swear that glutathione, an IV antioxidant nicknamed the “master detoxifier,” can reverse the signs of aging.
But what exactly is it, does it work and is it safe?
An antioxidant produced in cells, glutathione is composed primarily of three amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. While the body naturally produces glutathione, levels fluctuate and decline due to poor nutrition, stress, inadequate rest, environmental toxins and aging.
Glutathione can be administered intravenously, topically or orally, but drip or injection is said to be the preferred route of celebrity users Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber as it bypasses the digestive tract and sends the liquid directly into the bloodstream.
Side effects reported from glutathione injections or IV drips include body aches, nausea, headaches, chills, and diarrhea.
Without fear of headaches or stomach rumbles, advocates say glutathione helps fight age-related changes by stimulating the repair of damaged tissue and promoting the production of new, healthy cells.
Last year on an episode of the Art of Wellness podcast, vaginal suppository ambassador and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow tried giving herself an IV with glutathione.
TikTok influencer Claire Elizabeth, aka @claire.elis, calls glutathione her “hero supplement,” claiming it has drastically changed her life.
In the viral clip, which follows her as she goes to a clinic for a glutathione injection, Elizabeth says the supplement “helps support healthy aging, immune function, energy production, but most importantly, detoxification, which is about words the way we help get gets rid of toxins in the body, aka frees the body from inflammation and so you feel better.”
Her hypothesis is echoed by influencer and “Love Island” star Olivia Attwood, who appeared on lifestyle brand SheerLuxe’s TikTok channel to share her wellness and anti-aging regimen, which includes glutathione injections .
“It’s a molecule, something we make that helps our cells reproduce,” she explained. “They were testing it and it showed signs that it could actually slow down the aging of our cells.”
What do experts say about the risks and benefits of the miracle shot?
“Glutathione is a natural chemical found in all animal cells,” said Dr. Andrew Steele, a computational biologist and author of the longevity guide Ageless: The New Science of Aging Without Getting Old, told the Daily Mail. “There is evidence that its levels decrease with age – so the theory goes, maybe if we can slow its decline, maybe we can prolong the youth of our cells.”
But don’t get your hopes up, folks, as Steele explains:
“Unfortunately, there is very little evidence for this idea and more work is needed before we fully understand whether it will affect the health of our skin or how long we live.”
What’s more troubling is that the so-called miracle can not only be ineffective, but can also cause harm, according to Steele.
“Some research suggests that glutathione supplementation can shorten lifespan in worms,” he added, concluding, “While the science here is interesting, I think I’d stick with glutathione for now.”
In addition to antiaging purposes, glutathione is sometimes injected directly into the face to lighten or lighten pigmentation, raising ethical and medical concerns.
A British medical journal found that when injected into the face, there are potential side effects of glutathione include nervous system, kidney and liver toxicity, plus headaches and rare but serious skin conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a rare, serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes.
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