This section provides an overview of L-glutathione reduced powder, covering its manufacturing processes, regulatory status, and applications in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Also, please check out the introduction to L-glutathione reduced manufacturers, supply chain issues, L-glutathione reduced suppliers, and L-glutathione prices. Sinofi can help you buy L-glutathione powder at wholesale prices of 130 USD/Kg (1 Kg order) and 95 USD/Kg (25 Kg order).
Table of Contents
What is L-Glutathione Reduced?
L-glutathione is the reduced form of the tripeptide γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, abbreviated GSH. It is the most abundant small-molecule thiol in human cells and serves as the cell’s main redox buffer. GSH is an ingredient with two sides. The free thiol (–SH) on its cysteine residue is what makes it biologically useful. That same group makes it chemically fragile: it oxidizes to glutathione disulfide (GSSG), gives off a sulfur odor, binds metals, and reacts with other actives. L-glutathione is glutamate, cysteine, and glycine joined in that order. The glutamate is linked through its side-chain (γ) carboxyl instead of the usual α-carboxyl. According to the FDA GRAS, L-glutathione is approved to be used in the food industry.
Regulatory Status and Safety Considerations
L-Glutathione has been evaluated by major regulatory bodies like the National Cancer Institute, ECHACHEM, Cosing and WHO. GSH has a different legal identity in every market: a supplement ingredient, a cosmetic ingredient, and an approved drug in some countries. Most importantly, different grades of GSH should not be used interchangeably; otherwise, serious safety problems will occur. The biggest live issue in the US is injectable GSH. On 27 August 2026, FDA linked at least 30 patient adverse events to IV products compounded from dietary-supplement-grade glutathione (FDA).
Biological Role
According to Nature, glutathione is the principal intracellular thiol-based antioxidant, present in millimolar concentrations across eukaryotic cells. Inside cells, it does four main jobs. It reduces peroxides through glutathione peroxidase. It detoxifies electrophiles through glutathione S-transferases. It regenerates vitamins C and E. It also buffers protein thiols against oxidation. Cells recycle GSSG back to GSH with glutathione reductase and NADPH. Those functions explain where the ingredient shows up commercially:
| Sector | Why GSH is used |
| Dietary supplements | Antioxidant, liver and immune support positioning |
| Cosmetics | Antioxidant and skin-brightening claims (shifts melanin synthesis away from dark eumelanin) |
| Food | Kokumi taste enhancer; dough relaxer that weakens gluten disulfide bonds |
| Pharmaceuticals | Approved as a drug in some markets (for example, Japan, China, Italy) for liver and toxicity indications |
| Bioprocessing | GSH/GSSG redox pairs for protein refolding; cell culture additive |
CAS No.: 70-18-8
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of L-glutathione is 70-18-8.
Common Name: L-glutathione
Molecular Formula: C10H17N3O6S
EC number: 200-725-4
Molecular Weight: 307.32 g/mol
Appearance: white crystalline powder
Melting Point: 182–195 °C, with decomposition
Food Chemicals Codex Listed: Yes
Other Names:
♦ GSH
♦ Glutathione
♦ Reduced glutathione
♦ Tathione
♦ Glutathion
♦γ-L-Glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine
♦ Atomolan
♦ Glycine, L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-
♦ L-Glutathione
Bulk L-Glutathione Reduced Manufacturers
Global L-glutathione production is boosted by rising demand from dietary supplement brands, pharmaceutical companies, cosmetic manufacturers, and functional nutrition businesses. Bulk L-glutathione is manufactured mainly by companies in China, Japan, and Italy. Top L-glutathione reduced manufacturers like Kohjin Life Sciences, Kyowa Hakko Bio, and Lesaffre have produced glutathione for many years. They compete on clinical data, branded ingredients, and long regulatory track records rather than on prices. Japan invented the industry and still owns the premium brands, but China now holds most of the capacity.
Sinofi is a bulk manufacturer of reduced L-glutathione in China, and we have a 2,500-square-meter manufacturing facility for L-glutathione powder production. We supply high-quality L-glutathione powder at wholesale prices and serve the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries worldwide.
Manufacturing Process of L-Glutathione Powder
Two industrial routes dominate: yeast fermentation, on which Japanese pioneers built the market, and enzymatic synthesis, which many newer Chinese producers use. Extraction from plant material and chemical synthesis are available but not commercially significant.
Yeast Fermentation
Saccharomyces cerevisiae or torula yeast (Candida utilis) accumulate GSH from sugar; it is then extracted and crystallized.
Enzymatic Synthesis
Enzymes such as bifunctional glutathione synthetase (GshF) join glutamate, cysteine, and glycine, with ATP supplied or regenerated.
Industry reports describe the market as moving from fermentation toward enzymatic processes, and a 2026 Chinese review frames this as the sector’s “industrial upgrading”.
Bulk L-Glutathione Reduced Suppliers
The bulk supply of L-glutathione reduced is concentrated primarily in Asia, with Japan and China playing particularly important roles in commercial production. Top L-glutathione reduced suppliers such as Kohjin Life Sciences, Kyowa Hakko Bio, and Lesaffre hold strong positions in supplying L-glutathione powder. China has developed a substantial manufacturing base covering pharmaceutical APIs, nutritional ingredients, and fermentation products. Chinese L-glutathione reduced suppliers can be particularly competitive for large-volume purchasing.
Sinofi is a bulk L-glutathione reduced supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality glutathione powder. We sell different grades of L-glutathione powder at wholesale prices, serving end-users in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.
Supply Chain of L-Glutathione Powder
The L-glutathione supply chain is an hourglass. Commodity amino acids and sugar flow in from a broad, mostly Chinese base. They pass through a narrow waist of perhaps half a dozen production plants in Japan and China, then fan out through distributors and formulators into supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and food worldwide.
Raw Materials
- Amino-acid and sugar producers, enzyme and other chemicals.
- Broad, commoditized, China-centered; cysteine is the strategic input.
L-Glutathione Production
- Kyowa Hakko Bio, KOHJIN, Lesaffre and a few others.
- Highly concentrated; top two hold about 70%.
Distribution
- Brand offices, distributors, repackagers, lab suppliers, traders.
- Fragmented; where traceability is most often lost.
Formulation
- Supplement brands and contract manufacturers, drug makers, cosmetic labs, pharmacies.
- Many players; most value captured here.
End-Markets
- Consumers, patients, food manufacturers.
- Asia-Pacific is the largest; demand is growing 6–9% a year.
Wholesale and Buy L-Glutathione Reduced Powder in Bulk
As global demand for L-glutathione reduced powder continues to grow, more manufacturers, distributors, and purchasing managers are looking for reliable ways to buy L-glutathione powder in bulk at competitive wholesale prices.
Five decisions drive almost all the risk and most of the cost:
- Grade: Food or supplement, cosmetic, pharmaceutical API, or parenteral. Never use supplement grade in anything injectable.
- Producer and site: Buy from a named supplier with a track record.
- Branded or generic: A clinically branded ingredient (Setria, OPITAC) costs more, but it buys label claims and marketing rights.
- Origin and duty: Chinese and Japanese origin face different US tariff exposure; landed cost can reverse the ranking of two quotes.
- Contract terms: Specification, change notification, shelf life on arrival, and price mechanism protect you more than any one-off discount.
Selecting and Qualifying Suppliers
Selecting the right supplier is one of the most important decisions in bulk ingredient procurement.
Manufacturing Capabilities
L-glutathione buyers should investigate whether the supplier is a direct manufacturer, authorized distributor, or trading company. A qualified manufacturer should be able to explain its production process, quality control procedures, batch traceability system, and manufacturing capacity.
Quality Certifications and Documentation
Depending on the intended application and target market, buyers should request relevant documentation, including:
- Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- Product specification sheet
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- ISO or other applicable quality management certificates
- Allergen, origin, and regulatory statements where required
- Batch-specific testing results
Certifications should be checked for validity, issuing organization, scope, and manufacturing-site coverage.
As a bulk L-glutathione reduced manufacturer and supplier in China, we wholesale this ingredient to end users in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. We also supply high-quality reduced L-glutathione powder for sale. Normally, small customers want to buy L-glutathione powder in small quantities. To serve them, we can sell L-glutathione reduced at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service.
L-Glutathione Reduced Prices (USD/Kg)
Food Grade L-Glutathione Reduced Powder Prices (HPLC Content >=98.0%, JP, EP, USP)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 18 USD | Express |
| 500g | 90 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 130 USD/Kg | Express |
| 25Kg | 95 USD/Kg | Express |
| 100Kg | >=30% cheaper | Express / Sea |
| 200Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
The food-grade L-glutathione reduced prices range roughly from USD 80–145/kg in China (for example, USD 80–105/kg at a 1,000 kg MOQ). The pharma-grade L-glutathione prices range from USD 250–350/kg for JP, EP, and USP standards.
The transaction price for L-glutathione powder in North America and Europe in 2025–2026 was about USD 100–170/kg for food-, supplement-, and cosmetic-grade, with a premium for pharmacopoeial (USP/EP) API-grade backed by a CEP or DMF. The strongest primary evidence comes from the market leader’s audited accounts.
Furthermore, the above price quotations for L-glutathione reduced powder do not include the express fee. The reason is that the shipment cost may exceed the sample value of L-glutathione powder. However, the bulk wholesale prices of L-glutathione reduced will be much lower than those of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
L-Glutathione Specification
| Item | Specifications |
| Identity | IR spectrum conforms |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder |
| Purity (HPLC, %) | >=98 |
| Assay (dried basis, %) | 98.0–101.0 |
| Related Substances (%) | <= 2.0 |
| -Glutathione disulfide (GSSG, %) | <= 1.5 |
| Loss on Drying (%) | <= 0.5 |
| Residue on Ignition (%) | <= 0.1 |
| Specific rotation (40 g/L, water) | −15.5° to −17.5° |
| Ammonium (ppm) | <= 200 |
| Chloride (ppm) | <= 200 |
| Sulfate (ppm) | <= 300 |
| Iron (ppm) | <= 10 |
| Arsenic (ppm) | <= 2 |
| Heavy Metals (ppm) | <= 5 |
| Total Plate Count (cfu/g) | <= 100 |
| Yeast & Mold (cfu/g) | <= 100 |
| E. Coli, Salmonella | Negative |
L-Glutathione Uses
L-glutathione is an essential antioxidant, and its potential applications in skincare, healthy aging, exercise recovery, and neurological health have attracted growing scientific interest.
Dietary supplements
Supplements are the most visible consumer use. Products sell reduced glutathione (GSH) in several formats:
- capsules and tablets;
- sublingual lozenges and powders;
- liposomal liquids.
Skin and Cosmetics
Skin brightening is the largest consumer driver of glutathione demand in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa. It reaches the skin by three routes, and the evidence and risks differ sharply between them.
Medicine
Glutathione has been a prescription drug in several countries for decades. Its approved uses depend on the country. In the United States, its medical role comes mainly through compounding pharmacies and medical devices rather than an approved GSH drug.
Approved drug uses by country
Japan
- Tathion (oral and injectable), approved since 1967.
- Drug and heavy-metal poisoning; acetonemic vomiting; nausea and vomiting of pregnancy; pregnancy-induced hypertension; some liver and skin conditions.
Italy
- TAD 600 mg/4 ml and 2,500 mg/25 ml, plus several generics
- Prevention of nerve damage from cisplatin or similar chemotherapy drugs. The label dose is about 1.5 g/m² (about 2.5 g) by slow IV, 15–30 minutes before chemotherapy.
China
- Reduced glutathione for injection, plus oral tablets.
- Liver disease, and toxicity from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Food and beverages
Food and industrial uses may be the largest outlet for glutathione by volume; one unaudited industry estimate puts them at 50–60%. Much of the GSH in food comes from yeast extracts or inactivated yeast rather than from pure crystals. It has three established technical roles and one newer nutritional one.
L-Glutathione Benefits
L-glutathione plays a significant role in protecting cells, supporting normal liver function, maintaining immune system activity, and regulating oxidative stress.
Benefit 1: Raising the body’s glutathione stores
This is the best-supported benefit, and every other claim depends on it. Taking glutathione daily for months, or taking its building blocks, can raise blood glutathione. Single doses and short courses often do not.
Benefit 2: Skin brightening and skin aging
Glutathione’s skin benefits are real but modest, and they vary by body site and by person. In the lab, GSH shifts melanin production from dark eumelanin toward lighter pheomelanin and dampens the oxidative signals that drive pigmentation.
Benefit 3: Liver health
Liver support is the most plausible organ-specific benefit, because the liver makes and uses the most glutathione. The human evidence is still early. Injectable glutathione has long been used for poisoning and chronic liver disease in Japan, China and other parts of Asia. Oral evidence rests mainly on one pilot study.
Benefit 4: Immunity, metabolism and healthy aging
These are the most exciting claims and the least settled. Most of the striking results come from small trials of glutathione’s building blocks, glycine and NAC (GlyNAC), rather than glutathione itself.
Benefit 5: Protecting nerves
The best clinical evidence for any glutathione benefit is in preventing nerve damage from platinum chemotherapy. Glutathione is given there by IV under medical care, not as a supplement. Italy approves injectable glutathione for this use, at about 1.5 g/m² by IV shortly before each chemotherapy dose.
A Skin-Whitening Composition Using L-Glutathione Reduced Powder
Include the following ingredients (by weight, unit: Kg):
Water, 66.85; Butanediol, 13.2; Glabridin, 0.6; Polyquaternium-51, 1.2; Hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, 1.96; Nonapeptide-1, 1.2; Glycerin, 1.9; Nicotinamide, 4.8; Azelaide MEA, 0.6; Taurine, 0.6; Inositol, 1.2; HEPES, 0.24; Tranexamic acid, 0.24; L-Glutathione reduced, 0.16; Propylene glycol, 0. 3;1,2-Pentylene glycol, 0.15; Poria cocos extract, 0.09; Mulberry root bark extract, 0.15; Paeonia lactiflora root extract, 0.06; Chrysanthemum flower extract, 0.03; Japanese ampelopsis root extract, 0.12; Atractylodes macrocephala root extract, 0.18; Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz root extract, 0.09; Polygonatum odorifera extract, 0.15; Magnolia officinalis bark extract, 0.09; Angelica sinensis root extract, 0.06; Bletilla striata root extract, 0.04; Caprylyl glycol, 0.3; N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, 3; Papain, 0.15; Sclerotium gum; 1,2-Hexanediol, 0.15.
In conclusion, L-glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that can be used in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. As a bulk L-glutathione manufacturer and supplier in China, we sell different grades of L-glutathione powder at wholesale prices starting from 80 USD/Kg.