- *MSRP:
$77.99- Our Price:
- $45.24
- Buy: at $45.24
- UPC: 733739001764
- # N0176
NOW Foods Glutathione 500 mg Veg Capsules (120 Count) with Milk Thistle & Alpha Lipoic Acid
Product Overview & Quick Specs Snapshot
NOW Glutathione 500 mg delivers an extra-strength serving of pure, active "reduced form" glutathione (chemical formula: C10H17N3O6S) in easy-to-swallow vegetable capsules. Glutathione is known as your body's master antioxidant because it helps your liver process waste and protects healthy cells from everyday stress [1, 4]. To give your body complete liver and cellular support, NOW adds standardized Milk Thistle extract and Alpha Lipoic Acid to help recharge your antioxidant levels all day long [2, 3].
Quick Specs Snapshot
- ✓ Active Form & Potency: 500 mg of biologically active Reduced Glutathione (GSH), combined with 100 mg Milk Thistle Extract (standardized to 80% Silymarin flavonoids) and 50 mg Alpha Lipoic Acid in every single vegetable capsule.
- ✓ Primary Cellular Target: Liver cells, cellular mitochondria, and your body's natural Phase II cleansing pathways [1, 2].
- ✓ Supply & Value Math: 120 vegetable capsules provide a full 4-month supply (120 daily servings), giving you the lowest cost per day and maximum long-term savings compared to small 30-count bottles.
- ✓ Formulation Purity: Non-GMO, vegan/vegetarian, and certified free from gluten, wheat, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and sesame.
Buyer's Guide & Active Form Comparison
Why the Active Reduced Form & Tri-Nutrient Blend Matters
Glutathione only works as a protective antioxidant when it is in its active reduced state (GSH). Many generic drugstore brands use low-grade, oxidized glutathione that has already lost its protective power before it reaches your stomach [1]. Furthermore, standalone glutathione can be used up rapidly during digestion. NOW solves this problem by combining 500 mg of Reduced Glutathione with Milk Thistle Extract (80% silymarin) to protect liver cell walls, plus Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) to constantly recycle used glutathione back into its active working form [2, 3].
Is This Formula Right for You?
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
- ✓ Want daily nutritional support for healthy liver function, balanced bile production, and natural waste removal [1, 2].
- ✓ Want deep cellular antioxidant protection to promote healthy skin radiance, clear skin tone, and everyday vitality [1, 4].
- ✓ Prefer the economy and convenience of a 4-month value size so they never run out of their daily wellness routine.
Consider Another Option If:
- ✘ You have a known allergy to plants in the daisy or Asteraceae family (such as ragweed or marigolds), which are related to Milk Thistle.
- ✘ You are pregnant or nursing, where high-potency antioxidant routines should always be reviewed first with your doctor.
- ✘ You want an unflavored powder that dissolves in large quantities of water rather than a pre-measured capsule.
How Glutathione Works: Liver Detox & Cellular Defense
Glutathione is built inside your body from three basic protein blocks: glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Nutritionists call it the "master antioxidant" because it exists inside every single human cell, working continuously to catch harmful free radicals before they can damage cell walls or cellular DNA [1, 4].
1. The Liver's Phase II Waste-Disposal System
Think of your liver as a recycling center. In Phase I, your liver breaks down chemicals, food additives, and environmental pollutants. But this step creates unstable waste molecules. In Phase II cleansing, Reduced Glutathione locks directly onto these waste molecules like a handle. This process turns fat-soluble chemicals into water-soluble compounds so your body can safely flush them away through urine or digestive bile [1, 2].
2. The Continuous Recycling Loop (Alpha Lipoic Acid)
Once glutathione captures an unstable free radical, it becomes "spent" (oxidized into GSSG). Instead of throwing it away, your body uses Alpha Lipoic Acid (chemical formula: C8H14O2S2) to recharge it [3]. Alpha Lipoic Acid acts like a reusable battery charger, donating fresh electrons to turn spent glutathione back into its active working form so it can protect cells again and again [3, 4].
3. The Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Liver Shield
Milk Thistle seeds contain natural plant flavonoids called silymarin. Silymarin acts like an armored shield across the outer surface of your liver cells (hepatocytes) [2, 5]. It helps block harmful substances from getting inside the cell while encouraging liver cells to produce healthy new structural proteins [2, 5].
Daily Dosing, Timing & Nutrient Synergy Protocol
Optimal Timing & Empty Stomach Protocol
The recommended adult dose is 1 vegetable capsule daily, taken on an empty stomach with a full 8-ounce glass of pure water (chemical formula: H2O). Your intestines use specialized peptide gates (PEPT transporters) to move amino acid compounds into your bloodstream [1]. Taking your capsule 30 to 45 minutes before breakfast ensures that food proteins do not crowd these gates, allowing your body to absorb intact glutathione quickly and efficiently [1]. If you have a sensitive stomach, you can take it alongside a light piece of fruit.
Best Time of Day
Take your capsule first thing in the morning. Morning dosing aligns with your liver's natural circadian cleansing cycle, giving your cells strong antioxidant armor to handle normal daily environmental stress, sunlight, and metabolic activity throughout your day [1, 4].
Smart Synergies & Spacing Rules
- ✓ Helpful Nutrients: This formula works great alongside Vitamin C (500 mg to 1,000 mg) and Selenium. Vitamin C helps keep glutathione active in your red blood cells, while Selenium provides the essential mineral needed to build your body's primary detox enzyme, glutathione peroxidase [1, 4].
- ✘ Mineral & Heat Spacing: Because Alpha Lipoic Acid naturally binds to minerals, take this capsule at least 2 hours away from high-dose iron or copper supplements. Avoid taking capsules with boiling hot tea or coffee, as high heat can break down delicate antioxidant bonds.
Timeline of What to Expect
Week 1: Fast absorption of reduced glutathione and alpha lipoic acid begins replenishing cellular antioxidant pools inside your red blood cells and liver [1].
Weeks 3–4: Consistent tissue saturation. Peer-reviewed human trials show measurable increases in whole-blood glutathione reserves and optimal immune cell activity, along with noticeable skin clarity and steady daily energy [1, 2].
Months 2–4 (The 120-Day Advantage): Sustained Phase II liver balance, healthy cell regeneration, and deep long-term protection against daily oxidative stress [1, 4].
Physical Capsule Profile & Clean Excipients Demystified
Capsule Size & Easy Swallowability
NOW Glutathione 500 mg is encapsulated in a standard two-piece vegetarian capsule (Size "0", approximately 21 mm long). The smooth vegetable cellulose coating slips down easily with a swallow of water, preventing the throat irritation or sticking that often happens with hard, chalky tablets.
Natural Aroma, Taste & Color Markers
When you open the bottle, you will notice a mild, earthy or sulfur-like aroma. This is completely normal and a sign of authentic quality. Both Glutathione and Alpha Lipoic Acid are naturally rich in sulfur, which is what gives them their unique ability to grab and eliminate free radicals. The capsule itself has no taste when swallowed whole. The powder inside has a light, speckled tan-to-beige tone due to the natural color of pure Milk Thistle seed extract.
Other Ingredients Demystified
Every non-active ingredient on the label has a simple, clean purpose:
- ✓ Hypromellose (cellulose capsule): A 100% vegetarian capsule shell made from plant fibers that dissolves in stomach fluid in under 5 minutes without animal gelatin.
- ✓ Microcrystalline Cellulose: Clean, purified plant fiber used to evenly fill the capsule so you receive the exact same dose every single day.
- ✓ Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source): A natural plant oil derivative that prevents botanical powders from sticking to encapsulation machines.
- ✓ Silicon Dioxide: A natural earth mineral that absorbs moisture from the air, keeping the powder dry, fresh, and free from clumps.
Bottle Storage & Eco-Friendly Packaging
Store your bottle tightly sealed in a cool, dry cupboard away from bathroom humidity and direct heat. This 120-count bottle (SKU 0176) is made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin, keeping plastic waste out of our oceans while shielding active antioxidants from UV light degradation.
NOW Foods Laboratory Testing & Strict Contaminant Standards
Never take chances on discount big box store vitamins. Big retail chains often buy low-cost private label supplements from third-party manufacturers who skip basic purity tests. Independent lab testing shows that discount antioxidants frequently contain hidden fillers, heavy metals, or oxidized, dead ingredients. NOW Foods operates one of the most advanced analytical testing systems in the nutritional industry:
- ✓ ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited In-House Labs: NOW operates world-class analytical testing facilities where full-time scientists perform more than 19,000 to 31,000 separate tests each month on raw ingredients and finished goods.
- ✓ ICP-MS Heavy Metal Testing (Parts-Per-Billion Precision): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, every incoming ingredient is screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) limits, surpassing California Proposition 65 and USP standards.
- ✓ HPLC Molecular Identification & Potency Verification: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography verifies that every capsule contains real, unoxidized Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and confirms 80% silymarin flavonoid standardization in Milk Thistle.
- ✓ Microbiological Pathogen Bio-Screening: Every single production batch is cultured and tested to ensure zero contamination from Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, molds, or yeasts.
- ✓ Audited cGMP Manufacturing: Facilities are independently audited and certified by UL Solutions and maintain an "A-rated" Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) certification through the Natural Products Association (NPA).
Supplement Facts & Retailer Verification
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule
Servings Per Container: 120
| Description | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Glutathione (Reduced Form) | 500 mg | ** |
| Milk Thistle Extract (Silybum marianum) (Fruit/Seeds) (Standardized to 80 mg Silymarin Flavonoids - equivalent 80%) | 100 mg | ** |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | 50 mg | ** |
** Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide.
Allergen Declaration: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Safety Caution: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
Natural color variation may occur in this product. Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Family owned since 1968. SKU 0175, 0176: This bottle is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.