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Study · Non-randomized trial · n = 29 · 2017

7 results

Efficacy of glutathione for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study.

Honda Y, Kessoku T, Sumida Y, Kobayashi T, Kato T, Ogawa Y, Tomeno W, Imajo K, Fujita K, Yoneda M, Kataoka K, Taguri M and 11 more

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Yamanaka T, Seko Y, Tanaka S, Saito S, Ono M, Oeda S, Eguchi Y, Aoi W, Sato K, Itoh Y, Nakajima A

BMC gastroenterology8 Aug 2017Cited by 86 (Europe PMC)

PMID28789631 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5549431 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s12876-017-0652-3 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-28789631
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Summary

BackgroundGlutathione plays crucial roles in the detoxification and antioxidant systems of cells and has been used to treat acute poisoning and chronic liver diseases by intravenous injection. This is a first study examining the therapeutic effects of oral administration of glutathione in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsThe study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial. Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated. All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months. We evaluated their clinical parameters before and after glutathione treatment. We also quantified liver fat and fibrosis using vibration-controlled transient elastography. The primary outcome of the study was the change in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.ResultsTwenty-nine patients finished the protocol. ALT levels significantly decreased following treatment with glutathione for 4 months. In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased with glutathione treatment. Following dichotomization of ALT responders based on a median 12.9% decrease from baseline, we found that ALT responders were younger in age and did not have severe diabetes compared with ALT non-responders. The controlled attenuation parameter also decreased in ALT responders.ConclusionsThis pilot study demonstrates the potential therapeutic effects of oral administration of glutathione in practical dose for patients with NAFLD. Large-scale clinical trials are needed to verify its efficacy.Trial registrationUMIN000011118 (date of registration: July 4, 2013).
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 7 results from people.

  1. 01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In NAFLD patients, ALT decreased significantly after glutathione treatment.

    In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, liver enzyme ALT decreased after glutathione treatment.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseALT
    Study

    n = 29

    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Median ALT decrease from baseline
    12.9%
    Glutathione-treated NAFLD patients; median used to dichotomize ALT responders

    Source sentences

    Summary
    ALT levels significantly decreased following treatment with glutathione for 4 months.
    Summary
    Following dichotomization of ALT responders based on a median 12.9% decrease from baseline, we found that ALT responders were younger in age and did not have severe diabetes compared with ALT non-responders.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The primary outcome of the study was the change in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  2. 02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In NAFLD patients, triglycerides decreased with glutathione treatment.

    In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, triglycerides decreased with glutathione treatment.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseTriglycerides
    Study

    n = 29

    Outcome group
    Lipids · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased with glutathione treatment.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  3. 03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In NAFLD patients, non-esterified fatty acids decreased with glutathione treatment.

    In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, free fatty acids decreased with glutathione treatment.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseNon-esterified fatty acids
    Study

    n = 29

    Outcome group
    Lipids · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased with glutathione treatment.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  4. 04HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In NAFLD patients, ferritin decreased with glutathione treatment.

    In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, ferritin decreased with glutathione treatment.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseFerritin
    Study

    n = 29

    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased with glutathione treatment.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  5. 05HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    In glutathione-treated NAFLD patients, ALT responders were younger than non-responders.

    In plain wordsIn people receiving glutathione for fatty liver disease, ALT responders were younger than non-responders.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseAge of ALT responders
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    ALT non-responders
    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Following dichotomization of ALT responders based on a median 12.9% decrease from baseline, we found that ALT responders were younger in age and did not have severe diabetes compared with ALT non-responders.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  6. 06HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    In glutathione-treated NAFLD patients, ALT responders did not have severe diabetes compared with non-responders.

    In plain wordsIn glutathione-treated people with fatty liver disease, ALT responders did not have severe diabetes compared with non-responders.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseDiabetes severity of ALT responders
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    ALT non-responders
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Following dichotomization of ALT responders based on a median 12.9% decrease from baseline, we found that ALT responders were younger in age and did not have severe diabetes compared with ALT non-responders.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.
  7. 07HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In NAFLD ALT responders, controlled attenuation parameter decreased after glutathione treatment.

    In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease who responded to glutathione, the liver fat measure decreased.

    Peptide
    Glutathione
    Outcome
    DecreaseControlled attenuation parameter
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    300 mg/day · oral · 4 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The controlled attenuation parameter also decreased in ALT responders.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study was an open label, single arm, multicenter, pilot trial.
    Summary · context
    Thirty-four NAFLD patients diagnosed using ultrasonography were prospectively evaluated.
    Summary · context
    All patients first underwent intervention to improve their lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) for 3 months, followed by treatment with glutathione (300 mg/day) for 4 months.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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