Glutathione vs NAD+
Verdict: Not competitors — different jobs that wellness clinics happen to sell from the same menu. Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant: detox support, oxidative-stress buffering, and the skin-brightening effect that drives most of its demand. NAD+ is metabolic currency for cellular repair and energy. If the goal is skin tone or recovery from oxidative load, that's the glutathione lane; if it's energy, cognition and ageing metabolism, that's NAD+. Many protocols simply run both.
Side by side
| Glutathione | NAD+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical dose | 100 mg–200 mg | 50 mg–100 mg |
| Frequency | 1–3x weekly | 1–3x weekly |
| Administration | subcutaneous injection | subcutaneous injection |
| Common vials | 200 mg, 600 mg, 1500 mg | 100 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg |
| Typical mix | 600 mg + 3 ml water | 500 mg + 5 ml water |
| Units for typical dose | 100 units (200 mg) | 50 units (50 mg) |
Chemistry 101
Glutathione is a tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) that neutralizes reactive oxygen species and recycles other antioxidants; levels drop with age, stress and alcohol. NAD+ is a coenzyme in redox reactions and the substrate sirtuins and PARPs consume during DNA repair. One mops up damage, the other funds the repair crew.
Delivery realities
Oral glutathione absorbs poorly, which is why injection (typically 200–600 mg, 1–3× weekly in wellness protocols) and IV dominate. NAD+ injections run 50–100 mg subcutaneously several times weekly; larger IV infusions are given slowly because of flushing and nausea. Both fade without maintenance — these are practices, not courses.
Evidence status
Glutathione has decent data in specific medical contexts and consistent (mostly cosmetic-clinic) evidence for skin lightening at IV doses; general 'detox' claims outrun the trials. NAD+ restoration is mechanistically compelling with limited clinical outcome data for injections. Both are best treated as adjuncts, not therapies.
Can you stack them?
Frequently combined in the same wellness protocol (sometimes the same session, separate syringes). No interaction concern at typical doses — the honest constraint is spending money where your actual goal is.
More comparisons
Educational comparison based on commonly published research protocols — not medical advice or an endorsement of any compound.