Glutathione is the new ‘anti-aging’ supplement said to keep Gwyneth Paltrow looking forever young…but should YOU try it?

Experts have raised concerns about the latest health trend on TikTok: an antioxidant infusion that is said to counteract aging.

Videos highlighting the seemingly remarkable benefits of glutathione have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Users rave about its “transformative” effect, helping them increase energy levels and even boost their immune system. Some even call it a “master detoxifier.”

The infusions, which are said to be used by Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hailey Bieber, are sold in beauty clinics for around £75.

But it can also be taken as a jab or easily bought online as a supplement for just 55p per pill.

However, experts warned today that it is “irresponsible” to label glutathione as an anti-aging agent and raised concerns about the “very weak evidence” for its effectiveness.

Some proponents claim that the substance can also address pigmentation in the skin, having a noticeable and positive brightening effect on skin tone and complexion.

In a TikTok video posted by SheerLuxe that has been viewed 44,000 times, influencer and former Love Island star Olivia Atwood this week confessed to getting glutathione injections.

“It’s a molecule, something we produce that helps our cells reproduce themselves,” she said.

‘They tested it and there are indications that it can slow the aging of our cells.

‘Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner are said to drink a drop of this stuff every week.’

Last year, actress and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow said on a podcast that glutathione infusions were her favorite infusions.

She said, “That makes me feel so good.”

In another TikTok, American influencer @claire.elis, who has more than 190,000 followers, called glutathione her “hero supplement.”

She took her followers to the clinic and said: ‘I inject the body’s most important detoxifier into my bloodstream every week because my body needs all the help it can get.

‘Glutathione is the primary way the body neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress. Those are two things that, if they get out of hand, can make you very sick, meaning low energy and a weak immune system.’

“Do your research, it’s worth it.”

The theory is that glutathione helps combat age-related changes by stimulating the repair of damaged tissue and promoting the production of new healthy cells, both in the skin and throughout the body.

But Professor Edzard Ernst, a world-renowned expert in complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, told MailOnline today: ‘Although glutathione is an intriguing molecule with diverse and poorly understood functions, I believe it is irresponsible to call it a “fantastic anti-ageing agent”.

“I know of no compelling evidence to support this claim.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Andrew Steele, a computational biologist and author of a book on longevity, said: ‘Glutathione is a naturally occurring chemical found in all animal cells.

‘There is some evidence that its levels decline with age, so the theory goes that if we can slow the decline, we might be able to prolong the youthfulness of our cells.

‘Unfortunately, there is little evidence to support this idea. More research is needed before we fully understand whether it has implications for our skin health or how long we live.’

He also told MailOnline: ‘Some research suggests that glutathione supplements can actually shorten the lifespan of worms.

‘Glutathione is an antioxidant, but that is no guarantee that it will extend lifespan.

A massive review article that examined data from 300,000 people taking five different antioxidant supplements found that the supplements either had no effect or increased the risk of death.

“While the science behind this is interesting, I think I’ll hold off on glutathione for now.”

According to doctors, taking the supplement orally does not produce the same detoxifying results as an IV or injection.

According to a clinic in London, the latter is “more efficient” because “it bypasses the digestive tract and delivers the antioxidant directly into your bloodstream.”

In addition to the typical side effects, such as bruising or pain, that can occur with injections, beauty clinics that offer glutathione injections or infusions often warn that their clients may experience body pain.

Other possible symptoms include nausea, headache, chills without fever, and mild diarrhea.

But in one 2016 British medical journal In her report, Dr Ophelia Dadzie, a dermatologist at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, also warned that the jabs — when injected into the face — had caused “other side effects”.

Possible side effects include nervous system, kidney and liver toxicity, headaches and rare but serious skin conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), she said.

SJS is a rare, serious condition affecting the skin and mucous membranes.

It often starts with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful reddish-purple rash that spreads and blisters.

There have long been serious ethical objections to the use of glutathione as a “brightening infusion” to lighten skin color.

Experts warn that the injections are popular in areas of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where some women report brighter, whiter and more radiant skin.

A 2018 study published in the journal Dermatology Practical & Conceptualalso warned that glutathione has been touted for generations as a “magical skin whitener.”

“Its unbridled and lavish use, especially as a parenteral formulation, appears unwarranted,” the researchers said.

In her 2016 report, Dr Dadzie added: ‘In addition to the ethical issues raised by the practice, there are also concerns about efficacy and potential side effects.

‘Clear public health information and warnings regarding this practice — from government bodies such as the Medicines Health Regulatory Agency — are needed in the UK.’