Setria Glutathione is perhaps better than Liposomal Glutathione
Setria Glutathione Claude AI Opus 4.6 - Feb 2026
Setria is a patented, high-quality form of reduced glutathione manufactured by Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd., produced through advanced bio-fermentation technology with a purity of 99.5%.
Clinical evidence: A landmark 2014 six-month clinical trial by Dr. John Richie at Penn State with 54 participants showed that supplementing with 250 or 1,000 mg/day of Setria significantly increased GSH levels at 1, 3, and 6 months — the first study to demonstrate oral glutathione's effectiveness. After 3 months of supplementation, NK cell activity doubled, which is particularly relevant for immune defense against pathogens and cancer cells.
Key strengths: High purity and stability, strong clinical validation, consistent manufacturing via fermentation (rather than enzymatic synthesis), and proven oral bioavailability without requiring liposomal encapsulation.
Liposomal Glutathione
Liposomal glutathione encases reduced glutathione within tiny spherical liposomes made of lipids and phospholipids, which protect it from degradation in the GI tract and facilitate passage across cell membranes.
Clinical evidence: A study published in the journal Nutrients found that liposomal glutathione supplementation significantly increased intracellular glutathione levels compared to standard glutathione, with participants also showing decreased oxidative stress biomarkers.
Key strengths: Enhanced protection from stomach acid degradation, potentially faster absorption, and improved cellular uptake due to the phospholipid coating.
Drawbacks: Liposomal forms can have a shorter shelf life and sometimes a foul taste. They are also generally more expensive due to the complexity of liposomal encapsulation technology.
Comparison table
| Factor | Setria | Liposomal |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Reduced GSH, fermentation-based | Reduced GSH in lipid vesicles |
| Purity | 99.5% | Varies by manufacturer |
| Clinical trials | Strong (Richie 2014, NK cell studies) | Some supportive studies |
| Stability | High (patented formulation) | Dependent on liposome quality |
| Cost | Moderate | Generally higher |
| Absorption mechanism | Proven oral bioavailability | GI protection via liposomal encapsulation |
Worth noting: Some products actually combine both approaches — Codeage, for example, uses 500 mg of Setria L-Glutathione in a liposomal delivery system with a phospholipid complex from non-GMO sunflower. This "best of both worlds" approach may be worth considering.
Essential Liposomal Glutathione - - - Performance Labs Dec 2025 (has information on Setria)
Gluthathiones at Amazon.com
- 30 cents and up per capsule - both Setria and liposomal
- 38 cents for the liposomal glutathione that I am now taking