In this randomized, controlled study, men with cardiovascular risk factors (smoking and/or hypertension) saw improvement in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol after supplementing with glutathione.
The study arm of 16 males ages 40-60 were administered 100/mg sublingual glutathione twice daily for a duration of 3 months and compared against a placebo group.
The statistically significant improvements in cholesterol were seen across the group.
An improvement in vascular elasticity was seen in men with abnormally low endothelial function (measured by reactive hyperemia index).
Study authors noted that the benefits of glutathione supplementation appear to be tied to how well the formula is absorbed. The sublingual formulation used was shown to be absorbed in red blood cells. They concluded that effectively absorbed glutathione may prevent vascular damage in patients with cardiovascular risk factors and arterial disease.