Cerebrolysin vs Glutathione
It is an injection promoted for stroke recovery, memory and brain injury. Trials point both ways, and the biggest review found no fewer deaths and more serious side effects. It is sold as an antioxidant booster, for skin lightening drips and for detox. One small trial showed slight lightening at two skin sites, and trials for other uses failed.
Both sit at grade B: some human evidence. Neither is FDA approved.
Evidence
BSome human evidence
BSome human evidence
Human studies cited
Animal or cell studies cited
Why the grade
For the stroke-recovery use there are randomized placebo-controlled trials, but they point in different directions. A Cochrane review pooled six RCTs with 1,501 participants and found no reduction in deaths and more non-fatal serious adverse events; the CARS trial (208 patients) and the two CAPTAIN trials in brain injury (185 patients pooled) reported modest functional benefits. Several trials were manufacturer-supported and had high risk of bias, so the grade stops at B.
For skin lightening, the use glutathione is most often sold for, there is one randomised placebo-controlled trial of oral glutathione in 60 healthy students that found a small drop in melanin index at two of six skin sites. The larger trials in hand were for other purposes: a 153-patient inhaled trial in cystic fibrosis that missed its primary endpoint, a 54-adult trial showing oral glutathione raises blood levels, and a 21-patient Parkinson's pilot. No trial of intravenous glutathione for skin exists.
FDA
Not approved
Cerebrolysin is not approved by the FDA for any use. It is a licensed medicine in more than 50 other countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia, for stroke, dementia and brain injury.
Not approved
Glutathione is not approved by the FDA as a drug for any indication. Oral glutathione is sold as a dietary supplement, intravenous and inhaled forms are made by compounding pharmacies, and glutathione sits in Category 1 of the FDA's list of nominated compounding substances, meaning it may be compounded while the agency evaluates it. In August 2026 the agency warned compounders not to use supplement grade glutathione in injectables after a cluster of adverse events.
Sold for
Cerebrolysin is promoted in nootropic and longevity circles as a brain-repair injection that speeds stroke recovery, sharpens cognition and treats dementia.
Glutathione is sold as a master antioxidant, for skin whitening by intravenous drip, for detox and for Parkinson's disease.
Studies say
Randomized trials exist, which earns a B, but the largest independent synthesis found no effect on death or dependence after stroke and a rise in serious adverse events, while smaller manufacturer-backed trials found small functional gains.
Oral glutathione does raise body stores and produced a modest, site-specific lightening in one small trial, while inhaled glutathione failed in cystic fibrosis and intravenous glutathione showed no clear benefit in a Parkinson's pilot, so the grade is B for the skin claim and lower for the others.
Class
Neuropeptide preparation (porcine brain)
Antioxidant tripeptide
Route
Intravenous
Several routes