Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of reduced glutathione in the treatment of acute renal failure. Methods Twenty-three patients with acute renal failure were divided into the treatment group (n=10) and the control group (n=13) by simple randomisation. Patients in the treatment group received intravenous reduced glutathione 1200 mg daily. Patients in the control group were not treated with reduced glutathione. The therapeutic course for both groups was 4 weeks. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were determined before treatment as well as at the end of each of the 4 weeks. Proximal and distal renal tubular functions were evaluated at the end of the treatment. The time when clinical symptoms were improved was recorded and adverse drug reactions were monitored. Results The durations of nausea and vomiting as well as the oliguria stage were shorter in the treatment group than in the control group. The serum creatinine level in the treatment group decreased more markedly than that in the control group. At the end of the treatment, the renal tubular function was better in the treatment group than in the control group. Conclusion Reduced glutathione contributes to the early recovery of renal function in patients with acute renal failure. However, more high-quality and large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed.