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№ 038

Humanin

A compound studied for protecting the brain and keeping cells alive and insulin-sensitive as you age. A mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded inside mitochondrial DNA, studied for neuroprotection, insulin sensitivity, and cellular survival.

Longevity
Evidence: Limited

Humanin: A compound studied for protecting the brain and keeping cells alive and insulin-sensitive as you age. A mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded inside mitochondrial DNA, studied for neuroprotection, insulin sensitivity, and cellular survival. Humanin is a peptide your mitochondria make and secrete.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved
WADA
Not banned
Typical dose
1-10 mg sub-q daily
Half-life ⓘ
~minutes (rapid clearance)
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Daily
In plain English

Humanin is a peptide your mitochondria make and secrete. It's tied to neuroprotection, insulin sensitivity, and cellular survival. Slow, subtle effects, mostly used as a longevity-stack add-on.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Grey area

Mitochondrial-derived peptide. Naturally produced; exogenous use is a different question.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved

Not FDA approved.

Compounding ⓘ
Not classified

Not formally categorized in the FDA bulks lists.

WADA ⓘ
Not listed
Prescribed ⓘ

Not prescribed in conventional medicine.

Who it's for

  • →Users running longevity-focused stacks
  • →Older adults targeting metabolic and neuroprotective markers
  • →Cellular bioenergetics enthusiasts

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Subtle. Energy and mood lift first for responders.

  2. Week 4

    Cumulative metabolic / cognitive support.

  3. Week 8

    Plateau. Cycle off.

Looking at Humanin? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for Humanin.

    Open calculator →
  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

    Bloodwork guide →
  3. 3Save it & ask the Coach

    A free account saves your stack; membership adds the stack-aware AI Coach.

    Create free account →

How it works (mechanism)

Mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded inside mitochondrial DNA. Binds receptors that activate STAT3 and reduce apoptosis, particularly in neurons and pancreatic beta cells.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01Generally well tolerated
02Limited safety data, short cycles preferred

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing
  • ⚠No data in active malignancy

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • Fasting glucose / insulin if running longer

Common mistakes

  • • Expecting fast or visible effects (it's slow and subtle)
  • • Stacking with too many longevity peptides simultaneously
  • • Running indefinitely, limited human safety data
Free, no account needed

New to Humanin? Grab the starter checklist.

Drop your email and we'll send the one-page first-cycle starter checklist, plus a heads-up if Humanin changes legal status. No account needed.

No spam. No selling your email. Just the checklist and the occasional reclassification alert.

AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about Humanin or your own stack. This is it working.

Trained only on Pepdex content. Does the dose math, flags interactions, knows your stack. Won't push vendors, won't pretend to be a doctor.

Get the Coach, $7.99/mo →

Frequently asked

What is Humanin?+
Humanin is a peptide your mitochondria make and secrete. It's tied to neuroprotection, insulin sensitivity, and cellular survival. Slow, subtle effects, mostly used as a longevity-stack add-on.
Is Humanin FDA approved?+
Not FDA approved.
Is Humanin legal?+
Humanin is not FDA-approved. It is sold by compounding pharmacies (with a prescription) and as "research only" by peptide vendors. Possession is generally not criminalized but distribution without authorization may be. Verify local laws.
Is Humanin banned by WADA?+
Humanin is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking Humanin?+
Grey area. Mitochondrial-derived peptide. Naturally produced; exogenous use is a different question.
Do doctors prescribe Humanin?+
Not prescribed in conventional medicine.
What's the typical dose of Humanin?+
1-10 mg sub-q daily. Casual users start at 1-3 mg.
What are the side effects of Humanin?+
Common side effects include: Generally well tolerated; Limited safety data, short cycles preferred. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until Humanin starts working?+
Subtle. Energy and mood lift first for responders.
What can you stack with Humanin?+
Common pairings: MOTS-c or SS-31 for compounded mitochondrial protocols; Standalone for longevity. Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get Humanin?+
Humanin is most commonly sold by research-only peptide vendors and by compounding pharmacies (the latter requires a prescription). Pepdex is not a vendor, see /coa for how to verify a Certificate of Analysis before buying from any source, and /guides/scam-vendor-spotting for vendor red flags.

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