Scientific context only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use.
At a glance
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-encoded peptide (mitochondrial-derived peptide, MDP) whose open reading frame lies within the 16S rRNA region (gene MT-RNR2) of mitochondrial DNA. It is considered the founding member of the MDP family and was discovered in 2001 by the Hashimoto/Nishimoto group while searching for neuroprotective factors in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient. In basic research (including the laboratory of Pinchas Cohen) humanin is described as a cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic peptide and is studied in the contexts of Alzheimer's/neuroprotection, metabolism/insulin action and aging. The evidence comes almost entirely from cell and animal models and from observations of endogenous levels in humans; controlled human trials of exogenous humanin as a therapeutic are lacking. It is not approved as a medicine anywhere and is traded on the grey market as a research chemical.
Researched for
Neuroprotection and Alzheimer's-related toxicity (cell and animal model)Insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism (animal model)Age-related cognitive decline (animal model, with human observational association)
Official status
US: Research only
No FDA approval; humanin is not an approved medicine and not a recognised dietary supplement. It is sold predominantly as a 'research chemical' / 'not for human consumption', without legal cover for human use.
Humanin arises from a short open reading frame within the 16S rRNA region of the mitochondrial genome (MT-RNR2) — it is therefore not encoded by nuclear DNA. Mechanistically, preclinical work describes a cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic effect via multiple pathways: an extracellular interaction with a trimeric receptor complex of gp130, CNTFR and WSX-1 with downstream activation of JAK2/STAT3 signalling, as well as intracellular interactions including inhibition of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX (and of tBID), binding to IGFBP-3 with modulation of the IGF-1 axis, and interaction with FPRL1/FPRL2 receptors. These models derive predominantly from cell culture and rodents; the extent to which they reflect human physiology after administration of exogenous synthetic humanin is not established by controlled human trials.
02
Evidence at a glance
Reading note. The distribution shows on which evidence tier each observation sits. Strong colours mark stronger evidence — weaker tiers are deliberately visible, not hidden.
4 observations · 3 tiers
Human trial
1
Animal model
2
In vitro
1
03
What the studies show
In vitro
Zellkultur (humane Neuronen)
Hashimoto Y, Niikura T, Tajima H, et al. 2001
Protection of neurons from cell death induced by Alzheimer's-associated proteins (mutant APP, presenilin) and amyloid-beta, in cell culture
What does NOT follow: Finding from cell-culture models. A cellular protective effect does not establish a clinical benefit in human Alzheimer's disease; no inference about treatment can be drawn from it.
Animal model
Ratte
Muzumdar RH, Huffman DM, Atzmon G, et al. 2009
Improvement of insulin sensitivity via central (hypothalamic STAT3-mediated) mechanisms in treated rats
What does NOT follow: Pure animal-model result, in part after intracerebroventricular administration. No statement about efficacy or safety in human metabolic disease can be derived from it.
Animal model
Maus
Yen K, Wan J, Mehta HH, et al. 2018
Improvement of cognitive performance (including in maze tests) in aging mice treated with humanin
What does NOT follow: Animal-experimental observation. No inference about prevention of cognitive decline in humans is established from it.
Human trial
Mensch (Beobachtung)
Yen K, Wan J, Mehta HH, et al. 2018
Endogenous humanin blood levels in humans are associated with age and physical activity (levels tend to decline with age)
What does NOT follow: This concerns endogenous levels as a correlate of age and exercise — it is not a statement about the efficacy or safety of exogenously administered synthetic humanin. Observational data do not permit causal inference.
04
Where studies disagree
Open question
Does exogenously administered humanin have a therapeutic benefit (e.g. neuroprotective or metabolic) in humans?
POSITION A
Preclinical studies show consistent cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic as well as metabolic and cognitive effects in cells and animals.
POSITION B
There are no controlled human trials of administered synthetic humanin; human data are limited to observations of endogenous levels in association with age and exercise.
CURRENT STATE · The evidence is mechanistically and preclinically interesting but insufficient for any human assessment. Statements about therapeutic benefit or safety in humans are currently not supported by clinical evidence.
05
Pharmacokinetics
No robust pharmacokinetic human data available. A model curve is not invented.
06d
Safer use & risks
Risk notes for harm reduction — descriptive, not a usage or dosing guide.
⚠ Important — please read
This platform does NOT provide usage or dosing instructions. The points below describe risks and are meant to help avoid harm — they do not replace medical advice. Anyone who uses a substance should discuss it with a doctor.
There is no approved human use for this substance. What circulates online about amounts and frequency is self-experimentation without a safety net.
Online numbers are not a benchmark
Amounts from TikTok, YouTube and forums are mostly imitation rather than data — and are often wrongly derived from animal studies (µg/kg). Not a reliable benchmark for humans.
Sterility & infection risk
Injection solutions prepared or stored non-sterile carry an infection and abscess risk. Contamination is common with grey-market product.
Unknown product quality
Research-/grey-market product is not quality-tested: identity, purity and actual content are often unknown, and counterfeits occur.
Mind interactions
Combinations with medications or pre-existing conditions can carry risks (see the Interactions section). Clarify with a doctor beforehand.
Warning signs — seek medical help
With persistent pain, redness/swelling at the injection site, fever, shortness of breath, racing heart, chest pain or allergic reactions, seek medical help immediately.
A doctor, not a forum
Concrete questions about use and amount belong in a conversation with a doctor — not in a comment thread.
07b
Interactions & combinations
Documented interactions and contraindications from studies, prescribing information and guidelines. Where no data exists, this is stated.
Reporting of risks, NOT a combination guide. The absence of an entry does not mean „safe to combine“ but „not sufficiently studied“.
No documented interactions recorded
We have not yet found robustly documented interactions for this peptide. This does NOT mean none exist — the data is limited.
10
Anecdotal observations
Weakest evidence tier — not supported by studies
Reading note. This section gathers popular claims from communities and forums. They are explicitly marked as weakest-tier evidence. Unblinded self-reports are particularly prone to placebo, recall and confirmation biases.
Why no amounts or protocols are listed here. We deliberately show only WHAT communities report — not in what amount or how it is used. Anecdotal "doses" or "biohacker protocols" are neither verified nor standardised nor safe; publishing them would be a usage guide, which we do not provide on principle. Specific amounts belong in a conversation with a doctor, not in a forum.
Humanin (a mitochondria-encoded peptide) is promoted in longevity circles for neuroprotection and 'healthy aging'.
niche topic in longevity communities
Not supported by studies: Research is almost exclusively preclinical (cell and animal models); human studies on efficacy or life extension do not exist. Longevity claims are hypothetical.
Humanin is promoted alongside the related MOTS-c as a 'mitochondrial' anti-aging and neuroprotection peptide.
niche topic in longevity communities
Not supported by studies: The evidence is almost entirely preclinical (cell/animal); controlled human studies on efficacy, life extension or neuroprotection do not exist.
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Legal status by country
Country
Status
Note
Checked
United States
Research only
No FDA approval; humanin is not an approved medicine and not a recognised dietary supplement. It is sold predominantly as a 'research chemical' / 'not for human consumption', without legal cover for human use.
2026-06-07
Germany
Unapproved
No EMA or national approval as a medicine. Placing it on the market for human use is not legally covered; sale as a research chemical does not circumvent medicines-law requirements.
2026-06-07
12
Reconstitution calculator
Pure mg/mL maths — works like a calculator. Not a usage recommendation.
Peptides ship as a dry powder. Once dissolved in a liquid (reconstitution), this calculator answers a single question: how much substance is in one millilitre of solution afterwards?
1Enter the vial's substance amount (printed on the label).
2Enter how much solvent you add.
3Result = concentration in mg per mL.
Printed on the label
/
Liquid you add
=
2.50
mg / mL
5 mg in 2 mL gives 2.50 mg/mL — each millilitre contains 2.50 mg of substance.