Humanin (HNG)
Peptide encoded in the mitochondria, not in the nucleus
Experimental material. Read before using anything from here.
Nothing on this page is a medical recommendation, prescription or treatment plan. It is an organized translation of protocols circulating in research communities and, where it exists, of what published trials tested. The two are marked differently — and they are not equivalent.
Most of the compounds here have no FDA approval for human use. Several are sold labeled "research use only", which means they have not gone through purity, sterility or dosage controls for human consumption. A community-reported dose is not a validated dose: it is what someone reported having done.
Talk to a licensed health professional before considering any of these compounds. If you already use one and feel anything unexpected, seek care — do not wait for the next routine test.
Summary
Small mitochondria-derived peptide — one of the first shown to be encoded in mitochondrial DNA rather than in the cell nucleus. Interest lies in cell survival, mitochondrial function and neuroprotection. HNG is a more potent variant used in research.
Quick reference
- Route
- Subcutaneous is the most described. Animal studies often use intraperitoneal.
- Schedule
- Animal protocols with HNG use 2×/week dosing. Community plans range from daily to 3×/week.
- Cycle
- Typically 4–12 weeks, with breaks.
- Status
- Not approved. No published human RCT of humanin or HNG (June 2026).
Cycle structure
| Approach | Duration | Review point | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 4 weeks | Week 4 | Common entry length for community research-use planning |
| Standard | 6–8 weeks | Week 6 | Most common cycle length in research-use planning |
| Extended | 12 weeks | Week 8 and Week 12 | Used in animal studies; human equivalent is unstudied |
Humanin Reconstitution Guide
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Vial size | 20 mg |
| BAC water added | 2.0 mL |
| Final concentration | 10 mg/mL |
| 1 mg session dose | 0.10 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe |
| 0.5 mg session dose | 0.05 mL = 5 units on a U-100 syringe |
Humanin vs MOTS-c vs SS-31
| Peptide | Origin | Primary research interest | Approval status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanin | Encoded in mitochondrial 16S rRNA region; 24 amino acids | Cytoprotection, neuroprotection, metabolic and cardiac aging models | Not FDA-approved |
| MOTS-c | Encoded in mitochondrial 12S rRNA region; 16 amino acids | Skeletal-muscle metabolism, insulin sensitivity, exercise biology | Not FDA-approved |
| SS-31 (elamipretide) | Synthetic, not mitochondrial-encoded | Mitochondrial cardiolipin protection; investigated in primary mitochondrial disease and Barth syndrome trials | Not FDA-approved (April 2025 FDA accelerated approval pathway concerns reported; verify current status) |
Storage and handling
The rules below apply to practically every lyophilized peptide in this reference. Where a compound has its own requirement, it appears in the table in the previous section.
- Lyophilized powder, sealed: refrigerator, between 2 and 8 °C, protected from light. Many tolerate room temperature for short transport periods, but that is tolerance, not a recommendation.
- After reconstitution: always refrigerated, between 2 and 8 °C. The stability window drops to days or a few weeks, depending on the compound.
- Never freeze after reconstituting. The freeze–thaw cycle degrades the peptide.
- Do not shake. Swirl the vial slowly. Shaking breaks the peptide chain.
- Bacteriostatic water down the wall of the vial, in a slow stream, not squirted directly onto the powder.
- Cloudy solution, with particles or a color change: discard. There is no recovery.
Lab tests and monitoring
This list is the one that appears recurrently in the source, with small variations by compound. It serves as a starting point for a conversation with a professional — not as a substitute for that conversation.
- Before starting: complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, fasting glucose and HbA1c, TSH and free T4, blood pressure and resting heart rate.
- Depending on the compound: IGF-1 (GH axis), lipase and amylase (VIP and the incretin agonists), serum copper and ceruloplasmin (GHK-Cu and blends containing it), CRP.
- Reassessment: most protocols review between week 4 and week 8, and then every 8–12 weeks.
- Do not wait for the routine lab test in the face of abdominal pain, visual changes, a change in a mole, shortness of breath, asymmetric swelling or any new and persistent symptom. That is a reason to seek care, not a spreadsheet item.
Evidence limits
Data source: peptidedosingprotocols.com, accessed on September 3, 2026. Translation and organization in Portuguese are original work. No primary source (PubMed, trial registry, package insert) was checked in building this page — the check was against the secondary source, and that alone.