Side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, interactions, and stacking potential.
| Epitalon | GHK (without copper) | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Growth Factors | Peptides |
| Standard Dose | — | Research indicates 1-3% concentration in topical formulations. Injectable dosing follows GHK-Cu protocols at 1-2 mg daily. |
| Timing | — | Topical application morning and evening. Injectable in evening. |
| Cycle Duration | — | Topical use can be ongoing indefinitely. Injectable cycles 8-12 weeks. |
| Evidence Level | Emerging | moderate_human |
Synthetic tetrapeptide studied in Russian longevity literature for pineal signaling, circadian regulation, and telomerase-related hypotheses.
GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a naturally occurring tripeptide found in human plasma, saliva, and urine that has an extremely high affinity for copper(II) ions. Even without exogenously complexed copper, GHK rapidly chelates available copper in biological systems, making copper-free GHK functionally similar to GHK-Cu in vivo. The peptide stimulates collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, modulates metalloproteinase activity, resets gene expression patterns toward a healthier state (affecting 31.2% of human genes), and activates wound healing cascades.
Research indicates 1-3% concentration in topical formulations. Injectable dosing follows GHK-Cu protocols at 1-2 mg daily.
Topical application morning and evening. Injectable in evening.
Topical use can be ongoing indefinitely. Injectable cycles 8-12 weeks.
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