AHK-Cu vs Cardiogen
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
- Summary
- AHK-Cu is a copper tripeptide composed of alanine, histidine, and lysine chelated to copper. Distinct from GHK-Cu, AHK-Cu exhibits strong affinity for hair follicle receptors and demonstrates potent hair growth stimulation alongside wound healing and skin regeneration properties.
- Cardiogen is a tetrapeptide bioregulator (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg) developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson. It is a tissue-specific bioregulator for the heart and myocardium, designed to normalize cardiomyocyte function and support cardiac tissue regeneration. Research has demonstrated cardioprotective effects, improved cardiac rhythm, and benefits in recovery from ischemic injury.
- Half-Life
- Hours (topical, variable by formulation)
- Short (minutes); gene-regulatory effects persist longer
- Admin Route
- Topical, Scalp application, Subcutaneous (research)
- SubQ, Oral
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 0.01–0.1% concentration
- 10 mg per day
- Frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Daily for 10–30 days
- Key Benefits
- Stimulates hair follicle growth and reduces shedding
- Increases dermal papilla cell proliferation
- Promotes wound healing and skin regeneration
- Antioxidant protection via superoxide dismutase activation
- Improves skin elasticity and firmness
- Supports collagen and elastin production
- Cardioprotective effects on myocardial tissue
- Normalization of cardiomyocyte protein synthesis
- May improve cardiac rhythm and conduction
- Support for recovery from ischemic cardiac events
- Anti-aging effects on heart tissue
- Potential reduction in cardiac fibrosis
- Often combined with Epithalon for comprehensive cardiovascular longevity support
- Side Effects
- Generally well-tolerated topically
- Mild scalp irritation or redness in sensitive individuals
- Possible temporary hair shedding phase at treatment initiation
- Copper accumulation with excessive systemic use (rare)
- Generally well tolerated in available research
- Mild injection site reactions
- No significant adverse cardiovascular events reported at standard doses
- Stacks With
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