AICAR vs Thymosin Beta-4
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
Anti-Aging & LongevityFat Loss & Metabolic
AICARRecovery & RepairAnti-Aging & Longevity
Thymosin Beta-4- Summary
- AICAR is a cell-permeable AMP analog that activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) — the master metabolic switch that triggers fat burning, mitochondrial biogenesis, and adaptations normally only achieved through exercise. It has been called the 'exercise in a pill' compound.
- Thymosin Beta-4 is an endogenous 43-amino acid peptide that is the primary intracellular actin sequestering peptide. It promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation, regenerates hair follicles, and protects cardiac tissue. Closely related to TB-500 (the active fragment), it is used for systemic tissue recovery and anti-aging.
- Half-Life
- ~2–3 hours
- Not well characterized; likely similar to TB-500 (~1–2 hours)
- Admin Route
- SubQ, IV
- SubQ, IM
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 25–50 mg
- 5–10 mg
- Frequency
- 3–5 times per week
- 2x per week (loading), then 1x per week (maintenance)
- Key Benefits
- AMPK activation mimics aerobic exercise adaptations
- Increased fat oxidation and endurance
- Mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1alpha)
- Improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Potential cardiac protection during ischemia
- Synergistic with actual exercise training
- Reduces hepatic glucose production
- Systemic tissue repair and regeneration
- Promotes cardiac recovery after myocardial infarction
- Hair follicle regeneration and anti-hair-loss
- Anti-inflammatory (systemic)
- Wound healing acceleration
- Neuroprotection after brain injury
- Protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury
- Anti-aging at cellular level
- Synergizes powerfully with BPC-157
- Side Effects
- Hypoglycemia risk
- Lactic acidosis at high doses (animal data)
- Injection site irritation
- Generally very well tolerated
- Injection site reactions
- Mild fatigue at initiation (repair signaling)
- Rare: mild inflammatory response
- +1 more
- Stacks With
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