Carnosine vs SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
Anti-Aging & LongevityRecovery & Repair
CarnosineAnti-Aging & Longevity
SS-31 (Elamipretide)- Summary
- Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide (beta-alanine + histidine) found in high concentrations in muscle and brain. It is a potent anti-aging molecule with broad spectrum antioxidant, anti-glycation, anti-carbonylation, and metal chelating properties, making it one of the most protective naturally occurring dipeptides.
- SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide that concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane and protects cardiolipin from oxidative damage. It is one of the most promising mitochondrial longevity compounds, studied in clinical trials for heart failure, renal disease, and age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Half-Life
- ~1.5 minutes (rapidly hydrolyzed to beta-alanine and histidine by carnosinase in blood; tissue levels maintained via constant synthesis)
- ~2–5 hours
- Admin Route
- Oral, Topical
- SubQ
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 1,000–2,000 mg
- 5–10 mg
- Frequency
- Once to twice daily with meals
- Daily to several times per week
- Key Benefits
- Potent anti-glycation (prevents protein cross-linking/aging)
- Broad-spectrum antioxidant in muscle and brain
- Extends cell lifespan and protects telomeres
- Improves muscle performance and delays fatigue (pH buffering)
- Neuroprotective against Alzheimer's amyloid-beta
- Wound healing acceleration
- Anti-cataract properties (eye health)
- Improves diabetes complications via AGE prevention
- Chelates excess copper and zinc
- Restores mitochondrial function and ATP production
- Protects inner mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin
- Reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Improves exercise capacity and reduces fatigue
- Cardioprotective — studied in heart failure trials
- Renoprotective — reduces ischemic kidney injury
- Anti-aging via mitochondrial preservation
- Potential in neurodegenerative disease prevention
- Side Effects
- Very well tolerated
- Rare: mild GI discomfort at high doses
- No significant adverse effects in human studies
- Injection site irritation
- Nausea (rare)
- Generally well-tolerated in clinical trials
- Stacks With
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