Cortagen vs AICAR
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
- Summary
- Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation as a cardioprotective and vascular bioregulator. It stimulates repair of cardiac and vascular tissue, with demonstrated benefits for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiac aging.
- 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.
- Half-Life
- Short peptide half-life; gene regulatory effects persist beyond peptide clearance
- ~2–3 hours
- Admin Route
- SubQ, IM, Oral
- SubQ, IV
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 10 mg SC or IM daily
- 25–50 mg
- Frequency
- Once daily
- 3–5 times per week
- Key Benefits
- Cardioprotective — protects cardiac tissue from ischemic damage
- Promotes cardiac regeneration and repair
- Improves vascular endothelium function
- Reduces atherosclerosis progression
- Anti-aging effect on heart muscle cells
- Improves cardiac output and exercise capacity
- Reduces oxidative stress in cardiovascular tissue
- May reduce arrhythmia frequency
- 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
- Side Effects
- Excellent safety profile
- Mild injection site reactions
- Rare: transient hypotension
- Rare: mild arrhythmia at initiation in cardiac patients
- Hypoglycemia risk
- Lactic acidosis at high doses (animal data)
- Injection site irritation
- Stacks With
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