Follistatin 344 vs SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
Anabolic & IGF
Follistatin 344Anti-Aging & Longevity
SS-31 (Elamipretide)- Summary
- Follistatin 344 is a recombinant form of the endogenous follistatin protein. It inhibits myostatin and activin — the primary negative regulators of muscle growth — potentially removing the genetic ceiling on muscle development. It is one of the most theoretically powerful anabolic compounds but is experimental with limited human data.
- 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
- ~24–36 hours
- ~2–5 hours
- Admin Route
- SubQ, IM
- SubQ
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 100 mcg
- 5–10 mg
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Daily to several times per week
- Key Benefits
- Inhibits myostatin — removes muscle growth ceiling
- Significant increases in muscle mass and strength
- Reduces fat mass
- Promotes bone density
- May stimulate hair follicle cycling
- Anti-fibrotic effects in muscle tissue
- Synergistic with IGF-1 and other anabolic peptides
- 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
- Muscle soreness (from rapid hypertrophy)
- Potential reproductive effects (activin inhibition)
- Unknown long-term safety profile
- Possible esophageal effects at high doses (animal data)
- Injection site irritation
- Nausea (rare)
- Generally well-tolerated in clinical trials
- Stacks With
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