GHK vs Cardiogen
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
- Summary
- GHK is the natural tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys) released from human albumin that activates tissue remodeling, collagen synthesis, and anti-aging gene expression. The copper-free form is the biological signaling molecule; it chelates copper in tissue to form GHK-Cu but also has independent biological activity.
- 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
- Extremely short as free peptide; tissue binding extends local effects
- Short (minutes); gene-regulatory effects persist longer
- Admin Route
- SubQ, Topical, Oral
- SubQ, Oral
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 100–500 mcg
- 10 mg per day
- Frequency
- Daily or 5x per week
- Daily for 10–30 days
- Key Benefits
- Stimulates collagen and extracellular matrix synthesis
- Activates tissue repair gene expression programs
- Anti-aging: reverses 57% of age-related gene changes
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- Wound healing and skin barrier repair
- Improves skin laxity, texture, and radiance
- Neuroprotective (stimulates NGF, BDNF)
- Anti-fibrotic in liver and lung models
- 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
- Excellent safety profile (naturally occurring peptide)
- Rare: mild injection site reaction (SC)
- No significant adverse effects identified in research
- 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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