Epitalon
Epithalon · Epithalone · AEDG peptide · Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
AEDG tetrapeptide; telomerase signal is from cell/animal work, not human RCTs
Overview
Epitalon (also written Epithalon or Epithalone; the AEDG tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is the most prominent of the synthetic 'peptide bioregulators' developed by Vladimir Khavinson's group in St. Petersburg. It was designed as a synthetic stand-in for epithalamin, a crude peptide extract of the pineal gland, and is studied for effects on pineal function, circadian rhythm, and — most famously — telomerase activity.
It is important to separate two strands of evidence that are often conflated. The striking human longevity data — a 6–8 year follow-up of elderly patients reporting a roughly 1.6–1.8-fold reduction in mortality, and longer combined-peptide observations reporting larger effects — used epithalamin, the natural extract, not synthetic epitalon. The telomerase story, in which epitalon is reported to switch telomerase back on and lengthen telomeres, comes largely from cell-culture and animal studies. No double-blind randomized human trial has demonstrated that injected synthetic epitalon extends human lifespan, and much of the foundational work has not been widely replicated by independent Western groups.
Dosing follows the bioregulator convention of short, repeated courses rather than continuous use: commonly 5–10 mg per day subcutaneously across a 10–20 day course, with two to three courses spread through the year. Effects are proposed to persist beyond the peptide's brief presence in the blood because the mechanism is framed at the level of gene expression. All figures here are summarized for research reference only.
Key parameters
- Dose range
- 5–10 mg per course day (community)
- Frequency
- Short courses (10–20 days), repeated 2–3× per year
- Half-life
- Very short — minutes in circulation, though gene-level effects are proposed to outlast it
- Route
- Subcutaneous
- Vial sizes
- 10 mg · 20 mg
- Regulatory status
- Short-peptide 'bioregulator'; not approved as a drug by the FDA, EMA, or other Western regulators. Research use only.
Mechanism of action
Reported telomerase activation
In human cell cultures and animal systems epitalon has been associated with induction of telomerase activity and telomere maintenance, allowing extended cell division. This is the most-cited claim but remains unconfirmed in controlled human trials.
Pineal / circadian (melatonin) regulation
As a synthetic analog of a pineal extract, it is studied for effects on the pineal gland and the restoration of melatonin secretion and sleep–wake rhythm, particularly in older subjects whose pineal output has declined.
Gene-expression modulation (bioregulator model)
Like other short Khavinson peptides, it is proposed to interact with DNA and influence transcription of specific genes, which is offered as the explanation for effects that outlast its very short circulating half-life.
Dosing protocol & phases
| Phase | Weeks | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short course (community) | 10–20 day course | 5–10 mg per day, subcutaneous | Cyclical pattern from the bioregulator tradition; courses are typically repeated 2–3 times per year, spaced months apart. Not clinically validated. |
Reconstitution guide
For educational and research reference only. Not intended for human consumption, not medical advice. Compounds discussed are sold and used for laboratory research purposes only.
10 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water
Concentration5,000 mcg/mL · 5 mg/mL
| Target dose | Draw volume | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mcg | 1 mL | 100 |
| 10,000 mcg | 2 mL | 200 |
Common mix for 5–10 mg course-day dosing.
20 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water
Concentration10,000 mcg/mL · 10 mg/mL
| Target dose | Draw volume | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mcg | 0.5 mL | 50 |
| 10,000 mcg | 1 mL | 100 |
Higher-strength mix that halves the draw volume for the same course-day doses.
Reconstitution calculator
Pre-filled with Epitalon's vial sizes. Adjust the water volume and target dose to see the exact draw, with warnings for doses that are hard to measure or won't fit a syringe.
At 5,000 micrograms per millilitre, a 5,000 microgram dose is 1 millilitres, or 100 units on a U-100 syringe, giving 2 doses per vial.
This draw is 100 units, which won't fit in a 50-unit syringe. Use more bacteriostatic water (lower concentration) or split the dose.
Supplies needed
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Recommended supply
Epitalon — research vial
From our verified partner Dynotides, with a third-party certificate of analysis per batch.
Injection supplies
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Bacteriostatic water
Diluent for reconstituting lyophilized vials.
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Insulin syringes (U-100)
0.3–0.5 mL, 29–31 G for accurate small draws.
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Alcohol prep pads
Sterile swabs for the vial stopper and site.
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Sharps container
Safe disposal of used needles.
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Storage fridge
Keeps reconstituted vials at 2–8 °C.
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Insulated travel case
Cooled, TSA-friendly case for travel.
Missed-dose guidance
No approved-label guidance exists. Community protocols simply resume the course schedule at the next day's dose rather than doubling up; because dosing is course-based, an occasional missed day is not considered consequential.
Side effects & safety
| Category | Effect | Trial incidence |
|---|---|---|
| Injection site | Local reactions (redness, soreness, small bumps)Anecdotal; controlled human incidence data are limited. | — |
| Neurological | Mild drowsiness, especially with evening dosingConsistent with its proposed melatonin/circadian effects. | — |
| Neurological | Occasional headache or temporary sleep disruption at the start of a course | — |
| General | Human safety data limitedBased on older literature with limited independent replication. | — |
Clinical trials & evidence
Khavinson/Morozov epithalamin follow-up
Long-term clinical observation (Russia)6–8 years · Elderly patients
Reported a roughly 1.6–1.8-fold reduction in mortality with the pineal extract epithalamin (not synthetic epitalon); methodology differs from Western RCT standards.
Trial identifier needs verification
Telomerase / cell and animal studies
Preclinical (cell/animal)Varies · Human cell cultures and rodent models
Reported induction of telomerase activity, telomere lengthening, and lifespan extension in some animal models; not replicated in controlled human trials of the synthetic peptide.
Trial identifier needs verification
Storage & handling
- Lyophilized
- Store lyophilized powder frozen (around −20 °C) for long-term storage, kept dry and away from light.
- Reconstituted
- Refrigerate the reconstituted solution at 2–8 °C and use within roughly 1–2 weeks; avoid freeze–thaw cycles.
Comparisons
| Vs. | Target | Half-life | Dosing | Efficacy | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinealon | AEDG tetrapeptide (pineal/telomere) vs EDR tripeptide (brain neuroprotection) | Very short (both) | Short courses (both, community) | Both from the same bioregulator tradition with limited Western validation | Both not approved as drugs |
| FOXO4-DRI | Telomere/pineal bioregulator vs senolytic (FOXO4–p53) | Very short vs not well characterized | Short courses (community) vs no established human dose | Both unproven in controlled human longevity trials; FOXO4-DRI is purely preclinical | Both not approved |
Sources & references
Frequently asked questions
Is epitalon proven to lengthen telomeres in humans?
No. The telomerase-activation and telomere-lengthening reports come largely from cell cultures and animal models, and from older work that has not been widely replicated in independent, controlled human trials. The claim should be treated as unproven in people.
What is the difference between epitalon and epithalamin?
Epithalamin is a natural extract of the pineal gland; epitalon is the synthetic AEDG tetrapeptide modeled on it. Crucially, the human mortality-reduction data come from epithalamin, whereas the telomerase claims and most current use concern synthetic epitalon — so the two evidence bases should not be merged.
Why is it dosed in short courses?
The bioregulator tradition uses brief, repeated courses — typically 10–20 days, a few times a year — on the premise that short exposure is enough to influence gene expression, with effects outlasting the peptide's minutes-long presence in the blood. This is convention from that literature rather than a validated regulatory schedule.
Related protocols
Pinealon
EDR peptide
Tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) studied for neuronal oxidative-stress protection (preclinical/Russian clinical)
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For educational and research reference only. Not intended for human consumption, not medical advice. Compounds discussed are sold and used for laboratory research purposes only.