Cell protection
Humanin was discovered through its ability to protect nerve cells from experimental stress.
Explore the research →MITOCHONDRIAL-DERIVED PEPTIDE RESEARCH
Humanin
A mitochondrial-derived peptide being explored for cellular resilience, metabolism, brain health and the biology of healthy ageing.
Cell protectionMitochondriaBrain health
Strong experimental interest; no established administered human treatmentHuman studies measure naturally occurring Humanin and its relationship with exercise or metabolic health. Therapeutic administration remains predominantly preclinical.
FOLLOW THE FULL PICTUREFrom interest to evidence, quality and the numbers.
Why are people interested in Humanin?
Humanin is interesting because it appears to act as a cellular stress signal, helping cells respond when mitochondria and survival pathways are under pressure. That has created research interest around brain health, metabolism, exercise and healthy ageing.
Mitochondrial signalling
As a mitochondrial-derived peptide, Humanin links cellular energy systems with stress responses.
Explore the research →Brain health
Neuroprotection is central to the original Humanin research story.
Explore the research →Metabolic health
Humanin has been linked with insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in experimental work.
Explore the research →THE SCIENCE BIT
A mitochondrial peptide in cell-protection research.
Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide. Laboratory research explores interactions with cell-death machinery, including BAX, as well as cell-surface signalling complexes.
These findings make it interesting for cellular resilience and metabolism. Measurements of naturally occurring Humanin in people are not the same as trials showing benefit from taking manufactured peptide.
See the studies & trials →- Mitochondrial-derived
- The peptide's origin
- BAX-related activity
- Cell-death machinery research
- Cell signalling
- Protective-response experiments
How this connects to the research
Human biomarker work and preclinical treatment research; clinical efficacy remains unestablished.
FROM MOLECULE TO TISSUE
Where Humanin connects with the body
These are the tissues and biological systems behind the interest in Humanin.
- Neural cells
- Experimental protection models.
- Muscle
- Human biomarker research.
- Metabolic tissues
- Glucose-related hypotheses.
The research behind the interest
Cell protection
Humanin was discovered through its ability to protect nerve cells from experimental stress.
Protective effects are strong in laboratory models but have not become an established human therapy.
Strong preclinical evidenceExplore the studies →Mitochondrial signalling
As a mitochondrial-derived peptide, Humanin links cellular energy systems with stress responses.
Human levels change with metabolic state and exercise, but that does not show benefit from injected Humanin.
Human biomarker evidenceExplore the studies →Brain health
Neuroprotection is central to the original Humanin research story.
Alzheimer's and other neurological benefits remain preclinical rather than proven in patients.
Preclinical evidenceExplore the studies →Metabolic health
Humanin has been linked with insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in experimental work.
Human observational studies identify associations, not treatment efficacy.
Human observational + preclinicalExplore the studies →Studies & trials
Studies & trials
Original publication · PubMed · trial registry where availableHumanin in skeletal muscle after resistance training ↗
55 men with impaired glucose regulation
Humanin protein levels increased in skeletal muscle after resistance training.
Humanin as a biomarker in impaired fasting glucose ↗
People attending a diabetes complications screening clinic
Circulating Humanin differed with impaired fasting glucose and oxidative-stress context.
Evidence snapshot
Evidence snapshot
Separate dimensions, not one overall score◎
Human evidenceLimited
2/5 evidence depth
Human studies measure endogenous Humanin in exercise and metabolic settings.
✓
Clinical efficacyEarly
1/5 evidence depth
No controlled therapeutic Humanin efficacy programme is established.
◇
Safety evidenceEarly
1/5 evidence depth
Administered-product dose and long-term safety in humans are not established.
⌁
Preclinical evidenceStrong
4/5 evidence depth
Extensive cell and animal work supports cytoprotective and metabolic mechanisms.
HOW TO READ THESE SCORESStrong preclinical evidence · limited human evidence
These are editorial evidence-depth ratings on a 1–5 scale, not a statistical result or a single scientific formula. They summarise how much relevant evidence is present in each separate category and how mature that evidence is.
Human evidenceHow much direct research in people is available and how developed it is.
Clinical efficacyWhether human studies demonstrate meaningful outcomes for the claims being discussed.
Safety evidenceHow much human safety, tolerability and longer-term follow-up information is available.
Preclinical evidenceThe depth of laboratory and animal research supporting biological plausibility.
HOW THE EVIDENCE IS ORGANISED
Humanin research profile
Research themes are shown separately from the strength of the human evidence so biological interest is not confused with proven clinical benefit.
RESEARCH AREA 01Cell protection
RESEARCH AREA 02Mitochondria
RESEARCH AREA 03Brain health
RESEARCH AREA 04Metabolism
Mechanistic and preclinical findings are context for further research; they are not treated as equivalent to demonstrated human outcomes.
From promising signals to human evidencePreclinical research can reveal promising biological signals. Human studies show how far those signals have translated into real-world outcomes.
What people are exploring
COMMUNITY · USE CASES & EXPERIENCE
What people want to change with Humanin
Interest centres on mitochondrial resilience, cognition, metabolic health and healthy ageing.
Explore the everyday goalsConceptual scientific illustration
THE PRACTICAL ATTRACTION
The goals behind the interest
What the desired change means in daily life, and what makes an experience useful to understand.
Cellular resilience and healthy ageing
People are drawn to protecting cells from stress and preserving vitality. The mitochondrial origin creates a compelling research story, but resilience at cell level is not a demonstrated treatment outcome in people.
- What makes a report informative
- The difference between biomarker studies and treatment trials.
- What can muddy the picture
- Naturally occurring Humanin measurements cannot establish benefit from taking it.
Brain-health interest
Neural-cell protection research attracts people concerned about memory and age-related decline. Preventing disease is a much larger claim than a subjective feeling of mental clarity.
- What makes a report informative
- Measured cognition and clinically meaningful function.
- What can muddy the picture
- Cell and animal protection models cannot establish prevention of human cognitive decline.
Metabolic and physical capability
Interest includes glucose handling and maintaining exercise capacity. These are measurable goals, but human associations do not demonstrate that supplementation creates the same effect.
- What makes a report informative
- Relevant metabolic measures and comparable activity performance.
- What can muddy the picture
- Diet, exercise and baseline health can explain changes independently.
PUT THE EXPERIENCE IN CONTEXT
How the goals compare with the research
Open an area to distinguish human findings from laboratory explanations.
Cell protection
Protective effects are strong in laboratory models but have not become an established human therapy.
Evidence context: Strong preclinical evidence
Mitochondrial signalling
Human levels change with metabolic state and exercise, but that does not show benefit from injected Humanin.
Evidence context: Human biomarker evidence
Brain health
Alzheimer's and other neurological benefits remain preclinical rather than proven in patients.
Evidence context: Preclinical evidence
Metabolic health
Human observational studies identify associations, not treatment efficacy.
Evidence context: Human observational + preclinical
The biological rationale
Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide. Laboratory research explores interactions with cell-death machinery, including BAX, as well as cell-surface signalling complexes.
These findings make it interesting for cellular resilience and metabolism. Measurements of naturally occurring Humanin in people are not the same as trials showing benefit from taking manufactured peptide.
Research sources and further reading
Dose & duration
DOSE & DURATION
Research protocols · community patterns · calculator toolsSee the numbers in their proper context
See the amount, how often it was used and how long each study ran. Published human research and community descriptions each carry their own source label, so you can see where the numbers came from.
Source matters. The figures below show authorised, human-research or community-described protocols in their original context — not a personalised recommendation.
No validated human therapeutic Humanin dose, route or cycle has been established.
No structured human dosing protocol has been added for this compound. That should not be interpreted as evidence for a community dosing schedule.
CALCULATOR TOOLS
Work with the numbers
Convert amounts, concentration, liquid volume and vial requirements. These tools do the arithmetic; they do not select a dose.
NEED HELP READING THE NUMBERS?Source labels, routes and dose termsOpen guide +
HOW WE LABEL NUMBERSKnow where a dose came from before you compare it.
Authorised labelHuman trialCommunity-describedBEFORE THE NUMBERS: CHECK THE PRODUCT
Understand peptide testing →A dose only means something if the vial contains what the label says.
Purity, identity, quantity, sterility and endotoxin testing answer different questions. Learn how to read a COA and why a high purity percentage is not the same as confirming the amount in the vial.
READ THIS PAGE IN THREE STEPS
Understand the study before the number
A dose only makes sense alongside the population, route, frequency and duration. Start with where the number came from, then look at how it was delivered and how long the study actually ran.
1Source
Was it an authorised label, a human trial or a community-described pattern?
2Route & frequency
How was it given, and how often? The same number by a different route may not mean the same exposure.
3Duration
Was this one dose, a short trial or long-term treatment? A study window is not automatically a recommended cycle.
ROUTES EXPLAINED
Plain-English guideWhat do the injection types mean?
Route means how a compound was delivered. It affects absorption and can completely change how a study should be interpreted.
SubQ / SCSubcutaneous
An injection into the fatty layer just under the skin.
Common in peptide and metabolic-drug studies. It usually aims for systemic absorption rather than treating only the spot injected.IMIntramuscular
An injection into muscle tissue.
Muscle can absorb a medicine differently from fat. An IM amount should not be assumed to be equivalent to a SubQ amount.IVIntravenous
Delivered directly into a vein.
This gives immediate bloodstream exposure and is commonly used in supervised research or clinical settings. It is not interchangeable with a home injection route.INIntranasal
Delivered through the nose rather than by injection.
The amount delivered depends on formulation and device. A spray count alone does not tell you the dose unless concentration and spray volume are known.Other routes you may see:Oral = swallowed.Topical = applied to skin or another surface.Implant = a formulation placed under the skin by a trained professional.
CALENDAR SETUP
Endogenous humanin evidence guide
Biomarker and preclinical researchHuman exercise and metabolic studies measured naturally occurring humanin. They did not administer the internet fixed-dose protocols. These results cannot establish an injectable amount or an anti-ageing course.
Form and route: Endogenous humanin measurements; no established treatment route
The planner keeps amounts and repeat patterns blank for this compound. Use its formulation guide to record an independently specified schedule.
PLAIN-ENGLISH GLOSSARYWhat do the dose terms mean?Open glossary +
mgmilligram
One thousand micrograms (mcg).
mcg / μgmicrogram
One thousandth of a milligram.
mcg/kgweight-based dose
The amount is calculated for each kilogram of body weight.
IUinternational unit
A measure of biological activity used for some medicines; it cannot be converted to mg without compound-specific information.
Routehow it was given
For example SubQ, IM, IV, intranasal, oral or topical.
Frequencyhow often
For example once daily, twice weekly or every seven days.
Titrationplanned step-up or step-down
A protocol changes the amount over time rather than using one fixed amount throughout.
Half-lifehow quickly levels fall
The time taken for the amount of a compound in the body to reduce by roughly half. It can influence study timing but does not by itself define a schedule.
Cyclea defined period of use
Usually means an on-period followed by a stop or review. Many community 'cycles' have not been clinically validated.
Maintenancea continuing phase
A longer-term amount or interval used after an initial phase when a study or authorised treatment actually defines one.
Reconstitutionturning powder into solution
Adding a specified liquid to a freeze-dried vial so a concentration can be calculated.
U-100 unitssyringe volume markings
100 units equals 1 mL on a U-100 insulin syringe. The markings show volume, not peptide mass.
Safety context
SAFETY & UNCERTAINTY
Natural occurrence does not establish administered-product safety
What the current evidence saysHumanin is produced in the body, but manufactured Humanin administration lacks a mature human pharmacology and long-term safety dataset.
01 · OBSERVEDPublished safety findings
The summary above reflects the human or preclinical evidence currently represented on this profile.
02 · UNCERTAINGaps still matter
Limited follow-up, small studies or absent controlled trials can leave uncommon and longer-term risks unresolved.
03 · CONTEXTProduct and regulatory status
Route, product identity, quality and regulatory status can materially change the safety context; see the linked status sources below.
Sources & current status
READ FURTHER
Sources & current status
Follow the professional sources used across this profile, then see how the compound is currently described in regulatory and research terms.
KEY RESEARCH RECORD
5 sourcesSources used on this profile
Original publicationHumanin in skeletal muscle after resistance trainingJournal / DOI ↗Bibliographic recordHumanin in skeletal muscle after resistance trainingPubMed ↗Bibliographic recordHumanin as a biomarker in impaired fasting glucosePubMed ↗Professional sourceUnited KingdomMHRA products database ↗Professional sourceUnited StatesDrugs@FDA ↗
CURRENT STATUS
How to interpret its position today
No UK-authorised medicine identified for this use
Humanin is presented here for research context. Availability online does not establish medicine quality, safety or efficacy.
MHRA products database ↗No FDA-approved therapeutic product identified for this use
Published research and commercial availability are separate from regulatory approval.
Drugs@FDA ↗Profile reviewed against its linked source record on 20 September 2026. See how evidence is assessed.