ModerateCaution
Berberine
Berberine can lower glucose and may add to possible humanin metabolic effects.
Recommendation: Avoid combining in diabetes medication users without monitoring.
Humanin
Peptide ·Insufficient evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived cytoprotective peptide first characterized in neuroprotection research. It is not FDA-approved, and human supplementation or injection protocols lack adequate clinical evidence. Most claims for longevity, insulin sensitivity, and neuroprotection are preclinical or observational.
What it's good for
The bottom line
Evidence rating insufficient. Most-documented uses: neuroprotection research, anti-apoptotic cellular stress signaling, metabolic and aging biology. 3 sources indexed (2001–2020), with 3 interaction records on file.
The science
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Humanin and analogs appear to reduce apoptosis through interactions with BCL-2 family proteins, IGFBP-3, and receptor complexes involving CNTFR, WSX-1, and gp130, with downstream JAK/STAT and survival signaling. It has broad cytoprotective activity in models of Alzheimer-related toxicity, metabolic stress, and cardiovascular injury. These pathways are not a validated basis for self-administered peptide therapy.1,2
Class
Mitochondrial-derived cytoprotective peptide
Found in food
None as a dietary supplement
Low-status signs
No recognized dietary deficiency state exists for this peptide
Dosing
Dosing & protocol.
Common range
No FDA-approved human dose; research dosing is model-specific
Recommended form
Not recommended for human use; research reagent only
Peptides are generally not reliably orally bioavailable unless a specific studied oral formulation is used. Human use of research-grade products is not appropriate.
Forms
Forms & what to buy.
Ranked by evidence and value.
Laboratory Research Reagent Recommended
For cell or animal cytoprotection research. Not for human administration.
Injectable Research Humanin
No approved clinical product or dose. Sterility, identity, and systemic effects are uncertain.
Cost
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Laboratory Research Reagent.
BudgetBest value
$60 /mo
$2.00 per dose
Mid
$180 /mo
$6.00 per dose
Premium
$450 /mo
$15.00 per dose
Research-market pricing is not a dosing recommendation; human use is not FDA-approved unless specifically stated. Updated 2026-06-04.
Goals
Goal-based dosing.
Neuroprotection Research
Dose: Protocol-specific only3
Timing: Study protocol only
Cell and animal data only.
Longevity or Anti-Aging
Dose: No FDA-approved dose2
Timing: Not applicable
Human longevity benefit is unproven.
Metabolic Health
Dose: No approved dose
Timing: Not applicable
Use established lifestyle and medical treatment.
Lab work
Markers to track.
What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.
Why people use it
Symptoms it's matched to.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Insulin resistance
6% relevance
Metabolic effects are plausible in models but not clinically established.2,3
MetabolicInsufficient evidenceAvoid outside research
Use standard metabolic care.
Cognitive decline
5% relevance
Neuroprotection data are preclinical and not dementia treatment evidence.3
NeurologicInsufficient evidenceAvoid
Seek formal evaluation.
Low energy
4% relevance
Mitochondrial cytoprotection claims are speculative for fatigue.1,2
EnergyInsufficient evidenceAvoid
Evaluate common causes.
Safety
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Unknown human adverse-effect profile
- Injection-site reaction
- Possible glucose changes
- Headache
- Unknown cancer biology implications
Interactions
Interaction records.
ModerateCaution
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid affects glucose handling and oxidative stress, complicating interpretation of humanin effects.
Recommendation: Avoid unapproved mitochondrial stacks without clinician review.
InfoSynergy
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 and humanin are both used in mitochondrial-health contexts, but humanin remains unapproved.
Recommendation: Use CoQ10 only for appropriate indications; do not infer peptide safety.
Sources
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Reviews & position papers
1- 1Mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin as therapeutic target in cancer and degenerative diseasesNeeds sourceNo linkZuccato CF et al. · Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets · 2019
Cytoprotective pathways reviewed
Mechanistic & preclinical
2- 2The mitochondrial derived peptide humanin is a regulator of lifespan and healthspanNeeds sourceNo linkMuzumdar RH et al. · Aging · 2020
Humanin biology associated with aging markers
- 3Detailed characterization of neuroprotection by a rescue factor humanin against various Alzheimer disease-relevant insultsNeeds sourceNo linkHashimoto Y et al. · Journal of Neuroscience · 2001
Humanin protected cells from Alzheimer-related insults
Keep exploring
Deep dives & adjacent profiles.
This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
Use this with your stack
Humanin in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.