Epithalon
Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)
Also called Epithalon, Epitalon, AEDG peptide, epithalamin
The telomere peptide
Epithalon is four amino acids long and comes out of Soviet-era research into the pineal gland. The claim attached to it is the biggest in this catalogue: that it lengthens telomeres, the caps on your chromosomes that shorten as you age. The Russian studies behind that are decades old and have not been repeated elsewhere.
A synthetic tetrapeptide based on the natural pineal gland peptide epithalamin. Epithalon activates telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomere length, potentially slowing cellular aging. Discovered by Professor Vladimir Khavinson, it remains one of the most studied anti-aging peptides in gerontology.
- Typical dose
- 5–10 mg/day
- Availability
- Research-only
Human trials published, with more underway
What people use Epithalon for
Reported uses, roughly in order of how often they are the reason someone goes looking. Whether it works for any of them is a separate question, answered under each one.
- Longevity
- The only real reason anyone takes it. The theory is that switching telomerase back on protects the ends of your chromosomes and slows cellular ageing.
- Sleep and melatonin rhythm
- A secondary use that follows from where it came from. The pineal gland runs melatonin, and users often report sleep changes before anything else.
Mechanism of Action
How Epithalon works
Epithalon targets the core machinery of cellular aging through two primary pathways:
- Telomerase activation via TERT — directly upregulates the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT), enabling cells to rebuild telomere caps that shorten with each division. Longer telomeres delay replicative senescence.
- Pineal gland restoration — stimulates melatonin production in aging pineal tissue, restoring circadian rhythm regulation that deteriorates with age. Melatonin itself is a potent antioxidant protecting mitochondrial DNA.
- Antioxidant enzyme upregulation — increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activity, reducing oxidative damage to DNA and lipid membranes.
- Gene expression normalization — in aged cells, Epithalon has been shown to reactivate genes that become silenced with age, particularly those involved in protein synthesis and immune function.
Epithalon dosage calculator
Opens at 5 mg, from the doses reported for Epithalon. Change any box to match your own vial. It works out where to pull the plunger to.
How much is in the vial?
Printed on the label, in milligrams
How much water did you add?
Bacteriostatic water, in millilitres
What dose are you taking?
The dose you already intend to use
Which syringe?
Barrel size, printed on the wrapper
Draw to
Too much
That dose is 1 mL, more than a 0.5 mL syringe holds. Use a larger syringe, or add less water.
- Strength once mixed
- 5 mg/mL
- Doses in the vial
- 2
10 mg in 2 mL makes 5 mg/mL. A 5 mg dose is 1 mL of that, which is more than the barrel holds.
This is arithmetic, not advice. It converts a dose you already have into a mark on a syringe. It does not tell you what dose to take, and Epithalon is not prescribed by us. Dosing belongs with a qualified clinician.
Epithalon side effects: what people reported
Very little reported, and it is usually taken as short courses a few times a year rather than continuously, which limits exposure.
What people report
- Injection-site redness
- Drowsiness, which is why many take it at night
- Vivid dreams
- Occasional headache
Worth thinking about
- Telomerase is also how cancer cells achieve their own immortality. Turning it up deliberately is the theoretical concern that hangs over this compound, and nobody has run the long human study that would settle it
Source: Russian clinical work and reported use. This is a summary of published findings, not a complete safety profile and not medical advice. Epithalon should only be considered with a qualified clinician who knows your history.
Your Genetics & Epithalon
The genes involved in how Epithalon works
Epithalon works through the receptors these genes build, and the genes vary from person to person. Researchers have linked some of that variation to differences in how people respond. A DNA report tells you which versions you carry.
This variant in the TERT gene affects baseline telomerase expression. Carriers of the A allele tend to have shorter telomeres and may benefit more from Epithalon's telomerase-activating effect.
Affects the RNA template component of telomerase. The C allele is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length, suggesting these individuals have a larger deficit for Epithalon to target.
SOD2 · ••
The Val16Ala polymorphism affects mitochondrial SOD efficiency. The T allele (Ala) variant produces less efficient SOD — Epithalon's antioxidant upregulation may be proportionally more valuable.
The dots after each gene are where your own result goes. Your report fills them in with the two letters you carry at that position.
Which variants do you carry?
Upload your DNA data, or get tested through our partner, to find out.
Commonly combined with
What Epithalon is most often paired with, and why:
MOTS-c
Mitochondrial Longevity StackEmerging EvidenceMitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-c
A peptide written not in your own genome but in the tiny separate one your mitochondria carry, a leftover from when they were free-living bacteria. It behaves like an exercise signal: it switches on the same fuel-burning pathway a hard workout does. Levels fall with age, which is why it turns up in longevity conversations, and essentially all of the good data is in mice.
3
Gene variants
25+
Studies
SS-31
Cellular Protection StackModerate EvidenceSS-31 (Elamipretide / Bendavia / MTP-131)
A peptide that goes to one specific place: the inner membrane of your mitochondria, where it binds a fat called cardiolipin. It is the rare compound here that is a genuine pharmaceutical, tested in real trials, and its honest record includes a large trial that failed. Also known as elamipretide.
4
Gene variants
50+
Studies
GHK-Cu
Anti-Aging StackModerate EvidenceGlycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide, studied mainly for wound healing and skin. It carries copper into tissue, where copper is the cofactor the enzyme that cross-links collagen cannot work without. Most of the evidence is topical or in rats; the widely quoted gene-expression claims rest on far less than they appear to.
Sourcing & access
Where to buy Epithalon
Epithalon is sold as a research compound, not a licensed medicine, so quality and legal status vary widely by country and vendor. If you're sourcing it, treat independent purity testing as non-negotiable.
- Insist on a recent third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the exact batch — labs like Janoshik verify purity and identity.
- Check the legal status where you live before ordering — it differs from country to country.
- Reconstitute correctly with bacteriostatic water and start at a conservative dose.
Before you buy: see whether your DNA actually responds to Epithalon, and at what dose. Analyze my DNA — $99 →
Educational information only, not medical advice. Some outbound links are affiliate links (disclosed, at no extra cost to you). Most peptides are not FDA-approved — consult a qualified professional and check your local laws before purchasing.
Worth knowing before you consider Epithalon
Interactions and situations where there is a specific reason to be careful. Where the honest answer is that nobody has studied something, it says so and says what that leaves open.
- The headline claim rests on old, unreplicated work
- The telomere and lifespan results come from Russian research from the 1980s and 90s that has not been reproduced independently. That is not the same as disproven, but it is a long way from established.
- The telomerase question cuts both ways
- The mechanism people want it for is the same mechanism cancer uses to keep dividing. Anyone with a cancer history should treat that as a reason to ask a doctor.
Last updated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Epithalon used for?
Epithalon is primarily used as an anti-aging peptide. It activates telomerase to maintain telomere length, restores melatonin production, and enhances antioxidant defenses. It was developed from decades of research by Russian gerontologist Vladimir Khavinson on pineal gland peptides.
Does genetics affect Epithalon response?
Yes. Your TERT and TERC gene variants determine baseline telomerase activity and telomere length. Individuals with variants linked to shorter telomeres may see more pronounced effects. SOD2 variants also influence how much you benefit from Epithalon's antioxidant upregulation.
How is Epithalon typically administered?
Epithalon is most commonly administered via subcutaneous injection in cycles — typically 10-20 days on, followed by a break of 4-6 months. Some protocols use it transdermally or intranasally, though injection remains the most studied route.
Learn more about Epithalon
21 guides mention Epithalon→peptide guides
In depthEpithalon and Telomere Length: What the Research Shows
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In depthGHK-Cu, Epithalon, and SS-31: The Triple Anti-Aging Stack With One FDA-Approved Drug
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Peptides for Beginners: The Complete Starter Guide (2026)
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In depthBest Peptides for Sleep: DSIP vs Epithalon vs Ipamorelin (Which One Matches Your Biology)
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In depthPeptide Stacking for Women Over 40: GHK-Cu, Epithalon, and the Estrogen Protocol
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Best Peptides for Skin: Anti-Aging, Collagen & What Your DNA Says (2026)
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Your next move
Two ways forward with Epithalon.
Not sure it's for you?
How does Epithalon relate to your genes?
Your report scores Epithalon against your receptor, pharmacogene and pathway variants and shows the genetic markers relevant to it, with commonly cited dosing information to review with a clinician.
Analyze my DNA — $99Already decided?
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