Anti-Aging & Longevity
Epithalon
Also known as: Epitalon, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
A synthetic four-amino-acid peptide developed from a pineal gland extract, studied mainly by one research group for effects on telomerase and aging.
Overview
Epithalon is a very short peptide of four amino acids. It was developed in Russia as a synthetic version of the active part of epithalamin, a pineal gland extract.
What the research has looked at
Cell studies reported that Epithalon can activate telomerase, an enzyme that maintains the protective ends of chromosomes. Animal studies reported effects on lifespan and age-related changes. The same group also reported small human studies in older adults.
What we do not know
- Most of the work comes from a single research group, and independent replication is limited.
- Whether telomerase activation translates into healthier aging in people is not established.
- Activating telomerase raises theoretical safety questions that have not been resolved.
Regulatory context
Epithalon is not an approved medicine in the US or EU.
Related pages
See the Peptide A-Z for other compounds studied in aging research.
References & further reading
Educational reference only. Not medical advice. This page does not recommend or describe human use, dosing or sourcing.