Curious who here has run any of these mitochondrial and longevity compounds. NAD+, MOTS-C, Epitalon, SS-31, NMN, NR, any of them. What did you feel, would you run it again, and what would you do different?
Got my panel back recently and since a few people in the comments asked for a full breakdown I figured I would just walk through the whole thing using my own results as the template. Here is what each section is telling you and what to do when something looks off.
Quick Reference — My Panel Results
| Panel | Marker | My Result | Reference Range | Status | What Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipid | LDL Cholesterol | 106 | Under 100 | Slightly high | Soluble fiber, omega-3s, cardio |
| Lipid | HDL Cholesterol | 64 | Over 40 | Good | Maintain with cardio and healthy fats |
| Lipid | Triglycerides | 71 | Under 150 | Excellent | Limit sugar and refined carbs |
| Lipid | Total Cholesterol | 186 | Under 200 | Good | Keep diet clean |
| Metabolic | Fasting Glucose | 92 | 65-99 | Good | Low sugar diet, consistent meals |
| Metabolic | AST Liver Enzyme | 18 | 10-40 | Excellent | Limit alcohol, stay hydrated |
| Metabolic | ALT Liver Enzyme | 16 | 9-46 | Excellent | Same as above |
| CBC | MCHC | 31.3 | 31.6-35.4 | Slightly low | Iron, B12, folate |
| Hormonal | DHEA Sulfate | 82 | 74-617 | Very low for age | Sleep, stress management, ashwagandha |
| Hormonal | LH | 1.6 | 1.5-9.3 | Low end | Sleep, zinc, magnesium, reduce stress |
| Hormonal | Prolactin | 7.4 | 2.0-18.0 | Good | Maintain |
| Hormonal | Estradiol | 32 | Under 39 | Good | Maintain |
| Testosterone | Total | 694 | 250-827 | Good on paper | See free T for full picture |
| Testosterone | Free | 89.6 | 46.0-224.0 | Low end | Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, lower SHBG |
| Testosterone | Bioavailable | 188.1 | 110.0-575.0 | Low end | Same as free T |
| Testosterone | SHBG | 37 | 10-50 | Slightly high | Boron, zinc, resistance training |
Lifestyle habits that help
| Habit | What It Helps |
|---|---|
| 7 to 9 hours sleep consistently | DHEA, testosterone, cortisol, glucose, LH |
| Resistance training 3 to 4x per week | Free testosterone, SHBG, HDL, insulin sensitivity |
| Zone 2 cardio 2 to 3x per week | LDL, triglycerides, HDL, fasting glucose |
| High fiber diet, 30 plant foods per week | LDL, triglycerides, gut health, inflammation |
| Omega-3s daily | LDL, triglycerides, inflammation, brain health |
| Minimize alcohol | Liver enzymes, testosterone, sleep quality |
| Morning sunlight daily | Vitamin D, cortisol rhythm, testosterone, DHEA |
| Stress management | DHEA, cortisol, LH, free testosterone |
Supplements to consider
| Supplement | What It Targets |
|---|---|
| Zinc 15 to 30mg daily | Free testosterone, LH, SHBG, immune function |
| Magnesium glycinate before bed | Sleep quality, cortisol, testosterone, recovery |
| Vitamin D3 with K2 | Testosterone, immune function, bone health |
| Omega-3 DHA and EPA | LDL, triglycerides, inflammation, brain health |
| Ashwagandha | DHEA, cortisol, stress response, LH signaling |
| B complex | MCHC, energy metabolism, homocysteine |
| Boron 3 to 6mg daily | SHBG reduction, free testosterone support |
| Iron and folate if deficient | MCHC, red blood cell health |
Lipid Panel
Cholesterol total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and your cholesterol to HDL ratio. My LDL came back at 106, reference is under 100. Not alarming but worth bringing down. HDL at 64 is solid, anything above 60 is good. Triglycerides at 71 are great and reflect decent insulin sensitivity. If yours are high the first place to look is sugar and refined carbs. To naturally nudge LDL down, more soluble fiber, omega-3s, and consistent cardio usually does it without anything dramatic.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Covers blood sugar, kidney function, liver enzymes, electrolytes, and protein levels. Mine came back clean across the board. Fasting glucose at 92, liver enzymes both excellent, kidney function solid. If anything here is flagged it usually points to diet, hydration, alcohol, or medication. Staying hydrated, limiting alcohol, and not overloading on protein or chronic NSAIDs keeps this panel clean over time.
CBC with Differential
Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit. Most of mine was clean. MCHC came in at 31.3 which is just under the 31.6 reference. It measures how much hemoglobin is in each red blood cell. A low MCHC can point to early iron deficiency or B12 and folate issues even when everything else looks fine. Not urgent at this level but worth keeping iron, B12, and folate in check.
Hormonal Panel DHEA, FSH, LH, Prolactin, Estradiol
This is the one that stood out the most on my panel. DHEA sulfate at 82. The range goes all the way up to 617. Sitting at the absolute floor is not where you want to be and usually points to adrenal stress, chronic sleep debt, or long term physical and mental load. DHEA is a precursor that feeds into testosterone and estrogen production. When it is this low it is a signal the adrenals are not keeping up.
LH at 1.6 is technically in range but barely. LH is the signal your brain sends to stimulate testosterone production. A weak signal means weaker output downstream. Estradiol and prolactin both came back clean.
Sleep is the first thing to fix when DHEA is this low. Ashwagandha for HPA axis support, morning sunlight, and actual stress reduction over time. Lifestyle changes move DHEA before supplementation is worth considering.
Testosterone Panel Total, Free, Bioavailable, SHBG
Total at 694 looks fine until you look at free and bioavailable. Free testosterone at 89.6 and bioavailable at 188 are both low end. SHBG at 37 is binding up a significant chunk of the total so what the body actually gets to use is less than the headline number suggests.
Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, consistent resistance training, healthy body fat percentage, and boron all help push free testosterone up and SHBG down over time. Nothing extreme needed, just consistency.
What changes most with age
DHEA starts declining in the late 20s and keeps dropping. Free testosterone follows a similar path. IGF-1 goes down with GH. Fasting insulin is probably the most sensitive early warning marker for metabolic dysfunction and worth checking even when glucose looks normal. Liver enzymes creep up if diet and alcohol are not managed over years. The hormonal markers and fasting glucose and insulin together are the ones worth rechecking most consistently.
Peptides I might consider based on these results
Not something I feel is necessary right now given most of the panel looks solid. But for anyone dealing with similar markers here are a few worth knowing about.
| Peptide | What It Targets |
|---|---|
| Kisspeptin-10 | LH signaling, natural testosterone stimulation |
| Enclomiphene | LH and FSH support, raises natural testosterone without suppression |
| BPC-157 | Liver health, gut lining, systemic inflammation |
| GHK-Cu | Collagen, skin, tissue repair, aging markers |
| Thymosin Alpha 1 | Immune function, inflammation regulation |
| MOTS-C | Metabolic efficiency, insulin sensitivity, energy |
| NAD+ | Cellular energy, DNA repair, mitochondrial function |
| Epitalon | DHEA and hormonal aging, circadian rhythm, telomere support |
Kisspeptin-10 is probably the most relevant given the low LH. Enclomiphene for the free testosterone and SHBG picture. Epitalon for the DHEA angle. BPC-157 as a long term gut and liver health foundation regardless.
Drop your results in the comments if you want help making sense of anything specific.
Community Website
At 35 or so depending on your lifestyle and habits your body starts yelling for help or it thanks you if you have got here you probably know what I mean. Recovery takes longer. Sleep feels less restorative. Muscle comes slower and goes faster. Energy is not what it was. Or completely opposite if you did things rite. These are not random shifts. They are biological changes that get better or worse in your 40s if you ignore them.
Here's a few things that help.
The foundation
Nothing else works well on top of a broken foundation. Get these right first.
Sleep is where most of the repair happens. Deep sleep is when GH peaks, inflammation clears, and memories consolidate. Consistently poor sleep accelerates every aging marker you care about. 7 to 9 hours, consistent sleep window, dark cool room.
Resistance training preserves muscle mass, bone density, insulin sensitivity, and cognitive function as you age. Zone 2 cardio supports mitochondrial health and cardiovascular function. Both matter. Pick something you will actually stick to.
Diet is less complicated than the internet makes it. High protein to preserve muscle especially when calories are low. Diverse fiber sources to feed the microbiome. Minimize ultra processed food and chronic alcohol. Eat real food most of the time.
Stress matters more at 35 than it did at 25. Chronically elevated cortisol accelerates cellular aging, tanks testosterone, disrupts sleep, and degrades gut health. Whatever manages it for you, make it consistent.
Supplements worth considering
Teas worth adding
Simple and underrated. Some of the most evidence backed longevity compounds come in daily drinks. I personally love tea so thought id throw it in. Ginger tea really sits well with me specially since I had stomach issues once upon a time
Peptides worth looking into if you wanna go this far
Bloodwork
Get a baseline panel before starting anything and recheck every 3 to 6 months. Tracking biomarkers over time tells you what is moving and catches problems before symptoms show up. Drop a comment if you want a full breakdown of what to run and what to look for.
What are you doing differently for longevity now compared to your 20s? Drop it below.
Most doctors suck at resolving gut issues always giving ppi,s it pissed me off so I cured myself I feel like this is a goldmine post so hopefully it helps whoever reads it. Gut health is a huge issue and is one of the most talked about topics I personally went through my own gut health issues and its not fun at all. Your gut affects your immune system, your mental health, your skin, your energy, your hormones, and how well your body absorbs everything you put into it. When it is off everything else is also outta wack.
The problem is most people do not connect their symptoms back to their gut because the signs are not always obvious.
Signs your gut might be in ruff shape
Why everything else is affected
Over 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. Your microbiome also produces neurotransmitters including serotonin, most of which is made in the gut not the brain. When your microbiome is imbalanced, your gut lining is compromised, or you are reacting to foods you eat every day, the inflammation that creates ripples into every system in your body. Energy, mood, skin, hormones, immunity. All of it connects back. Gut brain axis threw vagus nerve then you can get heart palpitations its not a fun time at all.
Test first do not just grab a probiotic
Here is where most people go wrong I definitely learned this the hard way. They feel off, they read that probiotics are good for gut health, they buy whatever is on the shelf, and then wonder why nothing changed. The truth is not every probiotic strain is right for every gut. Some strains can make things worse depending on what is going on in your microbiome. You need to know what your gut looks like before throwing things at it.
Two tests worth knowing about:
Gut Zoomer
A comprehensive stool based microbiome test that analyzes over 300 microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses alongside markers for gut lining integrity, inflammation, digestive enzyme function, and neurotransmitter production. It shows you exactly what is living in your gut, how your gut barrier is holding up, and whether microbial imbalances are driving your symptoms. Simple at home stool collection, run in a CLIA and CAP certified lab.
Food Sensitivity Complete
Tests your immune response to 209 food antigens using IgA and IgG antibodies to identify delayed food reactions. Most food sensitivities are not immediate — they can take hours or even days to show up which makes them nearly impossible to identify without testing. You could be eating the same foods every single day thinking you eat healthy and those foods are quietly driving chronic inflammation the whole time. At home dry blood spot collection.
Both tests are available as a bundle from the Functional Medicine Shop with a significant discount at checkout.
Probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber
Once you have your test data you can start supporting your gut with the right things instead of guessing.
Probiotics are live bacteria strains. The key is knowing which strains your gut is actually low in or missing. The Gut Zoomer tells you this and even generates personalized probiotic strain recommendations based on your specific microbiome results. Running a random multi-strain probiotic without knowing your baseline is like taking medication without knowing what condition you have.
Prebiotics are what your gut bacteria eat. No amount of probiotics will stick around if you are not feeding them. Think fiber from diverse whole food sources, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, green bananas, oats. The more variety in your fiber sources the more diverse your microbiome tends to be.
Fiber specifically matters a lot more than most people give it credit for. Your gut bacteria ferment fiber to produce short chain fatty acids like butyrate which feeds your gut lining cells, reduces inflammation, and supports insulin sensitivity. Low fiber diets are one of the fastest ways to collapse microbiome diversity. Aim for 30 different plant foods per week as a starting target, not just 30 grams of fiber from the same two sources.
Peptides that support gut health
The right order of operations
Most chronic gut issues do not resolve from just adding a probiotic and eating some yogurt. The people who actually see change are the ones who figure out what their specific gut needs instead of following generic advice.
Here is where I read the research
BPC-157 gut lining repair and intestinal healing: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10224484/
KPV anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal tissue: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18061177/
Anyone here dealt with gut issues that turned out to be food sensitivity related or a microbiome imbalance? What did you find out and what helped?
Reta covers three receptors at once. GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. Stacking another GLP-1 on top of that is not a stack, it is just more of what is already there. The only additions that make sense are compounds hitting pathways Reta does not touch.
What Reta already covers
Three receptors, one compound. So what is left?
What to add
| Add-On | Mechanism | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Tesamorelin | GH axis, GHRH analog | Visceral fat specifically |
| SLU-PP-332 | Mitochondrial and oxidative pathways | Energy expenditure |
| Cagrilintide | Amylin receptor | Extra satiety signal |
Tesamorelin
Reta does not touch the GH axis. Tesamorelin does, and it has clinical data specifically for visceral fat reduction. Clean addition, zero overlap.
SLU-PP-332
Reta raises energy expenditure through glucagon. SLU-PP-332 does the same thing through mitochondrial pathways. Different route, same direction. Not doubling up on suppression, pushing the expenditure side harder.
Cagrilintide
Amylin receptor, completely separate from everything Reta hits. For anyone where appetite is still the weak point even on Reta, this is the cleanest option to add.
Honorable mention, L-Carnitine
Not a peptide. Moves fatty acids into mitochondria to be burned. Simple foundational add-on for any fat loss setup worth keeping year round.
Running Reta, what matters as much as the stack
What are you stacking with Reta right now? Drop it below.
A lot of people have questions about the cancer risk with these compounds so let me explain. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no and most doctors will not walk you through it.
How the GH axis works
These compounds, Sermorelin, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, all tell your pituitary to release more growth hormone. GH then tells your liver to make IGF-1. IGF-1 is what does the work. Recovery, muscle repair, fat loss, sleep quality. GH is the spark. IGF-1 is the flame.
IGF-1 is basically fertilizer for your cells. The problem with fertilizer is it does not pick what grows. Kinda like 16-16-16 fertilizer if you know you know.
The concern worth knowing
IGF-1 does not sort between healthy cells and unhealthy ones. Population data shows people with chronically elevated IGF-1 have modestly higher rates of breast, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancer. The scenario that matters most is if there is a cancer somewhere in your body you do not know about yet, elevated IGF-1 could speed up its growth. A lot of cancer cells are loaded with IGF-1 receptors.
Worth being clear about what this is and is not:
Pulsatile vs sustained, where the risk is different
| Pulsatile | Sustained | |
|---|---|---|
| Compounds | Sermorelin, Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 DAC, Tesamorelin |
| Pattern | Mimics natural GH rhythm | Signal held longer, less clearance |
| Recovery window | System gets breaks | System rarely fully clears |
| Theoretical risk | Lower | Higher concern |
Your body pulses GH naturally. That rhythm exists for a reason. Short acting compounds like Ipamorelin and Sermorelin stay closer to that pattern. Longer acting versions like CJC-1295 DAC and Tesamorelin hold the signal up longer with less recovery time in between. That is where the concern lives.
This is why cycling matters. Not arbitrary, there is a reason behind it.
What to take away from this
one of the most effective compounds in the GH and IGF axis category when used right. Recovery speed, muscle repair, tissue regeneration it delivers but the room for error is smaller than most peptides IGF-1 activates some of the same glucose lowering pathways as insulin which means hypoglycemia is a risk mid session if you are not prepared fast acting carbs on hand are not optional the cancer concern is also worth noting IGF-1 is a mitogenic signal that tells cells to grow and divide, which is great for muscle but not if there is anything abnormal already in the body don't even bother specially stop for anyone with a cancer history standard protocol is 10 days max for a reason receptor desensitization kicks in fast and longer cycles stop producing returns. Works well for experienced people who run it correctly. Not a beginner compound
I really wanna hear experiences from this community so drop them in the comments!
Could be something you keep seeing come up but cannot find solid info on. Something you are thinking about running but still have questions on or just something you read about and want to understand better.
Drop it below. Either I will cover it in an upcoming post or someone in here who has actually ran it can give you a real answer.
When thinking GHK-Cuwe normally think about skin, collagen, wound healing but lets talk about something I honestly haven't read much about before
So Zinc and copper share the same absorption pathway in your gut they compete for the same spot run high dose zinc and copper gets blocked run high dose GHK-Cu for a while and the opposite starts happening copper builds and zinc starts losing ground.
Copper runs cytochrome C oxidase which is one of the most important enzymes in your mitochondria too little and your cells cannot make energy right the depletion is slow too. energy feels off, bloodwork looks a little weird, and by the time you notice it your way too tired already
So if you are running GHK-Cu at higher doses for a while keep your think in mind it might not be a issue forsure but its a problem that can happen.
Same thing goes the other way. Running 50 or 60mg of zinc and your energy is in the gutter for no obvious reason copper depletion is probably why anything over 30mg of zinc pair it with 1 to 2mg of copper and take them at different times.
Also worth knowing some people retain copper genetically or already get enough from diet so a hair mineral analysis or basic serum panel gives you an baseline before you start loading either one witch is why I think bloodwork is always required.
Neither suppresses appetite Neither is a GLP-1 but they are helping different problems and that matters when you are deciding which one to run.
MOTS-C
Mitochondrial peptide the only one encoded in mitochondrial DNA it activates AMPK the same cellular switch that exercise triggers and makes your cells handle energy and fat oxidation better
what to expect subtle but not crazy fat loss better glucose numbers leaner without feeling exhausted more output during training people who get the most out of it are already training and eating good it amplifies what you are already doing if you are expecting GLP-1 style results you will be let down.
Tesamorelin
FDA approved GHRH analog tells your pituitary to produce more of your own GH in the natural patterns that decline with age what makes it specific is the visceral fat targeting the fat wrapped around your organs at roughly 25:1 selectivity over the stuff you can pinch. Clinical trials showed 15 to 18% visceral fat improvement over 26 weeks. the human data is solid
Quick comparison
| MOTS-C | Tesamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| What it targets | Metabolic efficiency, recomposition | Visceral fat specifically |
| FDA approved | No | Yes |
| Human data | Emerging | Solid |
| Cycle | 4–8 wks on / 2–4 off | 8–12 wks on / 4 off |
| Bloodwork | Glucose, insulin | IGF-1, fasting glucose |
Run MOTS-C if your metabolism feels sluggish fat loss has stalled despite doing the right things and you want something that helps energy and recomposition without touching your hormone axis.
Run Tesamorelin if stubborn visceral belly fat is the specific issue and you want the compound with the most human data behind it in the non GLP-1 category.
Separate pathways no overlap running both is not mando
Most side effect conversations go one of two ways. Either people downplay everything and say push through (I'm guilty of this) or they panic over normal early responses so what's the rite thing to do though?
Some things do get better but some things get worse if you ignore them
Stop and Get Evaluated Not Tomorrow, Now
Chest tightness, palpitations, or shortness of breath Persistent or severe stop the compound get looked at before running anything else.
Severe abdominal pain with nausea or vomiting Especially on GLP-1s. Pancreatitis does not come with a warning label this is not something to wait out at home in my opinion
Sudden neurological symptoms Severe headache out of nowhere, weakness, confusion, sudden vision changes definitely same day check up not the next morning.
Injection site redness spreading outward, warmth, swelling, pus, or fever Infection. Stop pinning into that site. Full stop. Kinda common sense though
Jaundice or dark urine Stop everything and get labs the compound does not matter at this point.
Reassess Your Protocol Something Is Off
These are not emergencies but they are not nothing either.
Nausea still present after dropping the dose Some nausea in the first week or two is common. If you lowered the dose and it is still happening two weeks later the compound may not be for you.
Headaches that keep coming back You have tried hydration, food, lowering the dose. Still there id definitely listen to my body
Edema getting worse instead of stabilizing Early water retention on GH peptides happens. If it is still climbing weeks in rather than leveling off that is worth looking into not ignoring.
Fasting glucose trending up on bloodwork GH related compounds can push this. Catch it early rather than after it has been running for monthsthats why I tell everyone check your glucose when running gh signaling compounds
Carpal tunnel or joint pain you did not have before starting Usually dose dependent. But grinding through it and hoping it resolves is not a protocol.
Feeling consistently worse than baseline Not just an adjustment period. Consistently worse. Dropping the dose did not change it. That compound is probably not for you.
Hair loss after starting Not a stop everything signal on its own but before blaming the peptide check protein intake, rate of weight loss, and run bloodwork. Could be caloric restriction could be something else entirely.
Compound Specific Flags
GLP-1s Sema, Tirz, Reta Severe abdominal pain that keeps coming with repeated vomiting or not being able to keep fluids down for multiple days this is not a dosing question go get evaluated.
GH Peptides CJC, Ipa, Sermorelin edema that does not improve after dropping the dose. Carpal tunnel symptoms getting worse not better fasting glucose consistently elevated across multiple blood draws.
PT-141 Nausea combined with chest pressure or blood pressure symptoms. Drop the dose significantly or stop research on PT-141 side effects here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6819021/
Melanotan II Any existing mole changing shape, color, or getting darker. Book a dermatologist before your next dose. Not after. I feel like a lot of people do know about this but I could be wrong so I figured it worth saying rather have everyone do things correctly
So Basically
⚠️ Educational and research discussion only. Not medical advice. For anything in the stop and get evaluated section above seek actual medical attention.
Anyone here had to pull a cycle early? What was the sign that made you stop?
For the most part people accept aging and go with the flow the problem is aging is your body losing the signals it needs to keep repairing itself bummer huh. These are the compounds that I feel worth mentioning and have good studies to back it up
S TIER 🔴
Thymosin Alpha 1 (immune restoration peptide)
The peptide your thymus used to produce in abundance before it started shrinking in your 20s.
T cell activation wakes up the immune hunters that identify and destroy threats before they become problems
TLR pathway support coordinates your immune response at the signaling level so the whole system works together
What puts it in S tier
Great for anyone whose immune function has declined from age, chronic stress, illness, or inflammation. Check out the study for yourself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9701766/
GHK-Cu (gene reset and repair peptide)
Plasma levels drop from around 200 ng/mL at age 20 to roughly 80 ng/mL by 60. That decline is not cosmetic. It tracks with how fast everything starts breaking down.
Gene expression modulation influences around 31% of human genes a large portion tied to repair, inflammation control, and longevity pathways
Collagen and elastin rebuilding structural proteins that give skin, tendons, and connective tissue their integrity
What people miss about GHK-Cu
Great for skin, hair, tissue repair, and anyone serious about slowing biological aging from the inside out. Check out the study for yourself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29986520/
A TIER 🟠
Epitalon (telomere maintenance peptide)
Every cell division shortens your telomeres. When they get short enough cells start malfunctioning or dying. Epitalon activates telomerase the enzyme that rebuilds those caps and keeps cells functioning.
Telomerase activation extends and rebuilds the chromosome caps that shorten with every cell division
Pineal gland support melatonin production and circadian rhythm both decline with age Epitalon helps regulate both
What makes it stand out
Great for anyone building a serious long term longevity protocol who wants human backed data. Check out the study for yourself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17914018/
BPC-157 (tissue rebuilding peptide)
Comes from a protein naturally found in human gastric juice. Does not just manage symptoms rebuilds tissue from the inside across multiple systems at once.
Angiogenesis stimulation builds new blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients directly to damaged areas
Collagen repair signaling targets tendons, ligaments, joints, and gut lining simultaneously
Why it belongs in a longevity stack
Great for people healing slower with age, chronic gut problems, or accumulated wear from years of training. Check out the study for yourself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14554208/
B TIER 🟡
MOTS-C (mitochondrial signal peptide)
The only known peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Acts as a direct signal from your mitochondria to your cell nucleus. Levels drop with age and metabolic efficiency drops with it.
AMPK activation the master metabolic switch controlling energy balance, glucose use, and fat oxidation
Mitochondrial biogenesis triggers the creation of new mitochondria so cells have more energy production capacity
What the research shows
Great for metabolic health, sustained energy, and anyone stacking longevity compounds. Check out the study for yourself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26581471/
NAD+ (cellular energy and repair peptide)
Every cell in your body depends on it. Levels drop significantly with age and so does everything tied to energy production and cellular repair.
Sirtuin activation longevity proteins that regulate cellular repair, stress resistance, and gene expression
DNA repair support NAD+ dependent enzymes handle the constant low level DNA damage that accumulates with age
What people running it notice
Great for energy, cognition, recovery, and keeping everything else in your stack running at full output. Check out the study for yourself: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10692436/
C TIER 🟢
FOXO4-DRI (senescent cell clearance peptide)
Senescent cells are cells that stopped dividing but refuse to die. They park themselves in your tissues and leak inflammatory signals that damage everything around them. That process drives almost every major aging related disease. FOXO4-DRI tells those specific cells to die without touching the healthy ones.
Selective apoptosis triggers programmed cell death specifically in senescent cells while leaving healthy tissue alone
SASP suppression cuts off the inflammatory signals that senescent cells release into surrounding tissue
Honest context
Great for advanced users and researchers who want to work with the most promising senolytic compound being studied right now. Check out the study for yourself: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5556182/
Anyone running a longevity stack right now? What are you working with and what tier are you prioritizing first?