My 5-Peptide Longevity Stack (Full Breakdown)
Been diving deep into the longevity side of peptides lately. These aren't the "sexy" fat loss or muscle building compounds—this is the boring maintenance stuff for long-term health. When you look at what actually matters for aging at the cellular level, it comes down to a few key pillars: - Telomere maintenance - Mitochondrial function - Metabolic efficiency - Tissue regeneration - Immune competence Each of these peptides targets one of those areas. Epithalon — Telomere Support & Pineal Function The granddaddy of anti-aging peptides. Developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology—the research goes back 35+ years. Studies show it activates telomerase (the enzyme that maintains telomere length), supports melatonin production, and increases antioxidant enzyme activity. Protocol: The Russian protocol calls for twice-yearly administration (January & October). Either 5mg daily for 20 days or 10mg daily for 10 days—same 100mg total dose, different timing. Evening subq to align with natural melatonin release. SS-31 (Elamipretide) — Mitochondrial Optimization Targets the inner mitochondrial membrane specifically by binding to cardiolipin, a phospholipid essential for electron transport chain function. Research indicates that as we age, cardiolipin gets damaged and mitochondrial efficiency tanks. SS-31 stabilizes it, improves ATP production, and reduces reactive oxygen species. Protocol: Literature suggests 1.25-5mg daily for 4-6 week cycles, twice a year (spring and fall). Morning subq to support daytime energy demands. MOTS-C — Metabolic Regulation One of the few mitochondrial-derived peptides identified—encoded in the mitochondrial genome, not nuclear DNA. Discovered in 2015 at USC. Functions as an exercise mimetic: activates AMPK, enhances insulin sensitivity, promotes fatty acid oxidation, and induces metabolic adaptations similar to training. Protocol: Research protocols use 0.5-1mg, 5 days/week for 6-8 week cycles, 2-3x per year. Morning or pre-workout subq.