Metabolic Longevity · 10mg × 10 vials
Humanin tells stressed cells not to die, clears out damaged proteins, and dampens the growth-hormone axis in the way long-lived animals do naturally.
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded inside the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, the same family as MOTS-c (encoded in the 12S rRNA). It was the founding member of the MDP family, discovered in 2001 by Hashimoto and characterized over the following two decades primarily by Pinchas Cohen's lab at USC Davis School of Gerontology. The defining trick is that mitochondria themselves encode and secrete Humanin as a stress-response signal, talking to the rest of the body when the cell is under metabolic or oxidative pressure. It's not a synthetic mimic of a host hormone, it's a hormone the mitochondria already make and decline production of with age.
Humanin works through four overlapping protective mechanisms. First, it directly binds and antagonizes pro-apoptotic proteins (BAX, tBID), preventing them from permeabilizing the mitochondrial membrane and triggering cell death. Second, it activates a trimeric receptor complex (CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130) that turns on JAK2/STAT3 survival signaling plus ERK1/2 and AKT pathways, the same axes that keep neurons resistant to amyloid-beta toxicity. Third, it binds IGFBP-3 and modulates the IGF-1 axis, decreasing circulating IGF-1 (which is part of the longevity story, since lower IGF-1 correlates with extended lifespan in model organisms). Fourth, it activates autophagy and the formyl peptide receptors FPRL1/FPRL2, the cellular cleanup machinery linked to healthspan. In plain language: Humanin tells stressed cells not to die, clears out damaged proteins, and dampens the growth-hormone axis in the way long-lived animals do naturally. The strongest preclinical evidence is in neuroprotection (Alzheimer's models, amyloid-beta toxicity) and metabolic health (beta-cell preservation, insulin sensitization). The synthetic HNG analog (S14G-Humanin) is roughly 1,000x more potent than native Humanin and is what most preclinical work uses; research-grade "Humanin" products on the market are typically native Humanin sequence, which is the lower-potency end of the spectrum.
Typical dose ranges by experience level - educational reference. Message us and we tailor it to you.
10 mg vial + 1 ml BAC = 10 mg/ml, so 1 mg = 0.10 ml = 10 IU on a U-100 syringe. One HMN10 kit (10 vials) at 1 mg 2-3x/week = ~13-20 weeks of research, plenty for a full beginner block plus next cycle's start. First-timers usually won't feel anything dramatic in week 1-2. The signal is subtle, more like an ambient improvement in recovery, sleep depth, and cognitive clarity than a stimulant-style hit. If running for neuroprotection or longevity, the metabolic markers (fasting glucose, lipid panel, hsCRP) and the cognitive signal develop over 4-8 weeks.
2 mg 3x/wk = 6 mg/wk, which is the upper end of the typical community range (community reports cluster 0.5-2 mg per dose, 2-3x/wk). One HMN10 kit covers ~6-8 weeks at this band. This is the working dose for customers chasing the mitochondrial + neuroprotection signal as a real protocol, not just dabbling. Best stacked with MOTS-c (the other MDP) at this stage; the two peptides hit different mitochondrial pathways and compound.
Advanced users almost always stack Humanin with MOTS-c (the canonical mitochondrial sibling stack) and often add SS-31 for the "mito trinity" (Humanin handles cytoprotection and the anti-apoptotic arm, MOTS-c handles AMPK and biogenesis, SS-31 handles cardiolipin stabilization and electron transport). Solo Humanin at advanced dosing is rare in the community. The HMN10 kit covers ~8 weeks at top dosing, so a full 12 week block needs ~1.5 kits, and most advanced users buy two HMN10 kits at the start of a cycle.
Straight talk - what people actually report, and what the studies measured.
Peer-reviewed studies and clinical guidelines - tap any to read the source.
IGFBP3 binding mechanism, apoptosis suppression axis
Read study ↗PubMedNeuroprotective Action of Humanin and Humanin Analogues, Tajima et al, MDPI Biology 2023comprehensive review of neuroprotection mechanisms, HNG analog
Read study ↗PubMedNeuroprotective Action of Humanin and Humanin Analogues, PMC10740898same review, PMC entry
Read study ↗PubMedThe mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin activates ERK1/2, AKT and STAT3 signaling pathways, Oncotarget 2016signaling pathway mechanism in hippocampus
Read study ↗PubMedThe emerging role of the mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin in stress resistance, Lee et al, J Mol Endo 2013Cohen lab review on stress resistance
Read study ↗PubMedHumanin Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Mice and is Associated with Improved Cognitive Age in Humans, Sci Rep 2018twice-weekly HNG in middle-aged mice, cognitive improvement
Read study ↗Aggregated sentiment from public forums & socials - real-world reports, not individual endorsements.
Injection site irritation: mild, occasional - manageable with site rotation
Mild transient fatigue first 3-7 days: minority of users, settles by week 2
Mild headache: rare, usually at the higher (2 mg per dose) end
Dizziness in fasted states: reported by a small subset, usually when stacked with another AMPK activator or done on a long fast
Sleep changes: a small number of users report mild sleep disruption if dosed late in the day, which is why morning dosing is the community standard
No reports of cardiovascular, GI, or systemic toxicity signals at standard doses
Route: SubQ
Injection site: abdomen or outer thigh, rotate sites
Storage: refrigerated, ~28-30 days after reconstitution
Notes: Half-life of native Humanin is short (~30 min in plasma), so timing and frequency matter more than with long-acting peptides. Morning dosing is the community default, partly for circadian alignment with mitochondrial stress-response cycles and partly to avoid any sleep disruption. Swirl gently to mix, don't shake. Use a fresh insulin syringe per draw. The native peptide is also temperature-sensitive, so keep unreconstituted vials refrigerated and reach room temp before injecting once mixed.