Longevity and energy

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide, a short chain your own mitochondria (your cells' power plants) produce, that activates the energy sensor AMPK. In plain terms: it signals cells to burn more fuel and use energy efficiently, which is why it is explored for metabolism and aging.

Epitalon is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family, based on a natural pineal-gland peptide. In plain terms: it is taken in short courses for sleep and anti-aging on the theory that it supports the body's internal clock, but strong human evidence is thin.

NAD+ is not a peptide but a coenzyme every cell uses to turn food into energy, and levels fall with age. In plain terms: supplementing it is meant to refill your cells' energy currency to fight fatigue and support healthy aging. Injectable NAD+ is compounded, and human evidence is still early.

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that binds and stabilizes cardiolipin, a fat in the inner wall of your cells' power plants. In plain terms: it helps damaged mitochondria make energy again and cut harmful byproducts, and it is in real clinical trials for mitochondrial and heart disease.

FOXO4-DRI is a specially built (D-retro-inverso) peptide that pries apart a partnership between the proteins FOXO4 and p53 inside aged cells. In plain terms: it is a 'senolytic,' designed to make worn-out 'zombie' cells self-destruct so healthy tissue can take over, with striking animal results but essentially no human safety data.

Vesugen is a short 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed to support blood-vessel health as you age, but there is very little real human research behind it, so treat the claims cautiously.

Bronchogen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for lung and airway health, but there is very little real human research behind it.

Orexin-A (hypocretin-1) is a natural brain peptide that keeps you awake and alert; people with narcolepsy lack it. In plain terms: it is studied as a nasal spray for wakefulness and daytime energy, with limited data.

MitoPrime is a pre-mixed vial holding three compounds aimed at cell energy: NAD+ at 100 mg, MOTS-c at 10 mg, and 5-Amino-1MQ at 10 mg. The idea behind pairing them is to supply NAD+, slow down how fast the body uses it up, and switch on the pathways that spend it. In plain terms: three angles on the same target. Two of the three are not peptides at all.

PNC-27 is a peptide built in a lab that is sold with claims about killing cancer cells. The idea behind it is real science: many cancer cells carry a protein called HDM-2 on their outer surface, and most healthy cells keep it tucked inside. PNC-27 was designed to stick to that protein and punch holes in the cell. In plain terms: the theory is careful and interesting, and it has never been tested in a person.

N-Acetyl Epitalon Amidate is a modified version of Epitalon, a four amino acid peptide from Russian ageing research. The ends of the molecule are capped so enzymes take longer to break it down. In plain terms: Epitalon built to survive longer in the body.

Cardiogen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for heart muscle and blood vessels as they age, but there is very little real human research behind it.

SHLP2 is a small humanin-like peptide, one of six encoded inside the same mitochondrial gene region as humanin. In plain terms: it has a genuine research literature covering insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function, all of it in cells and mice.

SHLP6 is another of the six small humanin-like peptides. In plain terms: it is sold alongside SHLP2 as if the two did the same thing, and the published work points in a different direction.

GDF-11 is a signalling protein closely related to myostatin. In plain terms: it became famous when studies suggested it declined with age and could rejuvenate old tissue, and the follow-up work has been arguing about that ever since.

TUDCA is tauroursodeoxycholic acid, the taurine conjugate of ursodeoxycholic acid, a water-loving bile acid that reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress and blocks the mitochondrial pathway to cell death. In plain terms: it helps bile flow and takes strain off liver cells, which is why people take it alongside things that are hard on the liver.

Urolithin A is a small molecule your gut bacteria make from ellagitannins in pomegranates, walnuts and berries, and it triggers mitophagy, the process that clears out worn-out mitochondria. In plain terms: it tells cells to recycle their broken batteries.

NMN is nicotinamide mononucleotide, a direct precursor in the NAD+ salvage pathway, one step closer to NAD+ than nicotinamide riboside. In plain terms: it is raw material the body uses to make NAD+, which every cell needs for energy and repair.

Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 and an NAD+ precursor, sold almost entirely as the patented chloride salt Niagen. In plain terms: it is another raw material for making NAD+, one step further back than NMN.

Alpha-Klotho is a large transmembrane protein whose extracellular portion is shed into the blood as soluble Klotho, acting as a circulating hormone with effects on kidney, brain and vascular ageing. In plain terms: it is a protein the body makes less of as you age, and mice given more of it live longer.