Epithalon vs NAD+

Epithalon is believed to activate telomerase, the enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length, with several in vitro and animal studies reporting telomere elongation. It also appears to regulate the expression of p53 and other cell-cycle control genes, modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary axis via pineal gland activity, and upregulate antioxidant defences including superoxide dismutase and catalase.

Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly; AEDG peptide) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed by Vladimir Khavinson as a more stable analog of the native pineal tetrapeptide epithalamin, proposed to restore physiological circadian rhythm regulation and telomerase activity in aging cells, and to exert broad anti-aging effects through epigenetic gene expression modulation in pineal and other tissues. Epithalon is proposed to activate telomerase and modulate telomere maintenance in aging somatic cells, normalize melatonin production and the neuroendocrine-immune axis, and restore physiological parameters that decline with aging; in vitro studies and preclinical animal models provide mechanistic support for these effects. Published human studies from the Khavinson group include a controlled clinical trial demonstrating epithalon's effects on retinal function in retinitis pigmentosa patients and observational data showing melatonin rhythm normalization in elderly subjects, representing the strongest indexed clinical evidence specifically for epithalon; both studies are formally indexed in PubMed. Epithalon has no FDA approval and no approved indication in any Western jurisdiction; published clinical evidence derives from a single research group without external independent replication by standard Western trial methodology, and while the mechanistic and observational research is indexed in peer-reviewed journals, the evidence base does not meet the threshold for established efficacy in any recognized clinical condition. Epithalon dosage protocols: no human clinical trial has established a standardized dosing regimen for epithalon. The published Khavinson clinical research does not report specific dose-response data in a format translatable to general dosing guidance. Research protocols and anecdotal bodybuilding and anti-aging community practice commonly reference epithalon at doses of 5–10mg per injection administered subcutaneously, with course lengths of 10–20 consecutive daily injections repeated one to two times per year — a pattern derived from the animal research and the Khavinson group's general bioregulator protocol framework, not from a dose-ranging clinical trial. Intranasal delivery has also been explored due to direct CNS access via the olfactory pathway. Epithalon is a research compound with no approved clinical dosing guidelines in any jurisdiction; all dosing references reflect preclinical and anecdotal research contexts only.

NAD+ is a coenzyme central to cellular energy metabolism, serving as an electron carrier in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. It is also a required substrate for sirtuins (SIRT1–7) and PARP enzymes, which regulate DNA repair, gene expression, and mitochondrial biogenesis. NAD+ levels decline measurably with age; IV or subcutaneous delivery aims to restore intracellular pools more directly than oral precursors such as NMN or NR.

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every cell, central to energy production, DNA repair, and sirtuin activation. While not a peptide in the traditional sense, it is widely administered by functional medicine and longevity providers via intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection. Research interest centres on its role in mitochondrial health, cellular resilience, and neurological function as NAD+ levels decline with age. NAD+ IV therapy: intravenous NAD+ infusion is the administration route that has attracted the most clinical interest, particularly in longevity and functional medicine contexts. IV NAD+ therapy delivers the compound directly into the bloodstream, bypassing digestive absorption — a route considered relevant given that oral NAD+ precursors (NMN, NR) have variable bioavailability. NAD+ IV therapy cost typically ranges from $200–$1,000 per session depending on the clinic, infusion volume, and geographic market; treatment frequency in clinical settings commonly ranges from weekly to monthly maintenance infusions following an initial loading protocol. NAD+ IV therapy clinics operate across major US markets including Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. For those researching where to find NAD+ IV therapy providers, PeptideBase maintains a directory of verified clinics and telehealth platforms offering NAD+ protocols.