GHK-Cu is a research peptide being studied for its anti-aging, hair growth, and regenerative effects.
GHK-Cu is a human copper-binding peptide proven to confer a host of benefits related to healing, tissue regeneration, and skin, hair, and nail health.
GHK was first discovered in 1973 by the noted peptide researcher Dr. Loren Pickart. He found that aged liver cells, when inoculated with blood from young people, were able to begin regenerating [1].
Eventually, it was discovered that GHK was the cause of this spontaneous regeneration. This is also how researchers were able to discover that GHK declined during the aging process, since the aged cells were not able to begin regeneration until introduced to young blood cells.
Since this discovery, GHK-Cu has been widely used in topical anti-aging skincare products and hair regrowth formulations. It also shows strong potential in more therapeutic applications from pain reduction to nervous system function, although research is ongoing at this time.
Here is what researchers need to know about GHK-Cu.
GHK-Cu (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-copper) is a copper-binding human peptide found in cell plasma, saliva, and urine. It is also known as copper tri-peptide, and when not bound with copper it is referred to as GHK. Levels of GHK-Cu in the body naturally decline during aging [2].
GHK-Cu’s primary function is one of healing and antioxidative effects, and researchers attribute much of its beneficial effect to its ability to bind with copper ions. This allows it to play an important role in copper metabolism, and the essential mineral copper plays many key roles in human health [3].
However, GHK-Cu may also — unrelated to its copper-binding capacity — upregulate and downregulate a number of genes that play roles in skin repair, healing, and blood vessel and nerve growth [3].
GHK-Cu appears to have two main methods of action. It can upregulate and downregulate over 4,000 genes, and its copper binding properties also exert many positive effects [2].
Here are some of the potential and most promising benefits of GHK-Cu:
Tissue healing: GHK-Cu was first discovered after researchers found that blood from younger volunteers could promote regeneration of aged and injured liver cells, so the compound has clear potential in tissue healing, injury recovery, and cell regeneration [1].
Preliminary animal and test-tube studies have noted that GHK-Cu liposomes promoted the proliferation of healthy cells, and increased the rate of scald wound healing in mice [4].
Researchers also found that GHK-Cu injections could help mice recover more quickly from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery by promoting tissue remodeling and growth of the graft (where the new tissue meets the old tissue), which tends to be the “weakest link” in recovery from such operations [5].
Skin quality: In addition to wound healing properties that can act on the skin, GHK-Cu may provide numerous other benefits for the skin — which is why it is a popular ingredient in anti-aging creams and other skin care products.
The peptide promotes collagen synthesis and breakdown, so in essence it may help the skin “recycle” old cells to replace them with healthier new ones [2].
In cosmetics and topical applications, GHK-Cu may help promote tightening of loose skin, skin elasticity and firmness, wrinkle reduction, and photoprotection (mitigation of sun damage). It may also help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, or sun spots [2].
Antioxidant effects: Many of GHK-Cu’s positive effects likely come from its antioxidant capacity. As an antioxidant, GHK-Cu can neutralize free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to the cells.
At a cellular level, this promotes more productive and healthy mitochondria, helping the cell to function more optimally, reducing systemic inflammation, and promoting healthy cell turnover [6, 7, 8, 9, 10].
Hair growth: GHK-Cu may also promote the regrowth and restoration of hair follicles, contributing to hair regrowth and thickening. The peptide is an ingredient in some hair growth formulations.
One study investigating a complex of 5-aminolevulinic acid and GHK together found a dose-dependent response on hair count to this complex. The men taking the highest dose had the highest increases in hair count, while the men taking a placebo had the lowest increases in hair count [11].
This promising research shows that GHK-Cu may be effective for men experiencing male pattern baldness.
Anxiety: GHK may also offer anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing, benefits. In a rat study, researchers noted that GHK administration prior to a maze test resulted in a reduction in apparent anxiety in the mice.
Curiously, the strongest anxiolytic effect came from the smallest administered dose of 0.5 mcg/kg body weight, whereas larger doses had smaller effects on anxiety [12].
GHK-Cu is a naturally-occurring substance found in the body, and GHK-Cu treatment appears to be mostly safe. Dr. Loren Pickart, the researcher responsible for its original isolation, has stated that in his numerous studies on GHK, “no issues have ever arisen during its use as a skin cosmetic or in human wound healing studies [13].”
But that is not to say that GHK-Cu is completely without side effects. One noted side effect related to its anxiolytic effect is that it can reduce blood pressure levels. In high enough doses, this can be dangerous and potentially fatal [6].
However, researchers estimate that the lethal dose of GHK-Cu would be about 330 mg/kg of body weight, which is over 300 times larger than its known effective dose. Still, this data point is something to be aware of when designing research studies [6].
GHK-Cu has not been approved for any therapeutic use in humans by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor by any of its international regulatory counterparts. Accordingly, researchers should evaluate claims or statements regarding GHK-Cu’s safety with due caution.
Researchers should note that despite GHK-Cu’s favorable safety profile, the subcutaneous or intramuscular administration of peptides in general is associated with injection site pain, lightheadedness, nausea, and even flu-like symptoms in subjects.
Injectable GHK-Cu should always be administered with due caution and only by qualified researchers or laboratory professionals.
Where GHK-Cu is available as part of a cream or topical that may be purchased over-the-counter, it should be applied as directed.
For the most part, GHK-Cu appears to be safe. However, there are not yet any firm dosing recommendations in therapeutic contexts.
According to Dr. Pickart, a total treatment dosage of 100-200mg of GHK injected intramuscularly may provide health benefits to subjects [13]. However, researchers have also noted that a total treatment dose of 1.1 mg/kg body weight was able to produce similar positive effects [13].
For liposomal oral tablets, which contain a protective buffer of fatty acids that resist degradation and destruction, researchers recommend a starting dose of 10 mg, but this may be too small of a dose to see positive effects [14, 15].
The most common injectable dose for research purposes appears to be 1-2 mg per day over a thirty-day treatment course. This starting dose may be titrated up if needed, but it’s always prudent to stick with the lowest effective dose.
Skin creams and topical products containing GHK-Cu should be applied as needed.
Qualified researchers and laboratory professionals may purchase GHK-Cu online in either injectable or topical cream format for experimentation.
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While a quality supply of GHK-Cu is essential, researchers can’t neglect the importance of ancillary supplies for safe and effective peptide handling.
Lab tools like bacteriostatic water, sterile vials, and insulin syringes are non-negotiable for the proper reconstitution and storage of research peptides.
While getting a hold of all these essentials may be challenging for some researchers, requiring hours of web searches and multiple purchases from retailers of questionable quality, it is required.
Most research labs will require these materials when handling peptides:
If a researcher is not sure where to source said supplies and materials, checking with authorized vendors is recommended.
GHK-Cu is typically available as a powder that should be reconstituted using bacteriostatic or sterile water. Topical GHK-Cu usually comes in the form of a cream that should be applied directly to the skin.
Reconstituted GHK-Cu is administered subcutaneously. Topical GHK-Cu is applied directly to affected areas.
GHK-Cu should be reconstituted with bacteriostatic or sterile water. It is important to follow all safety precautions when reconstituting GHK-Cu, including wiping the tops of your vials with alcohol wipes and avoiding contact with the syringe used to pull the bacteriostatic or sterile water. To properly reconstitute the peptide solution, take care to drip the reconstituting liquid down the side of the peptide vial, letting the solution dissolve on its own.
GHK-Cu is an ingredient in many topical products, including anti-aging creams and hair growth products. These can be easily obtained online and are perfectly legal. However, isolated GHK-Cu is a research chemical that is only available to qualified researchers at this time. It is not intended for unsupervised self-administration and should be handled only by laboratory and research professionals. Regardless of how GHK-Cu is delivered, all researchers should be wary of any products or vendors who advertise that their GHK-Cu formula can treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
GHK-Cu has exhibited minimal side effects in the extensive published research to date and enjoys a favorable safety profile in the context of that research. With an estimated lethal dose of about 330 mg/kg of body weight, or over 300 times its known effective dose, the prudent administration of GHK-Cu is highly unlikely to endanger the health or well-being of research subjects.
First identified in the early 1970s by Dr. Loren Pickart, GHK-Cu has been extensively researched for its anti-inflammatory activity, role in nerve regeneration and wound healing, and even on its use as an anti-cancer agent. This is not to mention its cosmetic uses, including its anti-wrinkle activity, role in stimulating hair growth, and ability to alleviate acne scarring. There are decades of research supporting the use of GHK-Cu in contexts like wound healing, immune function, and skin health.
No, GHK-Cu is not an anabolic-androgenic steroid.
No, GHK-Cu does not work to increase testosterone in subjects.
No, GHK-Cu is not known to build muscle nor to have any effect on increasing muscle mass.
No, GHK-Cu has not been linked to weight gain in subjects.
GHK-Cu is a copper binding tripeptide. It was first isolated in 1973 when researchers noted its powerful cell regenerating capacity in experiments with liver cells. It gains its effectiveness from both its ability to bind with copper and its ability to up and down-regulate a minimum of 4,000 different genes.
It has been proven to offer tissue healing, anti-anxiety, and antioxidant effects, and offers skin and hair benefits as well. GHK-Cu is now used in several topical anti-aging creams and hair loss solutions.
Researchers typically start with a daily dose of 1-2 mg of GHK-Cu, administered subcutaneously, for an experiment duration of 30 days. GHK-Cu appears to be safe, although extremely high doses may drop blood pressure to dangerously low levels.
GHK-Cu is available in topical products, but in its isolated form it is only legal to possess for research purposes. In the latter form, it is not produced for human ingestion or unsupervised self-administration.
For researchers looking to purchase GHK-Cu, we recommend our top-rated vendor here.
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