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Humanin vs MOTS-c

Updated 9 sources

Key differences

  1. 1Both come from mitochondrial DNA: humanin from the 16S rRNA gene (MT-RNR2), MOTS-c from the 12S rRNA gene.
  2. 2Humanin works mainly against cell death and through IGF-1 signalling; MOTS-c works through AMPK and acts like an exercise signal.
  3. 3For fat loss or insulin sensitivity, one guide says the evidence weight sits with MOTS-c.

Side by side

Facts from each record, in the same words as their own pages.
Humanin and MOTS-c side by side
HumaninMOTS-c
Category
  • Longevity, Cognitive
  • Longevity, Weight loss
Evidence
  • Animal data only
  • Animal data only
FDA status
  • Not FDA approvedRegulatory
  • Not FDA approvedRegulatory
WADA
  • Not confirmed
  • Prohibited
Half-life
  • About 30 minutes, stated in a 2020 mouse paper's discussion, which does not say whether it means native humanin or HNGClinical study
  • HNG lasts longer in rats than in mice, and longer when it cannot bind IGFBP-3; no human dataClinical study
  • About 3 hours, labelled an estimate with no source givenCompetitor guide
  • Never measured in people. FDA found no in-vivo study, only a lab study showing fast breakdown in human blood. Figures of 1 to 6 hours on other sites are unsourced estimates.Clinical study
Routes
  • Subcutaneous injection
  • Subcutaneous injection
Forms
  • Vial (powder)
  • Vial (powder)
Reported doses
  • 0.5 to 5 mg (subcutaneous injection)
  • 25 to 500 mcg (subcutaneous injection)
  • 0.8 to 10 mg (subcutaneous injection)
  • 200 to 1,000 mcg (subcutaneous injection)
Most cited frequency
  • Once daily
  • 2 to 3 times a week
Vial sizes
  • 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mgCompetitor guide
  • 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mgCompetitor guide
Mixed vial keeps
  • Fridge, 2 to 8 C.Competitor guide
  • Fridge, 2 to 8 C, never frozen.Competitor guide
Protocols on file
  • 10
  • 16

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Read each in full

Sources

9 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 24, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.

Competitor guide3

  1. Humanin peptide: what the 2026 research actually showspeptidedeck.com · checked Oct 24, 2026
  2. Humanin peptide: benefits, dosing, safetypeptidesexplorer.com · checked Oct 24, 2026
  3. Humaninpeptiq.io · checked Oct 24, 2026