Carl read the papersWhat it actually is
SS-31 (elamipretide) is a peptide that concentrates in mitochondria and binds cardiolipin, a lipid critical to the inner membrane where energy is made.
By stabilising that membrane, it aims to protect mitochondria from damage, reduce oxidative stress and keep ATP production efficient — especially in tissues that are energy-hungry or aging.
How it’s thought to work
- Cardiolipin binding — stabilises the inner mitochondrial membrane.
- Reduces oxidative stress — limits damaging reactive oxygen species.
- Protects ATP output — helps mitochondria keep producing energy efficiently.
- Cellular resilience — studied in heart, muscle and eye conditions.
What the research says
Has reached human clinical trials (notably for mitochondrial and heart conditions) — more clinical development than most peptides here, with mixed but active results.
- Mitochondrial protection and ATP efficiency.
- Heart, muscle and age-related conditions (trials).
- Oxidative-stress and longevity research.
Reported protocols
These are the doses the peptide community actually reports running (Reddit & forums), alongside published research — logged for education, not as a recommendation to use.
| Parameter | Commonly reported range |
|---|---|
| Community dose | ~5 mg/day (range 5–10, occ. 20) — NOTE the clinical dose is 40 mg/day |
| Frequency | Daily, or a few × / week |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Cycle | Short 4-week blocks / intermittent |
| Community tip | Real first-hand dosing logs are sparse — treat these as low-confidence estimates |
Common use cases
| Goal | Community protocol notes |
|---|---|
| Mitochondrial protection | ~5 mg/day subQ, short blocks |
| Before a MOTS-c cycle | commonly run 4–6 wks prior |
| (Reality) | community dosing is low-confidence |
Mixing it (reconstitution)
Freeze-dried peptides must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before they can be measured. Carl’s calculator turns “mg in the vial + ml of water + target dose” into “units on the syringe” — and tells you how long the vial lasts.
→ Open the Reconstitution Calculator
Injection & handling
SubQ, community ~5 mg/day (the clinical dose is far higher at 40 mg). Daily or a few×/week, in short 4-week blocks. Real first-hand dosing logs are sparse. Refrigerate reconstituted.
Stacks it appears in
- Mitochondrial Tune-Up — SS-31 protects the engine while NAD+ fuels it and MOTS-c tunes performance.
