Humanin: research, side effects and dosage in studies
In short
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA [3]. Data on treatment effects come only from cells and animals [2], in humans only the body's own humanin has been measured [26]E, not peer-reviewed, and it has no marketing authorisation [22]regulator.
- Humanin was discovered in 2001, when it protected nerve cells from cell death caused by Alzheimer's disease genes [1]D.
- In mice and rats humanin and its modified analogues improved insulin sensitivity [4]C, reduced heart attack size [5]C and improved memory in old mice [8]C.
- In humans only levels have been measured: for example, endurance exercise raised blood humanin [13]A. No registered study has given humanin to people [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
- Results of level studies are partly contradictory [4, 14]B, and the role of humanin in cancer is disputed [18].
What is humanin?
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide whose code lies in the mitochondria's own DNA, in the MT-RNR2 gene [3] [12]A. Mitochondria are the energy producers of cells, and they have a small genome of their own.
A Japanese research group discovered humanin in 2001 while looking for factors that protect nerve cells. In cell culture humanin prevented nerve cell death caused by several familial Alzheimer's disease genes and by amyloid beta [1]D.
Humanin belongs to the mitochondrial-derived peptides, as does MOTS-c [19]. Studies often use modified analogues such as HNG, in which one amino acid has been replaced [16]C. The analogues are not the same substance as humanin.
Basics: What are peptides?. All substances: Peptides A-Z.
Evidence at a glance
Each cell gives the kind of study and its source. The letter is the evidence level, not the result.
| Claimed effect | Humans | Animals | Cells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar | Only level measurements, results contradictory [11, 14]B | In rats humanin given into the brain and analogues given into a vein improved insulin sensitivity [4]C | - |
| Heart and blood vessels | Lower levels in coronary endothelial dysfunction [10]B | An analogue reduced heart attack size in mice [5]C and slowed plaque growth in mice [6]C | Improved heart muscle cell survival [5]D |
| Memory and nerve cells | A gene variant linked to lower humanin was linked to faster cognitive ageing [8]B | Improved memory in old mice [8]C | Protected nerve cells from death caused by Alzheimer genes and amyloid beta [1]D |
| Ageing and lifespan | Higher levels in children of centenarians than in controls [9]B | Extended lifespan in worms; an analogue improved metabolism in middle-aged mice [9]C | - |
| Exercise and the body's own humanin | Endurance exercise raised blood humanin [13]A; resistance training raised muscle humanin [12]A | - | - |
| Cancer | - | An analogue prevented a cancer drug's harm to bone growth in mice without weakening treatment [16]C; silencing the body's own humanin slowed pituitary tumour growth in mice [17]C | - |
| Safety | No administration studies [26]E, not peer-reviewed | - | - |
"-" = no such study is known.
What is humanin studied for?
Humanin is studied for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart and vascular disease and ageing, but as a treatment only in cells and animals [2]. No use is approved [22]regulator.
- Nerve cells and memory: cell studies [1]D and mouse studies [8]C.
- Insulin sensitivity: rat studies [4]C.
- Heart and blood vessels: mouse studies [5, 6]C.
- Ageing: worm and mouse studies [9]C.
- Humanin as a marker: in humans the body's own humanin is measured in diseases and with exercise [10, 14, 15]B [12, 13]A.
How does humanin work?
Humanin is a signalling peptide that regulates cellular stress responses and protects cells [7]C. In cell culture the cells secreted humanin into their surroundings, and the protective effect depended on the peptide's amino acid sequence [1]D.
In rats humanin given into the brain improved whole-body insulin sensitivity, and the effect ran through the STAT-3 signalling pathway in the hypothalamus [4]C. In the mouse heart an analogue activated the AMPK enzyme and the enzyme that makes nitric oxide [5]C.
Humanin and the growth factor IGF-1 regulate each other: in mice injecting an analogue lowered IGF-1 and its binding protein IGFBP-3 [21]C, and growth hormone or IGF-1 lowered humanin in mice and humans [7]B.
Has humanin been studied in humans?
Not as a treatment. Humanin has not been given to people in published studies, and all seven humanin studies on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry only measure levels [26]E, not peer-reviewed. In humans the body's own humanin has been studied.
Level studies in humans
- Coronary arteries (2013). Of 40 patients undergoing coronary angiography, those whose coronary artery lining worked poorly had less humanin in their blood than those in whom it worked normally [10]B.
- Resistance training (2016). 55 men with impaired glucose regulation were randomly assigned to resistance training, Nordic walking or a control group for 12 weeks. Resistance training raised muscle humanin by 35%, but blood humanin did not change in any group [12]A.
- Endurance and resistance exercise (2021). In a randomised study of 30 people, a single endurance session raised blood humanin, a resistance session did not. At rest humanin was higher the older the person was, and it was not linked to fitness [13]A.
- Alzheimer's disease and diabetes (2021). In healthy people humanin was higher the older the person was. In Alzheimer patients it was lower, in people with type 2 diabetes it was not [14]B.
- Longevity (2018 and 2020). Children of centenarians had more humanin than controls of the same age [9]B. A gene variant linked to lower humanin was linked to faster cognitive ageing in a large population sample [8]B.
According to a systematic review, exercise seems to raise mitochondrial-derived peptides, but there are few studies and they differ from each other [20]. A level measurement does not tell what giving humanin would do.
Promising, but only in animal and cell studies
These findings look good, but they have not been tested in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed. Results from animal studies and cell studies cannot be transferred directly to humans, and many studies used an analogue of humanin rather than humanin itself.
-
Heart and blood vessels no human studies
In mice the analogue HNG reduced the size of a heart attack and improved the heart's pumping a week later [5]C. In mice prone to arterial disease and fed cholesterol, another analogue prevented dysfunction of the vessel lining and reduced arterial plaque during 16 weeks of treatment [6]C.
If it held in humans: humanin could protect the heart during a heart attack and slow hardening of the arteries.
Why it might not translate: the studies used modified analogues in mice [5, 6]C. In humans it has only been seen that there is less humanin in coronary artery dysfunction, which says nothing about cause [10]B. In dialysis patients both low and high humanin were linked to higher risk [15]B.
Evidence now: two mouse studies [5, 6]C. No treatment study in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
-
Insulin sensitivity no human studies
In rats humanin given into the brain improved insulin sensitivity, and analogues given into a vein did the same. A single analogue dose lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats [4]C.
If it held in humans: humanin could help in treating type 2 diabetes.
Why it might not translate: the results are from rats, and humanin was given directly into the brain [4]C. In humans the link between levels and glucose metabolism is unclear: in people with type 2 diabetes humanin was not lower [14]B.
Evidence now: rat study [4]C. No treatment study in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
-
Memory and ageing no human studies
Giving humanin improved memory in old mice [8]C. In worms, genetically adding humanin extended lifespan, and in middle-aged mice an analogue improved metabolic measures and reduced inflammatory markers [9]C.
If it held in humans: humanin could slow the age-related decline of memory and metabolism.
Why it might not translate: the findings come from worms and mice [8, 9]C. In humans there are only links to levels and gene variants [8, 9]B, and they do not show cause. Among the authors of both studies are shareholders of the company CohBar [8, 9]C.
Evidence now: two studies from the same group [8, 9]C. No treatment study in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
-
Harms of cancer treatment no human studies
In mice carrying a human neuroblastoma or medulloblastoma tumour, the analogue HNG prevented the slowing of bone growth caused by the cancer drug bortezomib, and it did not weaken the drug's effect on the tumour [16]C.
If it held in humans: humanin could protect children's growth during cancer treatment.
Why it might not translate: in another mouse study silencing the body's own humanin slowed the growth of a pituitary tumour, so humanin may also protect cancer cells [17]C. According to a review, the role of humanin in cancer progression and treatment resistance must be clarified before therapeutic use [18].
Evidence now: one mouse study [16]C. No treatment study in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
Who studies humanin?
Humanin was discovered by a Keio University group in Tokyo [1]D. Many of the animal and level studies on this page are from the United States: from researchers at the University of Southern California [7, 8, 9]C and at the Mayo Clinic [6]C [10]B. The exercise studies were done in Sweden [12, 13]A, and level studies have also been done in Italy and Greece [14, 15]B.
According to the conflict of interest statements of two longevity studies, some of the authors own shares in the company CohBar [8, 9]C.
Who wrote this page: the editorial team
This page was written by the Molecular Recovery editorial team. The draft was made with the help of AI, and the claims have been checked against the sources (AI policy). The page has not been medically reviewed. How we work: About us.
How long does humanin stay in the body?
In humans this is not known. In mice and rats the half-life of humanin analogues varied with the analogue and the species, and it was longer in rats than in mice [21]C. In rats humanin was highest in the blood and present in the liver, but not found in the brain or the heart [21]C.
What are the side effects of humanin?
Not known: humanin has not been given to people in registered studies [26]E, not peer-reviewed, so there are no human data on harms. More: Side effects and safety.
Possible risks
- Cancer. In pituitary tumour cells the body's own humanin protected the cells from death, and silencing it slowed tumour growth in mice [17]C. According to a review, the role of humanin in cancer progression is disputed [18].
- IGF-1. In mice injecting an analogue lowered IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 [21]C. What this would mean for a person is not known.
- Online products. According to Fimea, the harms and long-term effects of injectable peptides bought online may not be known, and impurities such as endotoxins can cause serious harm [25]regulator.
Interactions and who has no data
Because humanin has not been given to people [26]E, not peer-reviewed, there is no information on interactions with other medicines. In humans growth hormone and IGF-1 lowered the body's own humanin [7]B. There is no information for pregnancy or breastfeeding, children or people with long-term illnesses.
Evidence against and what is unknown
Not all results point the same way, and from humans there are only observational studies of the body's own levels [14, 15]B.
Evidence against
- Does humanin fall with age? According to a 2009 study, blood humanin fell with age in humans and mice [4]B. In two other studies, humanin in healthy people was higher the older the person was [14]B [13]A.
- More is not always better. In dialysis patients both very low and high humanin were linked to a higher risk of death or a cardiac event [15]B.
- Cancer. Humanin may also protect cancer cells [17]C, and a review considers its role in cancer disputed [18].
- Diabetes. In people with type 2 diabetes humanin was not lower than in healthy people [14]B. The abstract of one level study says humanin fell in impaired fasting glucose, but the means it reports are higher in that group than in controls [11]B.
- Exercise. 12 weeks of training did not change blood humanin [12]A, and humanin was not linked to fitness [13]A.
In PubMed three mouse and cell studies of humanin analogues (S14G-humanin and colivelin) have been retracted. This page does not cite them.
What the evidence does not support
- "Humanin extends human life": lifespan was extended in worms [9]C, in humans there are only links to levels [9]B.
- "Humanin improves insulin sensitivity in people": the results are from rats [4]C.
- "There are human studies of humanin": only level measurements, no administration studies [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
- "The substance in animal studies is the same as the humanin on sale": many studies used modified analogues [5, 6, 16]C.
Humanin dosage in studies
Humanin has no approved dosage and no dose studied in humans [26]E, not peer-reviewed. The table shows doses of humanin analogues from mouse studies. They are not recommendations.
| Study | Who | Dose and route | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzumdar 2010, animal dose | mice, heart attack model | analogue HNG into the abdominal cavity; largest effect at 2 mg/kg | single dose [5]C |
| Oh 2011, animal dose | mice prone to arterial disease | analogue into the abdominal cavity daily (dose not in the abstract) | 16 weeks [6]C |
| Eriksson 2014, animal dose | mice carrying a human cancer tumour | analogue HNG 1 µg per mouse twice a week | 2 weeks [16]C |
What the numbers do not tell you. These are mouse doses of analogues, not human doses of humanin. Animal doses cannot be converted to human doses by body weight. No doses have been studied in humans, so there is no dosage page. Doses of other substances: Dosage.
Humanin vs MOTS-c: what is the difference?
Humanin and MOTS-c are both peptides encoded by mitochondrial DNA, and they are studied for the same topics: ageing, inflammation and metabolism [19].
In the same human study, endurance exercise raised blood humanin, while the rise in MOTS-c was only a trend. At rest the levels of the two peptides were linked [13]A.
The difference in sport: the WADA Prohibited List names MOTS-c in class S4.4, but it does not mention humanin [24]regulator. Neither has been given to people in published studies [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
Is humanin legal in Finland?
Humanin has no marketing authorisation as a medicine in the EU [22]regulator, and it is not named in the Finnish medicines list [23]regulator. Fimea warns against injectable peptides bought online [25]regulator.
- Marketing authorisation. The EMA data set of centrally authorised medicines (14 Oct 2026) has no product containing humanin [22]regulator.
- Medicines list. Fimea's medicines list (230/2025) does not name humanin, also not in annex 1 A [23]regulator.
- Fimea warning 29 Jun 2026. According to Fimea, a "for research use only" label means that the product is not intended for humans. Fimea advises buying medicines only from legal pharmacies [25]regulator.
- Import. Ordering medicines from outside the EU is covered on Peptides and the law in Finland. Bringing them back from travel: Travelling with peptides.
This is not legal advice. Disclaimer.
Is humanin doping?
Not known for certain. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List does not name humanin. Class S0 prohibits at all times pharmacological substances that no other class covers and that have no approval by any regulatory authority for human therapeutic use [24]regulator. Humanin has no marketing authorisation in the EU [22]regulator. The related substance MOTS-c is named in class S4.4 [24]regulator. Athletes should check with the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK).
How to assess a humanin product
There is no certainty about what a humanin product contains. According to Fimea, the harms of products sold as research chemicals may not be known, and impurities can end up in injectable products during manufacture [25]regulator. We found no published analysis of products sold as humanin.
Humanin and its analogues are different substances [16]C, so it is worth checking which one a product claims to contain. A seller's own certificate of analysis (COA) does not by itself show that a product is pure, sterile or free of endotoxins. More: How to read a COA and check a test result. Handling: Mixing and handling.
FAQ
What is humanin?
A 24-amino-acid peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA [3], discovered in 2001 as a factor that protects nerve cells [1]D.
Has humanin been studied in humans?
Not as a treatment. In humans only the body's own humanin has been measured, for example with exercise [12, 13]A. None of the registered studies gives humanin [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
What are the side effects of humanin?
Not known, because it has not been given to people [26]E, not peer-reviewed. In a mouse study the body's own humanin also protected tumour cells [17]C.
What is the difference between humanin and MOTS-c?
Both are mitochondrial-derived peptides [19]. Endurance exercise raised blood humanin more clearly than MOTS-c [13]A. MOTS-c is named on the WADA Prohibited List, humanin is not [24]regulator. See MOTS-c.
Have combinations of humanin with MOTS-c or other substances been studied?
Not known. Combinations have not been studied in humans or in the animal studies known to us.
What happens when you stop humanin?
Not known. Because humanin has not been given to people [26]E, not peer-reviewed, the effects of stopping have not been studied.
Are human studies of humanin coming in the future?
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry has no study in which humanin is given to people (15 Oct 2026) [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
Is humanin doping?
Not known for certain. The list does not name it, but class S0 prohibits substances with no regulatory approval for human therapeutic use [24]regulator.
Humanin experiences: what do studies say?
User accounts of humanin have not been compiled on this site: too few public accounts were found for a summary. Individual accounts are not research results, and humanin has not been given to people in studies [26]E, not peer-reviewed.
Read the research yourself: sources
Every source opens the original publication or the regulator's page. The level shows what the source itself reports.
- Hashimoto Y, Niikura T, Tajima H, et al. A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(11):6336-6341. PMID 11371646 D
- Gong Z, Tas E, Muzumdar R. Humanin and age-related diseases: a new link? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2014;5:210. PMID 25538685 (review)
- UniProt. Q8IVG9 (HUNIN_HUMAN), Humanin: 24 amino acids, gene MT-RNR2. Database record, read 15 Oct 2026. UniProt
- Muzumdar RH, Huffman DM, Atzmon G, et al. Humanin: a novel central regulator of peripheral insulin action. PLoS One. 2009;4(7):e6334. PMID 19623253 C
- Muzumdar RH, Huffman DM, Calvert JW, et al. Acute humanin therapy attenuates myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010;30(10):1940-1948. PMID 20651283 C
- Oh YK, Bachar AR, Zacharias DG, et al. Humanin preserves endothelial function and prevents atherosclerotic plaque progression in hypercholesterolemic ApoE deficient mice. Atherosclerosis. 2011;219(1):65-73. PMID 21763658 C
- Lee C, Wan J, Miyazaki B, et al. IGF-I regulates the age-dependent signaling peptide humanin. Aging Cell. 2014;13(5):958-961. PMID 25040290 C
- Yen K, Wan J, Mehta HH, et al. Humanin Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Mice and is Associated with Improved Cognitive Age in Humans. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):14212. PMID 30242290 C
- Yen K, Mehta HH, Kim SJ, et al. The mitochondrial derived peptide humanin is a regulator of lifespan and healthspan. Aging (Albany NY). 2020;12(12):11185-11199. PMID 32575074 C
- Widmer RJ, Flammer AJ, Herrmann J, et al. Circulating humanin levels are associated with preserved coronary endothelial function. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013;304(3):H393-H397. PMID 23220334 B
- Voigt A, Jelinek HF. Humanin: a mitochondrial signaling peptide as a biomarker for impaired fasting glucose-related oxidative stress. Physiol Rep. 2016;4(9):e12796. PMID 27173674 B
- Gidlund EK, von Walden F, Venojärvi M, et al. Humanin skeletal muscle protein levels increase after resistance training in men with impaired glucose metabolism. Physiol Rep. 2016;4(23):e13063. PMID 27923980 A
- von Walden F, Fernandez-Gonzalo R, Norrbom J, et al. Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans. J Appl Physiol. 2021;131(3):1035-1042. PMID 34351816 A
- Conte M, Sabbatinelli J, Chiariello A, et al. Disease-specific plasma levels of mitokines FGF21, GDF15, and Humanin in type II diabetes and Alzheimer's disease in comparison with healthy aging. Geroscience. 2021;43(2):985-1001. PMID 33131010 B
- Bolignano D, Greco M, Presta P, et al. Unbalanced circulating Humanin levels and cardiovascular risk in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot, prospective study. J Nephrol. 2024;37(7):1863-1870. PMID 39102184 B
- Eriksson E, Wickström M, Perup LS, et al. Protective role of humanin on bortezomib-induced bone growth impairment in anticancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014;106(3):djt459. PMID 24586107 C
- Gottardo MF, Pidre ML, Zuccato C, et al. Baculovirus-based gene silencing of Humanin for the treatment of pituitary tumors. Apoptosis. 2018;23(2):143-151. PMID 29352443 C
- Zuccato CF, Asad AS, Nicola Candia AJ, et al. Mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin as therapeutic target in cancer and degenerative diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2019;23(2):117-126. PMID 30582721 (review)
- Kim SJ, Miller B, Kumagai H, et al. Mitochondrial-derived peptides in aging and age-related diseases. Geroscience. 2021;43(3):1113-1121. PMID 32910336 (review)
- Ayubi N, Wibawa JC, Kurnaz M, et al. Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) activated by physical exercise as therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders: A systematic review. Physiol Int. 2026. PMID 42640735 (review)
- Chin YP, Keni J, Wan J, et al. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of humanin and its analogues in male rodents. Endocrinology. 2013;154(10):3739-3744. PMID 23836030 C
- European Medicines Agency. Medicine data (centrally authorised medicines, data set generated 14 Oct 2026): no product with humanin as active substance. EMA regulator
- Finland. Lääkeluettelo (Fimea medicines list), 230/2025, annexes 1 and 1 A: humanin not named. Finlex regulator
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, class S0 Non-approved substances and class S4.4 Metabolic modulators (in effect from 1 Jan 2026). WADA regulator
- Fimea. Fimea warns: do not use injectable peptides purchased online (29 Jun 2026). Fimea regulator
- ClinicalTrials.gov. Search "humanin" (15 Oct 2026): 7 registered studies, all measuring humanin levels; none gives humanin to participants. ClinicalTrials.gov E, not peer-reviewed
Sources read on 15 Oct 2026: PubMed abstracts, UniProt, ClinicalTrials.gov, the EMA medicine data, Fimea's medicines list and the WADA Prohibited List. The Fimea warning was read from a copy saved on 15 Sep 2026.
Evidence levels: A = randomised human trial or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed · regulator = a regulator's assessment or decision, not research evidence. The marker official means official product information (summary of product characteristics or label); it is not research evidence. For a review, the level shows what kind of research the statement rests on. No level: statements that something has not been studied, reviews' interpretations, named hypotheses and the general rules in our certificate-of-analysis guide.
Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.