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5 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Most Melanotan-1 studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 1988–2015 with a typical study size of 77 participants.
Based on 5 studies · 1 RCT · 77 total participants
Confidence
LowBy outcome
Newest study from 2015
The trial results were significant, although the effects were not very large in absolute terms, and the risk-safety profile is favorable today.
Minder EI, Schneider-Yin X. · Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol (2015)
Melanotan (NDP-MSH) bound the MC1 receptor and significantly increased the eumelanin content of human skin, including in individuals with MC1R variants.
Fitzgerald, Fryer, Dwyer, Humphrey · Peptides (2006)
Melanotropic peptides are more than just 'Barbie drugs' and 'sun-tan jabs'.
Langan, Nie, Rhodes · The British journal of dermatology (2010)
An α-MSH analogue provided systemic photoprotection in solar urticaria.
Haylett, Nie, Brownrigg, Taylor, Rhodes · The British journal of dermatology (2011)
Toxicologic studies characterized the superpotent α-melanotropin [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH in mice.
Dorr, Dawson, al-Obeidi, Hadley, Levine, Hruby · Investigational new drugs (1988)