We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we’ll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg / EDR tripeptide, 'Khavinson' short peptide)
A synthetic three-amino-acid 'Khavinson' peptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) with only thin, low-quality evidence — almost entirely in-vitro and animal work from a single Russian research group, plus a handful of small, unblinded human 'biological age' reports. Pinealon is marketed as a neuroprotective, anti-aging 'cytogen' bioregulator. Its preclinical literature describes effects on neuron survival, learning, serotonin-related gene expression, and caspase-3 under hypoxic stress — but these come overwhelmingly from one institute, are mostly non-clinical, and have not been independently replicated or tested in rigorous blinded human trials. It is not an approved drug or a regulated dietary ingredient, and the material sold online is an unregulated grey-market peptide. This entry exists to inform, not to recommend.
Research peptide — not a dietary supplement
Pinealon is a research compound, not a regulated dietary supplement. It is typically administered by injection and sold “for research use only.” The evidence below is largely preclinical (animal and in-vitro) or early-stage, so no evidence score is assigned. This page is provided for transparency and education — it is not a recommendation to use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider, and be aware that purity, dosing, and legal status vary by jurisdiction.
What the evidence says
Most Pinealon studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality studies published 2012–2024.
Based on 7 studies
Confidence
Low confidenceBy outcome
Scores very low because evidence is almost entirely in-vitro and animal work from one Russian group, with only small open-label human reports and no blinded, placebo-controlled efficacy trial.
Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide, Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), belonging to the family of short 'Khavinson peptides' or 'cytogens' developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and named for pineal-gland bioregulation. It is sold as a neuroprotective, geroprotective anti-aging peptide.
The honest summary of its evidence: it is thin, low-quality, and narrow in origin.
The bulk of the literature is in-vitro and rodent work from essentially one research group (Khavinson and colleagues), proposing that EDR enters cells, interacts with DNA/histones, and epigenetically nudges the expression of genes tied to neuronal survival, antioxidant enzymes (SOD2, GPX1), apoptosis (caspase-3, p53), and serotonin synthesis.
In cell and animal models the peptide has been reported to support dendritic arborisation in aged induced neurons, reduce oxidative DNA damage, increase neurogenesis in aged rats under hypoxia, and modulate neuroinflammatory cytokines and caspase-3 after hypoxic stress.
There are also small human reports — but these are the weakest part of the file: open, unblinded 'biological-age' studies (often combining Pinealon with another peptide, Vesugen, or other geroprotective methods) in modest numbers of older or occupationally-exposed people, claiming improvements in biological-age indices and adaptive capacity, using oral capsules around 100 mcg.
None is a rigorous randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind efficacy trial; some even flag prooxidant activity and inhibition of haematopoietic markers as findings that 'should be studied in future.' Here is the load-bearing caveat: the evidence base is dominated by a single group, is overwhelmingly preclinical, has not been independently replicated, and contains no high-quality blinded human efficacy data.
Pinealon is not approved by any major regulator as a drug, it is not a lawful dietary-supplement ingredient in most jurisdictions, and the powder/capsule/injectable material sold online is an unregulated grey-market peptide with no guarantee of identity, purity, or sterility.
Long-term safety in humans is essentially unstudied. The evidence here is therefore scored very low: an intriguing but narrow and largely unreplicated preclinical story with only weak human reports, sandboxed out of all goal- and stack-based recommendations.
EDR (Glu-Asp-Arg) is proposed to enter cells, bind DNA/histones, and modulate expression of genes involved in neuronal survival, antioxidant enzymes (SOD2, GPX1) and apoptosis (caspase-3, p53), and to alter the MAPK/ERK pathway. Proposed in in-vitro and review work from one group — not confirmed in humans.
In aging brain-cortex cell cultures, EDR has been reported to stimulate serotonin expression via regulation of the tryptophan-hydroxylase gene, proposed as part of its neuro- and geroprotective activity. Cell-culture finding only.
In aged rats exposed to acute hypoxia, Pinealon has been associated with increased neurogenesis, reduced neuroinflammatory reactions, and modulation of caspase-3. Rodent findings from a single research line, not independently replicated in humans.
How Pinealon works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Avoid — the evidence is thin, low-quality, from a single group, and unreplicated; there is no approved use and no quality-controlled product.
Avoid — interactions with a peptide proposed to alter neuronal gene expression are unstudied and unpredictable.
Avoid entirely — completely unstudied.
Pinealon is proposed to act on neuronal gene expression and is often stacked with other Khavinson peptides. Combining it with CNS-active drugs or other peptides has never been studied in controlled humans; interactions are unpredictable.
There are no human drug-interaction data of any quality. Proposed epigenetic and neurochemical effects mean interactions cannot be predicted.
Tip: No rigorous controlled human study exists — the side-effect profile in people is genuinely uncharacterised. This is itself the warning.
Tip: A human report noted prooxidant chemiluminescence and reduced CD34+ haematopoietic markers; the authors said these effects need further study, so they cannot be dismissed.
Tip: Grey-market material has no identity/purity/sterility guarantees; injectable forms add infection and contamination risk.
The current evidence for Pinealon is insufficient to assign an evidence score, based on 7 indexed studies. A synthetic three-amino-acid 'Khavinson' peptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) with only thin, low-quality evidence — almost entirely in-vitro and animal work from a single Russian research group, plus a handful of small, unblinded human 'biological age' reports. Pinealon is marketed as a neuroprotective, anti-aging 'cytogen' bioregulator. Its preclinical literature describes effects on neuron survival, learning, serotonin-related gene expression, and caspase-3 under hypoxic stress — but these come overwhelmingly from one institute, are mostly non-clinical, and have not been independently replicated or tested in rigorous blinded human trials. It is not an approved drug or a regulated dietary ingredient, and the material sold online is an unregulated grey-market peptide. This entry exists to inform, not to recommend. Representative study: PMID 33396470.
The commonly studied dose of Pinealon is No legitimate or recommended dose — Pinealon is an unapproved grey-market research peptide with no validated, quality-controlled human dosing. We do NOT provide a dosing protocol. The only published human use is small uncontrolled studies using oral capsules around 100 mcg (e.g. 100 mcg twice daily for ~2 weeks), which does not constitute a validated regimen.. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
Timing is flexible for Pinealon — consistent daily use matters more than the time of day. There is no validated human dosing schedule from rigorous trials.
Pinealon should be used with caution — talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. The most commonly reported side effects are unknown human side-effect profile, prooxidant activity / suppression of haematopoietic markers (reported), harm from an unregulated, impure or non-sterile product. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Not an approved medicine and not a regulated dietary supplement — unapproved grey-market research peptide; do not self-source; No rigorous human safety data exists — the human evidence is small, open and uncontrolled; Pregnancy and breastfeeding (entirely unstudied).
CoQ10
Likely helpsA lipid-soluble antioxidant central to mitochondrial energy production, with the strongest trial support for fertility/IVF outcomes and heart failure.
Curcumin
Likely helpsTurmeric's active compound that modulates NF-kB inflammatory pathways — supports mood, joint health, and post-exercise recovery.
Taurine
Likely helpsConcentrated in heart, brain, and muscle — best-supported for cardiovascular and metabolic health, with modest endurance benefits and emerging (mostly animal) longevity data.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Likely helpsUniversal antioxidant that works in both water and fat, supporting blood sugar control, nerve health, and cellular energy.
Explore: Best supplements for Focus, Memory & MoodBest supplements for Vitality & Longevity
Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 7 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
Tap node to isolate • Pinch to zoom • Tap edge for research