Side by side
GHK-Cu vs NAD+
Both are discussed for anti-aging & longevity. What this site records about each, side by side. Every figure is on the compound's own page with the source it came from.
| GHK-Cu | NAD+ | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide with a long history in topical skincare research. Injected use is not what the research studied. | A coenzyme present in every cell, given by injection or infusion in the hope of raising cellular levels. Not a peptide, and poorly absorbed by the routes people use. |
| EvidenceHow much human evidence exists, not how well it works. | Preclinical | Early human trials |
| Regulatory statusReviewed 2026-08-12 | Permitted as a topical cosmetic ingredient in the United States and widely sold as such. Not approved as an injectable medicine, and injectable material is a research chemical with no manufacturing standard behind it. | Not approved as a medicine for any indication in the United States. Oral precursors are sold as dietary supplements; injectable NAD+ is compounded or sold as a research chemical and has no approval behind it. |
| Routes | Subcutaneous, Topical | Subcutaneous |
| Half-life | 1 hours | 0.5 hours |
| Cheapest per mgVials only, read from vendors' own listings and dated on the price index. | $0.28/mg | $0.04/mg |
| Median per mg | $0.60/mg | $0.12/mg |
| Vendors with a price | 63 | 65 |
| Storage once mixed | Refrigerated at 2–8 °C. The solution is characteristically blue; that colour is expected and is not a fault. | Refrigerated at 2–8 °C. Do not freeze once mixed. |
Compare two other compounds · The full price index
This page is educational. It describes what published research reports, not what you should do. Peptides discussed here are largely not approved for human use, and nothing on BioAlmanac is medical advice. Nothing here ranks these two against each other. A table can show that one has more human evidence behind it or costs less per milligram; neither of those is a recommendation, and the right comparison for any person is one their doctor makes with them.