Research Reference
SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Mitochondrial cardiolipin stabilizer — longevity and energy (trial-backed)
Research & educational purposes only. BioMaxFit does not sell, promote, or represent peptides in any way. We are strictly educational and recommend working with your doctor on anything health-related. The information below comes from published research and documents what has been studied, not what should be done. Many of these compounds are investigational and not approved by the FDA; possession or use outside an authorized clinical trial may be illegal in your jurisdiction. This is not medical advice.
SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that stabilizes cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, restoring electron transport chain efficiency and ATP production. It is one of the few mitochondrial peptides with human clinical trial data.
SS-31 is not FDA-approved. Everything below reflects published clinical trial and community protocols.
Community standard protocol: 500 mcg subcutaneous daily (5 days on, 2 days off) for 8 weeks, then 8 weeks off. Clinical trials used dramatically higher doses (4–40 mg/day) for specific cardiac conditions.
Dosing Reference
Reconstitution
Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to the 10 mg vial. Resulting concentration: 5 mg/mL.
| Dose | Syringe Units | mL Volume | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 mcg | 10 units | 0.1 mL | Daily SubQ (5-on/2-off)Community standard |
| 1 mg | 20 units | 0.2 mL | Daily SubQAdvanced |
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before use. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Reconstitution
For a 10 mg vial with 2 mL bacteriostatic water, the concentration is 5 mg/mL. A 500 mcg dose draws to 10 units (0.1 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Swirl gently — do not shake. Refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 28 days.
Cycling Protocol
Community protocols describe 500 mcg daily for 5 consecutive days, then 2 days off, continuing this pattern for 8 weeks, then 8 weeks off before repeating.
SS-31's rapid mitochondrial uptake (>1,000-fold concentration within minutes) means no loading phase is necessary. The 5-on/2-off pattern within the 8-week cycle prevents potential desensitization, and the 8-week off period allows assessment of sustained effects.
Morning injection is most common — may support daytime energy levels. Some users dose 30–60 minutes pre-workout.
Routes of Administration
Subcutaneous injection is the standard community route. Protocols describe injecting into abdomen, thigh, or anywhere with SC fat. Volume is 0.1 mL with insulin syringe (29–31 gauge).
Stacking Protocols
| Stack | Purpose | Protocol | | --- | --- | --- | | SS-31 + MOTS-c | Dual mitochondrial — structure + signaling | SS-31 500 mcg + MOTS-c 1 mg, both 5-on/2-off | | SS-31 + NAD+ | Mitochondrial optimization + fuel | SS-31 500 mcg 5-on/2-off + NAD+ 100 mg 2–3x/week | | SS-31 + Epitalon | Mitochondria + telomere maintenance | Two key aging pathways covered |
SS-31 stabilizes mitochondrial structure; MOTS-c activates metabolic signaling. Different mechanisms, complementary effects.
Side Effects & Safety
- Excellent safety profile — 40 mg daily was well-tolerated for 12+ weeks in TAZPOWER
- No dose-limiting toxicity up to 0.25 mg/kg IV in Phase I
- Occasional mild injection site irritation at community doses
- Rare initial energy fluctuations — first few days only
- No significant adverse events in any clinical trial
- Community sources describe 500 mcg daily as generally well-tolerated, consistent with the absence of adverse events reported in clinical trials at significantly higher doses
Research Basis
Community doses are dramatically different from clinical trial doses — for good reason.
TAZPOWER Trial (Barth Syndrome, Thompson et al., 2021, PMID 33077895): 40 mg SC daily for 12 weeks in patients with genetic cardiolipin deficiency causing heart failure.
PROGRESS-HF Trial: 4 mg SC daily for 4 weeks in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.
Phase I Safety (Szeto, 2014, PMID 24117165): IV doses up to 250 mcg/kg (~17.5 mg for a 70 kg adult) showed no dose-limiting toxicity.
Why community doses are much lower: Clinical trials targeted severe genetic/cardiac conditions requiring aggressive intervention. Community protocols use 500 mcg for general longevity/mitochondrial support. SS-31 binds cardiolipin with high affinity — there's a finite amount to stabilize. Lower daily dose with cycling provides sustained benefits with wide safety margin.
Preclinical speed: SS-31 improves mitochondrial ADP sensitivity within 1 hour in aged human muscle (Siegel et al., 2023, PMID 37462785) — one of the fastest-acting peptides documented.