SS-31 (Elamipretide)

Mitochondrial-targeted tetrapeptide that selectively binds cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Stabilizes cristae structure, restores electron transport chain efficiency, and reduces reactive oxygen species generation at Complex I and III. Reverses age-related mitochondrial dysfunction without acting as a scavenger antioxidant.

Half-life

4 hours

Bioavailability

Systemic via subcutaneous injection

Route

subcutaneous, intravenous

Evidence tier

T2 — Single-RCT or mechanistic

Optimization pillars

cellular-health

References

2 peer-reviewed

Dose ranges

Three tiers ordered by aggressiveness. Tier chips on every OPTIMIZE intervention let you filter the catalog by your evidence tolerance.

conservative

5–10 mg/day

Mitochondrial support

moderate

20–40 mg/day

Clinical trial range

aggressive

40 mg/day

Barth syndrome clinical dose

Monitoring

hs-crp
creatinine
egfr
cystatin-c

Contraindications

severe-renal-impairment

References

PMID:28137708Elamipretide (SS-31) improves mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic and memory impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice — J Neuroinflammation, 2017
PMID:31219351Elamipretide in Barth syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial — Genet Med, 2020

Notes

SS-31 does not scavenge free radicals. It stabilizes the membrane where free radicals are produced. This is a fundamentally different approach to mitochondrial health. Most antioxidant supplements mop up damage downstream. Elamipretide prevents the damage at the source by restoring cardiolipin integrity. The Barth syndrome trial data is the strongest clinical evidence. The longevity application is extrapolation from mechanism, not from completed aging RCTs.

This is not medical advice

Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.

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