Humanin Dosage
Humanin is an endogenous peptide factor, better known as a mitochondrial derivative. It can consist of 21 or 24 amino acids, depending on whether it is synthesized in the mitochondria or the cytosol. This amino acid sequence shows many beneficial effects applied to diseases from various fields, including cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes mellitus, and reproductive health conditions. Calming effects on various forms of anxiety and antineoplastic effects are just some of the potentially positive sides of this peptide. However, in addition to all of the above, the function that stands out the most is the cytoprotective property that has been most demonstrated on nervous tissue, so it is assumed that Humanin could save neuronal cells from death in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Dosage Chart
Timeline |
During Brain Ischemia |
Beginning of Reperfusion |
Treatment of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury protocol |
0.013mg/kg (2 or 3 injections subcutaneously total up to 0.04mg/kg) |
0.04mg/kg (one subcutaneous injection) |
About the Peptide
Humanin is a peptide known as a mitochondrial derivative, and this origin gives it an excellent basis for many further potential beneficial effects on the body. Its greatest advantage lies in its cytoprotective function. Therefore, the peptide may be able to protect cells from oxidative stress, which is most often caused by disrupting the defense systems against free oxygen radicals. This function has been further studied in nervous tissue and has achieved special results there.
Nervous tissue is still mainly unexplored, but it is assumed that this peptide, due to its neuroprotective effect, can save neuronal cells from various injuries caused by degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Another very important function is the potentially positive effect of Humanin on treating Diabetes Mellitus. Insulin resistance almost always precedes this disease, before patients develop type 2 of this disease. In this condition, insulin receptors are insensitive to this hormone, which further means that glucose does not enter the cells, and they are left without energy.
As a consequence of this, patients are always hungry despite the amount of food. It is believed that the mechanism of this condition may potentially be related to the Humanin levels, and numerous studies have shown that with the help of peptide therapy, the condition could be normalized.
Another scientific assumption was related to the connection between peptide levels and ischemic injury to various organs. When an organ does not receive enough blood for various reasons, this term is called ischemia. Cells suffer great oxidative stress and are exposed to high levels of free oxygen radicals, so the result of this condition could be a lack of nutrients and death.This occurs in myocardial infarction or stroke. In addition to the main therapeutic measure (surgery), studies have shown that Humanin therapy could potentially reduce cell death by apoptosis and improve their response to oxidative stress, thus increasing the chance of survival.
In addition to all of the above, the peptide also shows possible beneficial effects in treating macular degeneration and cardiovascular diseases, while scientists suggest that it may regulate reproductive health. The calming effect it has on anxious patients and its antineoplastic properties are some of the very useful functions that will be studied in the future.
List of Uses for This Peptide
The Effect of Humanin on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disease whose main symptom is memory loss (it is a very common cause of dementia). Neurons suffer great neurotoxicity caused by various types of injuries, so their number is significantly reduced.
It has been believed that the action of mitochondria has a great influence on the treatment of these diseases and the improvement of the condition of neurons. Since Humanin is a mitochondrial derivative, scientists assumed that it can potentially increase the activity of these organelles and exert a neuroprotective function, which may be able to save neurons from apoptosis. Another disease where peptide has shown similar effects is Parkin's disease, a neurodegenerative disease with the main motor symptoms in the form of rigidity, instability, and various types of tremors. In cases of intracerebral hemorrhage, experimental studies have once again confirmed that therapy with this amino acid sequence could lead to the recovery of microglia (macrophages of brain tissue), which, after therapy, showed better activity against erythrocytes. When Humanin is injected exogenously, it could improve cognitive functions, and restore metabolic pathways.
Humanin's Connection to Reproductive Health and Insulin Resistance
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition in women, especially during adolescence and puberty. Insulin resistance almost always occurs during this syndrome, and it is one of the three main symptoms (the other two are the appearance of pimples and irregular menstruation). In this case, a large number of micro cysts appear on the ovaries, which can sometimes disrupt the release of a mature egg into the fallopian tube and thus prevent fertilization, which sometimes even leads to infertility.
Insulin resistance is a condition before type 2 diabetes, so it is crucial to act in time before this metabolic disorder develops. In such cases, the receptors on the cells are not sensitive to insulin and since it is responsible for introducing glucose into the cells, it remains free in the blood vessels. Thus, the cells remain without energy and patients feel hungry, so they gain weight. Assumptions appeared that this disease could be linked to the levels of Humanin in the body.
Based on studies, it was determined that receptors for this peptide are present on several types of cells in ovaries, as well as in the follicular fluid. After the therapy, there was a significant drop in glucose levels and, therefore, insulin. An important result of the study is the fact that after the treatment the sensitivity of the receptors for this hormone increased, so the patients were no longer hungry and did not gain weight uncontrollably. Therefore, therapy with Humanin may be able to significantly improve the state of insulin resistance and, therefore, polycystic ovary syndrome.
The Impact of Humanin on Ischemia and Hypoxia
When an organ, due to a blockage of an artery or some type of bleeding, does not receive enough blood, the cells of that organ do not receive enough oxygen and glucose. This condition is called ischemia, and during it, cells are damaged by hypoxia and exposed to the uncontrolled effects of oxygen-free radicals, which is why they die in large numbers over time. Such conditions include myocardial infarction or stroke.
The first option is most often an intervention where, depending on the cause, an attempt is made to repair the damage. If it is bleeding, the doctor tries to find the source and stop it, while if the cause of ischemia is a blockage of an artery, the doctor attempts to free the blood path to the organ. However, even when the situation is resolved, and reperfusion (re-flow of blood to this organ) is established, it is also a big shock to the body. This is because while waiting for surgery, cells adapt to conditions without oxygen and switch to a different mode of action in anaerobic conditions, so reperfusion is a state of shock for the body. However, according to various studies, Humanin levels are associated with the rate of neuronal survival in such conditions. This peptide could potentially improve the static response to oxidative stress and prevent neuronal death by apoptosis. In addition, it also increases the amount of energy in the form of ATP molecules and metabolic activity. The aforementioned potential properties have been studied mostly on ganglion cells.
Dosage Calculator
Since Humanin has many indications, the dosage in which it is applied also depends on this. Unfortunately, there is still no protocol that is always followed, but the indication in the form of ischemic and reperfusion injury to the heart muscle is quite constant. During the ischemia itself, when the patient consults a doctor, Humanin is dosed with a total of 0.04mg/kg (in the form of 2 or 3 subcutaneous injections of 0.013mg/kg). Later, when the flow is re-established, the administration is most often carried out as a single subcutaneous injection of 0.04mg/kg. The dosage above must never be exceeded because serious side effects can occur. This therapy must be strictly controlled by a doctor and prescribed exclusively according to the indications.
Conclusion
As a mitochondrial derivative, Humanin is a peptide with many potentially beneficial effects. Some of the crucial ones are the possible contribution to the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2 within the framework of polycystic ovary syndrome, a positive effect on the survival of neurons during neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the survival of cells in reduced oxygen conditions during ischemia. If used in the mentioned dose according to the indications, this peptide could be a useful part of the therapy. Humanin will surely be part of wide-ranging research in the future.