SS 31 peptide dosage varies by setting: human trials used 40 mg daily subcutaneously, while animal studies used 1–5 mg/kg. Here's what the research shows.
There is no single standard SS-31 peptide dosage. The most frequently used human dose in published clinical trials was 40 mg given subcutaneously once daily, while preclinical animal studies typically used 1–5 mg/kg per day. SS-31 (elamipretide) is a research peptide, so any number you see online should be traceable to a specific study protocol or a licensed clinician's order.
What SS-31 Peptide Does in the Body
The most direct answer to what does ss 31 peptide do is that it docks onto cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane and stabilizes the proteins of the electron transport chain. That action helps mitochondria hold their structure under oxidative stress.
Researchers study SS-31 in heart failure, acute kidney injury, retinal degeneration, and Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that damages mitochondria. The peptide is also known as elamipretide, MTP-131, and Bendavia.
SS-31 is supplied as a lyophilized powder labeled for laboratory research only. It is not a dietary supplement, and it is not sold as a finished pharmaceutical product for general use.
SS-31 Peptide Dosage in Human Clinical Trials
Human data comes from sponsor-run trials rather than independent self-experimentation. The ss-31 peptide injection dosage was 40 mg subcutaneously once daily in the longest chronic studies, and substantially lower when delivered as an intravenous infusion.
| Program | Population | Dose | Route | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barth syndrome trials | Adults and adolescents with Barth syndrome | 40 mg once daily | Subcutaneous | 12 weeks plus extension |
| Primary mitochondrial myopathy | Adults with mitochondrial disease | 40 mg once daily | Subcutaneous | 24 weeks |
| Dry age-related macular degeneration | Older adults with dry AMD | 40 mg once daily | Subcutaneous | 24 weeks |
| Cardiac ischemia programs | Heart attack and heart failure patients | 0.05 mg/kg/hr | IV infusion | 1–4 hours |
Two patterns stand out. First, 40 mg subcutaneously once daily is the most repeated human dose, and it is fixed rather than weight-based. Second, infusion protocols are dosed in milligrams per kilogram per hour, so total exposure depends on how long the drip runs.
Doses from 0.05 to 0.25 mg/kg/hr have appeared in cardiac and Barth syndrome programs. Those figures describe supervised infusions and cannot be converted into a syringe measurement by casual arithmetic.
SS-31 Peptide Dosing in Animal and Cell Research
Preclinical ss-31 peptide dosing is weight-based, and the numbers differ sharply from human trials.
| Model | Typical dose | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mice | 1–5 mg/kg | Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal | Once daily |
| Rats | 1–3 mg/kg | Subcutaneous or IV | Once daily |
| Cell culture | 1 nM to 10 µM | Culture media | Continuous exposure |
A 3 mg/kg subcutaneous dose in mice is one of the most cited regimens and is often described as cardioprotective or renoprotective in rodent models. Cell-culture work uses nanomolar to low-micromolar concentrations instead.
Animal doses do not convert into human doses through simple multiplication. Differences in body surface area, clearance, and route explain why human trials settled on a flat 40 mg rather than a milligram-per-kilogram figure.
SS-31 Reconstitution and Dosage Math
Most people searching ss-31 reconstitution and dosage are trying to turn a lyophilized vial into a measurable concentration. The calculation only needs two numbers: the amount of peptide in the vial and the volume of solvent you add.
| Vial size | Bacteriostatic water added | Concentration | Volume containing 1 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 0.20 mL |
| 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 0.10 mL |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 0.20 mL |
| 50 mg | 5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 0.10 mL |
Add bacteriostatic water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently instead of shaking, and wait until the powder is fully dissolved before drawing up. Shaking creates foam and can damage the peptide.
Store reconstituted SS-31 refrigerated, protect it from light, and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Lyophilized powder should stay cold, dry, and sealed until use.
If a calculation does not look right, stop and have someone qualified verify it. A misplaced decimal in peptide reconstitution is a genuine safety problem, not a rounding error.
Evaluating SS-31 Suppliers and Product Quality
If you plan to purchase SS-31 for laboratory work, documentation matters more than the price per vial. Check these items before ordering:
- A third-party certificate of analysis (COA) whose lot number matches the vial in your hand.
- HPLC purity of at least 98%, plus mass spectrometry confirmation of the expected molecular weight.
- "For research use only" labeling with no human-use claims or dosing advice.
- Cold-chain shipping and a stated storage temperature range.
Pages that advertise ss 31 peptide for sale online alongside dosing schedules, before-and-after photos, or treatment claims are a warning sign. Reputable research suppliers do not market peptides as medicine.
Purity testing also matters because research-grade material is not produced under pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. Sterility and endotoxin content are usually not guaranteed.
Safety and Regulatory Status
In clinical trials, elamipretide was generally reported as well tolerated. The most common complaints were injection-site reactions, headache, and dizziness among monitored participants receiving pharmaceutical-grade product.
That safety record does not transfer to research-grade powder bought online. Impurities, incorrect concentration, and non-sterile handling are all realistic risks.
Regulatory status also shifts over time. Elamipretide has been under FDA review for rare mitochondrial disease, so verify its current approval status directly with the FDA instead of trusting a vendor page.
Anyone considering SS-31 for a personal health reason should talk with a licensed healthcare professional first. Self-dosing a research peptide is not a substitute for diagnosed and prescribed care.
Key Takeaways on SS-31 Dosage
- SS-31 is a mitochondria-targeted research peptide, not an FDA-approved drug for general human use.
- The most common human dose in published trials was 40 mg subcutaneously once daily.
- Rodent studies typically used 1–5 mg/kg per day, and those doses do not translate directly to humans.
- Intravenous protocols ranged from 0.05 to 0.25 mg/kg/hr in supervised trial settings.
- Reconstitution math depends entirely on vial size and solvent volume, not on a universal formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical SS-31 peptide dosage?
In published human clinical trials, the most common regimen was 40 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. Preclinical animal studies typically used 1–5 mg/kg per day, most often around 3 mg/kg in mice. There is no universal or FDA-approved dosing schedule for self-administration of SS-31.
How do you reconstitute SS-31 peptide?
Reconstitute lyophilized SS-31 with bacteriostatic water added slowly down the inside wall of the vial, then swirl gently until the powder fully dissolves. A 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of water yields 5 mg/mL, so 1 mg equals 0.20 mL. Store the reconstituted solution refrigerated and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Is SS-31 peptide FDA approved?
SS-31 (elamipretide) has been studied in FDA-regulated clinical trials for rare mitochondrial conditions, and its approval status has changed over time, so verify it directly with the FDA. Products sold to consumers online are labeled for research use only and are not manufactured to pharmaceutical standards. Selling or buying research peptides for human consumption is not permitted.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.