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's one of the few mitochondrial peptides with human clinical trial data.
Research-context information only. SS-31 is a research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
SS-31 is not FDA-approved. Everything below reflects published clinical trial and community protocols. This is not medical advice.
Quick Reference: Standard Protocol
Protocol parameters documented in clinical trials and community sources:
Parameter Documented value Vial 10 mg BAC Water 2 mL Concentration 5 mg/mL Dose (community) 500 mcg (10 units, standard 5 mg/mL reconstitution) Route Subcutaneous (all community protocols) Timing Morning (most community sources) Frequency 5 days on, 2 days off (community protocol) Cycle 8 weeks on, 8 weeks off (community protocol) Storage 2–8 °C, within 28 days (community protocol)
For the full SS-31 profile and vendor pricing, see our SS-31 peptide page.
Cycling Details
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 5on/2off 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).
Intravenous is used only in clinical trials — provides rapid peak plasma levels but shorter tissue exposure than SC. Not practical for self-administration.
Reconstitution Quick Reference
Vial Size BAC Water Concentration 500 mcg Dose 10 mg 2 mL 5 mg/mL 10 units
Math: 10 mg / 2 mL = 5 mg/mL = 5,000 mcg/mL. For 500 mcg: 500 / 5,000 = 0.1 mL = 10 units.
Swirl gently — do not shake. Refrigerate at 2-8 C, use within 28 days. For step-by-step instructions, see the full SS-31 Reconstitution Guide.
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Where These Numbers Come From
Community doses are dramatically different from clinical trial doses — for good reason.
TAZPOWER Trial (Barth Syndrome): 40 mg SC daily for 12 weeks in patients with genetic cardiolipin deficiency causing heart failure (Thompson et al., 2021).
PROGRESS-HF Trial: 4 mg SC daily for 4 weeks in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.
Phase I Safety: IV doses up to 250 mcg/kg (~17.5 mg for a 70 kg adult) showed no dose-limiting toxicity (Szeto, 2014).
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) — one of the fastest-acting peptides documented.
Stacking Protocols
Community-documented stacking protocols (self-reported sources):
Stack Purpose Protocol SS-31 + MOTS-c Dual mitochondrial — structure + signaling SS-31 500 mcg + MOTS-c 1 mg, both 5on/2off SS-31 + NAD+ Mitochondrial optimization + fuel SS-31 500 mcg 5on/2off + 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. For the full comparison, see our SS-31 vs MOTS-c.
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
mg to Units Conversion
On a standard 100-unit insulin syringe, each "unit" equals 0.01 mL (so 100 units = 1 mL). Once SS-31 is reconstituted, the conversion from a target dose to syringe units depends on the chosen dilution.
The two reconstitution ratios most often described in community protocols are below.
Reconstitution A: 10 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water (5 mg/mL) — the standard dilution from the Quick Reference above.
Dose (mcg) Volume (mL) Units (insulin syringe) 250 mcg 0.05 mL 5 units 500 mcg 0.1 mL 10 units 750 mcg 0.15 mL 15 units 1000 mcg 0.2 mL 20 units
Reconstitution B: 10 mg vial + 3 mL BAC water (3.33 mg/mL) — more BAC water for larger, easier-to-measure draws.
Dose (mcg) Volume (mL) Units (insulin syringe) 250 mcg 0.075 mL 7.5 units 500 mcg 0.15 mL 15 units 750 mcg 0.225 mL 22.5 units 1000 mcg 0.3 mL 30 units
These conversions reflect the dilutions documented in community reconstitution protocols. They report how the math is described, not a recommended dosing schedule.
Core Supplies for This Protocol
The three essentials for running any reconstituted injectable: cold storage, accurate syringes, and metabolic tracking.
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SS-31 Side Effects: Elamipretide Trial Data — adverse event profile from clinical trials and community reports SS-31 Benefits — 7 evidence-ranked effects with cited studies Where to Buy SS-31 — pricing, vial sizes, and COA verification SS-31 Results Timeline — Week-by-week what to expect, day 1 to month 6 SS-31 (Elamipretide) Research Guide — Mechanism, cardiolipin binding, and clinical data SS-31 vs MOTS-c — Two mitochondrial peptides, different mechanisms SS-31 Reconstitution Guide — Step-by-step mixing and dilution charts SS-31 Bloodwork Guide — What labs to track and optimal ranges MOTS-c Dosing Guide — Endogenous mitochondrial peptide NAD+ Dosing Guide — NAD+ protocols for mitochondrial energy Best Peptides for Energy and Fatigue — Full comparison of mitochondrial peptides for energy and fatigue Peptide Stacking Guide — How to combine peptides effectively Calculate Your SS-31 Cycle Cost — estimate vials needed and total cost for your protocol
References
Citation Topic PMID Zhao et al., J Biol Chem (2004) SS-31 discovery, mitochondrial targeting 15178689 Birk et al., J Am Soc Nephrol (2013) Cardiolipin binding mechanism 23813215 Szeto, Br J Pharmacol (2014) Comprehensive SS-31 review, Phase I data 24117165 Siegel et al., Aging Cell (2013) Rapid mitochondrial improvement in aged mice 23692570 Siegel et al., GeroScience (2023) ADP sensitivity in aging human muscle 37462785 Thompson et al., Genet Med (2021) TAZPOWER trial (Barth syndrome) 33077895 Campbell et al., Free Radic Biol Med (2019) Age-related redox stress reversal 30597195
For educational and research purposes only. This is not medical advice. SS-31 is not FDA-approved for any indication.