Side-by-side · Research reference

DihexavsHGH Fragment 176-191

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED7/28 cited

BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED28/59 cited

Dihexa

Angiotensin IV Analogue · Pre-Clinical

Pre-clinicalDevelopment stage

Rodent onlyEvidence basisBenoist 2014

HGF/c-MetTarget systemWright 2015

Not established — animal studies only

HGH Fragment 176-191

GH Fragment · Pre-Clinical

50%Weight gain reductionNg 2000

~26 minHalf-life (est.)

No IGF-1 ↑GH axis impact

SQ · IP (animal) · Oral (tested)

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

Dihexa

HGH Fragment 176-191

Primary target

c-Met receptor (HGF receptor tyrosine kinase)

Beta-3 adrenergic receptors on adipocytesHeffernan 2001

Pathway

HGF/c-Met receptor activation → downstream signaling cascade → synaptogenesis and dendritic arborization

Fragment → β3-AR upregulation → Enhanced lipolytic sensitivityHeffernan 2001

Downstream effect

Induction of dendritic arborization, synapse formation, neurogenesis, and neuroprotection in rodent models

Increased lipolysis and beta-3 AR mRNA expression without IGF-1 axis activation

Feedback intact?

—

N/A — does not interact with GH/IGF-1 axis

Origin

Small-molecule angiotensin IV analogue designed to activate HGF/c-Met systemWright 2015

Synthetic peptide derived from hGH residues 176-191; AOD9604 includes N-terminal tyrosine (177-191)Cox 2015

Antibody development

—

Not reported in available studies

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

Dihexa

HGH Fragment 176-191

Human dosing

Not established — no human trials

—

Animal studies

Mouse/rat models only — dosing not translatable to humans

—

Evidence basis

Pre-clinical / Rodent models

Animal studies only

Clinical status

No Phase 1, 2, or 3 trials published

—

Animal dose (oral)

—

500 mcg/kg body weightNg 2000

Obese Zucker rats, 19 days.

Animal dose (IP)

—

Not specified (14-day chronic administration)Heffernan 2001

Obese mice, daily IP injection.

Human equivalent dose

—

Not established — no published human RCTs

Frequency

—

Once daily (animal models)

Duration tested

—

14–19 daysHeffernan 2001 Ng 2000

Detection window

—

50 pg/mL LOD in urine; stable metabolite extends detectionCox 2015

WADA-banned; anti-doping testing available.

Oral bioavailability

—

Demonstrated efficacy in animal oral administrationNg 2000

Potential for oral therapeutic development.

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter

Dihexa

HGH Fragment 176-191

Primary fat target

—

Adipose tissue (general) — beta-3 AR mediated lipolysisHeffernan 2001

Weight gain reduction

—

50% reduction vs control (15.8 ± 0.6 g vs 35.6 ± 0.8 g)Ng 2000

Obese Zucker rats, 19 days oral administration.

Body fat reduction

—

Significant decrease in body weight and body fat in obese mice (14 days)Heffernan 2001

Lipolytic activity

—

Increased adipose tissue lipolytic activityNg 2000

Direct measurement in treated animals.

Beta-3 AR expression

—

Upregulated β3-AR mRNA in obese mice to lean-comparable levelsHeffernan 2001

Insulin sensitivity

—

No adverse effect — euglycemic clamp confirmedNg 2000

Contrasts with intact hGH diabetogenic effects.

IGF-1 impact

—

No elevation — fragment does not activate GH/IGF-1 axis

Beta-3 AR dependency

—

Effect abolished in β3-AR knockout miceHeffernan 2001

Confirms β3-AR as primary mechanism.

Route of administration

—

Efficacy demonstrated via oral and IP routesNg 2000 Heffernan 2001

Human evidence

—

None published — pre-clinical only

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

Dihexa

HGH Fragment 176-191

Human safety data

None available — no human clinical trials

Not available — no published human trials

Theoretical c-Met risks

c-Met receptor activation has been implicated in tumorigenesis; unknown cancer risk profile

—

Pre-clinical tolerability

Not systematically reported in available studies

—

Insulin sensitivity

—

No adverse effects observed in euglycemic clamp (animal)Ng 2000

GH/IGF-1 axis

—

No activation — avoids diabetogenic effects of full GHNg 2000

WADA status

—

Banned as performance-enhancing drugCox 2015

Metabolic profile

—

Six metabolites identified; CRSVEGSCG most stableCox 2015

Detection window implications for doping control.

Absolute Contraindications

Dihexa

·Not approved for human use — research compound only

HGH Fragment 176-191

·Competitive athletes (WADA-banned)Cox 2015

Relative Contraindications

Dihexa

·Theoretical contraindication: active or history of malignancy (c-Met pathway involvement in cancer)

HGH Fragment 176-191

·Absence of human safety data — experimental use only

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

Dihexa

HGH Fragment 176-191

1. Human administration

No established protocol. Dihexa has not been tested in human subjects. Animal studies used various routes (typically subcutaneous or intraperitoneal in rodents) not translatable to clinical use.

Subcutaneous injection primary route in research context. Oral administration demonstrated efficacy in animal models at 500 mcg/kg.

2. Legal status

Pre-clinical research compound. Not approved by FDA or any regulatory authority for human use.

Once daily dosing used in animal studies. Timing not specified; GH-independent mechanism suggests flexibility.

3. Duration

—

Animal protocols: 14–19 days. Human duration not established — no published trials.

4. Storage

—

Lyophilized peptide storage per standard peptide protocols. Metabolite stability suggests refrigerated reconstituted solution viable.

5. Detection

—

Detectable in urine via SPE-LC-MS at 50 pg/mL LOD. Extended detection window via stable metabolite CRSVEGSCG.Cox 2015