Side-by-side · Research reference

SS-31vsVilon

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

APhase 3HUMAN-REVIEWED9/43 cited

BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED13/49 cited

SS-31

Cardiolipin-binding · Mitochondrial protective

40 mgDaily doseSzeto 2014

Phase 3Evidence levelSzilagyi 2009 Szeto 2014

~3 hrHalf-life

SQ · Abdomen · Once daily

Vilon

Khavinson Bioregulator · Dipeptide

2 AADipeptide

T-helperStimulatesLinkova 2011

MouseModel basisKhavinson 2002

Literature lacks standardised clinical route

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

SS-31

Vilon

Primary target

Cardiolipin in inner mitochondrial membraneSzeto 2014

Immune cell differentiation pathways, chromatin modification

Pathway

Cardiolipin binding → cristae stabilisation → ETC integrity → reduced ROS + preserved ATP synthesisSzeto 2014 Szilagyi 2009

Vilon → Thymocyte sphingomyelinase activation → T-helper & cytotoxic T-cell differentiation; epigenetic suppression of aging markers (CCL11, HMGB1)

Downstream effect

Mitochondrial bioenergetic preservation; cardio-, neuro-, and reno-protective effects in animal + clinical studiesSzeto 2014

Enhanced T-cell differentiation (CD4+, CD8+, B-cells), thymocyte proliferation, modulated IL-1β comitogenic activity, proposed chromatin decondensation in aged lymphocytesLinkova 2011 Khavinson 2002 Lezhava 2023

Feedback intact?

—

Unknown — no HPA/HPG axis data

Origin

Synthetic tetrapeptide D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH₂; cell-permeable, mitochondrial-selectiveSzeto 2014

Synthetic dipeptide derived from Khavinson thymic peptide extraction studies (Thymalin fraction)Morozov 1997

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

SS-31

Vilon

Standard dose

40 mg / day SQ (clinical trials)Szeto 2014

Anecdotal community range 5-10 mg/day. Phase 3 trials use 40 mg.

No clinical standard — literature lacks human dosing

Russian practice: often combined with other Khavinson peptides; no FDA/EMA trials.

Frequency

Once daily

Unknown — literature does not specify chronic administration protocols

Lower / starter dose

5 mg / day (anecdotal)

—

Evidence basis

Multiple Phase 3 trials (Barth, AMD, ischemia-reperfusion)Szeto 2014 Szilagyi 2009

Mouse / in vitro only

Duration

Indefinite for mitochondrial disease; cycled for healthspan use

Not characterised in humans

Reconstitution

Bacteriostatic water

—

Timing

Morning fasted preferred; pre-workout for exercise-induced mitochondrial stress

—

Half-life

~3 h plasma; tissue uptake longer

Not published — dipeptides typically <10 min plasma t½

Animal model dose

—

In vitro: 0.01–10 μg/mL culture medium (mouse thymocytes)

Not translatable to human mg/kg without pharmacokinetic data.

Route

—

Likely SQ or oral (Khavinson school uses both); no published ROA validation

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

SS-31

Vilon

Injection site reaction

Erythema, mild pruritus

—

GI symptoms

Nausea (uncommon)

—

Headache

Reported in some Phase 3 trials

—

Cardiovascular

Cardio-protective in studies; no signal of harm

—

Long-term safety

Phase 3 data over 24+ months; no major safety signalsSzeto 2014

—

Pregnancy / OB

Avoid — insufficient data

—

Human safety data

—

Absent from PubMed-indexed literature

Theoretical risk

—

Immune hyperactivation in autoimmune-prone individuals (T-cell differentiation enhancement)

Antibody formation

—

Not reported; dipeptides generally low immunogenicity

Animal models

—

No adverse effects noted in mouse thymocyte or pineal lymphoid cultures

Absolute Contraindications

SS-31

·Pregnancy / breastfeeding
·Hypersensitivity to peptide

Vilon

·Active autoimmune disease (theoretical — no clinical data)

Relative Contraindications

SS-31

·None established

Vilon

·Pregnancy / lactation (no safety data)
·Acute infection with cytokine storm risk (immune modulation unknown)

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

SS-31

Vilon

1. Reconstitution

Add bacteriostatic water per label. Light-protected handling.

No clinical protocols exist in Western peer-reviewed literature. Russian gerontological practice may use 1–10 mg ranges, but dosing is empirical.

2. Injection site

SQ — abdomen or thigh. Rotate sites.

Subcutaneous injection (common for Khavinson peptides) or oral (some bioregulators reportedly active orally due to small size). No validated ROA.

3. Timing

Morning fasted; pre-workout for exercise-augmented mitochondrial stress.

Unknown — no circadian or meal-timing data. Khavinson school often recommends morning administration.

4. Storage

Lyophilised: refrigerate, light-protected. Reconstituted: refrigerate ≤30 days.

Likely lyophilised powder, refrigerated. Reconstitution protocols not published.

5. Needle

29–31G, 4–8 mm insulin syringe.

—

06Stack Synergy

SS-31

+ MOTS-c

Moderate

View MOTS-c →

SS-31 and MOTS-c address mitochondrial decline through complementary axes. SS-31 protects existing mitochondrial structure (cardiolipin binding, cristae stabilisation). MOTS-c upregulates AMPK/PGC-1α, triggering biogenesis of new mitochondria. Together they pair preservation with renewal — anecdotally favoured in healthspan and post-cardio-event recovery protocols.

SS-31: 5–10 mg SQ · daily morning
MOTS-c: 5 mg SQ · 2× per week pre-workout
Primary benefit: Mitochondrial preservation + biogenesis

Vilon

+ Epitalon

Moderate

View Epitalon →

Both are Khavinson bioregulators targeting aging pathways. Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) acts on telomerase and pineal function; Vilon on immune differentiation and chromatin decondensation. Combined in Russian gerontological protocols for multi-system aging intervention. Lezhava et al. (2023) tested both on aged lymphocyte chromatin, showing distinct epigenetic effects. Complementary, not synergistic in strict pharmacological sense.

Vilon: Empirical — no standard
Epitalon: Empirical — often 10 mg cycles
Frequency: Sequential or concurrent (literature ambiguous)
Primary benefit: Multi-system aging modulation (immune + pineal/circadian)

+ Thymalin

Weak

View Thymalin →

Thymalin is the parent polypeptide complex from which Vilon was isolated. Both target immune differentiation, but Thymalin is a complex mixture (multiple peptides), whereas Vilon is a purified dipeptide. Morozov & Khavinson (1997) described Vilon as a synthetic successor designed to replicate Thymalin's immunomodulatory effects with greater specificity. Redundant in practice; no published combination studies.

Vilon: No standard
Thymalin: 10–100 mg IM (polypeptide complex)
Primary benefit: Redundant — both target T-cell differentiation

Morozov 1997 Khavinson 2020