Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GHK-Cu
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid or 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid, is a sulfur-containing eight-carbon fatty acid derivative synthesized endogenously in mitochondria by lipoic acid synthase (LIAS).…
No vendor price on file.
Full Alpha-Lipoic Acid profileGHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a molecule Pickart and Thaler first pulled out of human plasma in 1973. The free peptide (GHK, C14H24N6O4) weighs about 340.4 Da; bind it 1:1…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 7 listings
Full GHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Foundational | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved/marketed as a topical cosmetic ingredient (Copper tripeptide-1) with supporting small human studies. Injectable use is preclinical/off-label, research-use-only, with no human clinical trials. |
| Mechanism of Action | Alpha-lipoic acid has two distinct biological identities. The endogenous pool — synthesized by mitochondrial lipoic acid synthase (LIAS) and covalently attached to specific lysine residues on dehydrogenase complex subunits — is catalytically essential and not… | GHK-Cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. It binds Cu(II) with high affinity (log K around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper for copper-dependent enzymes like SOD1, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, and… |
| Half-Life | — | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | — | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | — | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | Alpha-lipoic acid is generally well-tolerated at standard doses (300-600 mg/day), but the side-effect profile is not completely benign and deserves attention particularly for long-term high-dose use and for users with specific comorbidities. GASTROINTESTINAL.… | Topical GHK-Cu is generally well tolerated; higher-concentration formulations (4-5%) raise the odds of irritation, redness, or stinging. Injectable use has no safety data from controlled trials; the main theoretical concern is copper accumulation with repeated… |
| Molecular Weight | — | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Price History
4 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- BHG Labs
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: potential benefits
- No structured benefit list published.
GHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts at low nanomolar-to-picomolar concentrations (PMID: 3169264)
- Increases glycosaminoglycans (dermatan/chondroitin sulfate) and upregulates decorin in wound models (PMID: 11121126)
- Modulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, partially correcting the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in a smoke-induced emphysema model (PMID: 35936787)
- Drives tissue remodeling and chemoattracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to injury sites (PMID: 18644225)
- Modulates expression of ~4,000+ human genes via the Broad Institute Connectivity Map, including DNA-repair and antioxidant genes (PMID: 25302294)
- Increases stemness and proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and keratinocytes (PMID: 23019153)
- Acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory copper regulator in the context of aging (PMID: 22666519)
- Broad skin-regeneration effects on collagen, proteoglycans, MMPs, and immune/endothelial cell recruitment (PMID: 26236730)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Alpha-Lipoic Acid and GHK-Cu?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a foundational that alpha-lipoic acid has two distinct biological identities. the endogenous pool — synthesized by mitochondrial lipoic acid synthase (lias) and covalently attached to specific lysine…. GHK-Cu is a skin, hair & aesthetics that ghk-cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. it binds cu(ii) with high affinity (log k around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (not reported vs ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Alpha-Lipoic Acid or GHK-Cu?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid has a half-life of not reported. GHK-Cu has a half-life of ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Alpha-Lipoic Acid and GHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy Alpha-Lipoic Acid or GHK-Cu
Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor.
Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.