Astaxanthin vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Astaxanthin and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Astaxanthin
GHK-Cu
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a red-orange keto-carotenoid xanthophyll, chemically classified as a 3,3''-dihydroxy-beta,beta-carotene-4,4''-dione. Unlike beta-carotene, astaxanthin does not convert to vitamin A in mammals, which…
No vendor price on file.
Full Astaxanthin 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 | Astaxanthin | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Carotenoid | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Dietary Supplement (Food Ingredient) | 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 | Astaxanthin's mechanism of action centers on its exceptional antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing activity, supplemented by anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and signaling effects that together produce broad tissue-protective activity. Unlike molecules with… | 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 | Astaxanthin at supplementation doses (4-12 mg/day) has one of the most favorable safety profiles among dietary supplements. Human trials at doses up to 40 mg/day for up to 4 months have not identified significant adverse effects. The FDA has granted GRAS… | 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
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Astaxanthin: 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 Astaxanthin and GHK-Cu?
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that astaxanthin's mechanism of action centers on its exceptional antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing activity, supplemented by anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and signaling…. 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, Astaxanthin or GHK-Cu?
Astaxanthin 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 Astaxanthin and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Astaxanthin 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.
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Before you buy Astaxanthin or GHK-Cu
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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. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.