Biotin vs AHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Biotin and AHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Biotin
AHK-Cu
Biotin
Biotin (vitamin B7, also called vitamin H from the German Haut for "skin" and historically named coenzyme R, factor W, factor R, factor X, vitamin Bw, or Bios II in various discovery-era nomenclatures) is a water-soluble…
No vendor price on file.
Full Biotin profileAHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 5 listings
Full AHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Biotin | AHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Vitamin | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Preclinical |
| Mechanism of Action | Biotin operates as the covalently-attached prosthetic group for five carboxylase enzymes, bound to a specific lysine residue on the enzyme via an amide bond formed by holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS). This covalent attachment is unusual among vitamin cofactors… | AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide… |
| Half-Life | — | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | — |
| Dosing Frequency | — | once_daily |
| Administration | — | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal |
| Side Effects | Biotin has an exceptionally clean direct safety profile — no established tolerable upper intake level, no dose-limiting toxicity reported at doses up to 300 mg/day, and minimal side effect signal in decades of clinical use. The practical safety concern is not… | — |
| Molecular Weight | — | Free peptide (AHK): 354.41 Da (C15H26N6O4). Copper complex (AHK-Cu): 415.9 Da (C15H24CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex - Cu(II) displaces two protons from the tripeptide ligand). |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 50, 100 |
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Biotin: potential benefits
- No structured benefit list published.
AHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells
- Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models
- Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation
- Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation
- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Biotin and AHK-Cu?
Biotin is a vitamin that biotin operates as the covalently-attached prosthetic group for five carboxylase enzymes, bound to a specific lysine residue on the enzyme via an amide bond formed by…. AHK-Cu is a skin & hair that ahk-cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (not reported vs Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Biotin or AHK-Cu?
Biotin has a half-life of not reported. AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Can you stack Biotin and AHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Biotin and AHK-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 Biotin or AHK-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.