In short
A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in ageing research. Human studies measure natural blood levels; we found no trials giving humanin to people.
Also known asmitochondrial-derived peptide
CategoryLongevity
Canada statusNot authorized in Canada
Human evidence Very limited: almost all animal or cell studies
Last reviewedNovember 10, 2026
How strong is the human evidence?
- Cell & animal
- Small human studies
- Some randomized trials
- Large randomized trials
What is Humanin?
Humanin is a small peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA, studied for cell-protective effects in ageing and age-related disease (Coradduzza et al. 2023).
Is Humanin legal in Canada?
Not authorized: no product found in Health Canada's Drug Product Database.
What the research shows
- Cell and animal studies, and human studies measuring natural humanin levels (for example after exercise).
What it doesn't show
- We found no published clinical trials of humanin given to people (PubMed search, Nov 2026).
Common questions
Is humanin available in Canada?
It is not an authorized drug.
Humanin vs MOTS-c?
Both are mitochondrial-derived peptides with mainly lab and animal evidence.
Sources
- Health Canada Drug Product Database (searched Nov 10, 2026)
- Coradduzza D et al. Humanin and its pathophysiological roles in aging: a systematic review. Biology 2023
- von Walden F et al. Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans. J Appl Physiol 2021
Related
MOTS-cA 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, studied for metabolism. A 2023 review says no effective clinical…Not authorized in Canada
SS-31 (Elamipretide)A mitochondria-targeting peptide that received FDA accelerated approval in September 2025 for Barth syndrome, an…Not authorized in Canada (approved elsewhere)