What is the difference between DSIP and GHK?

DSIP: DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is a nonapeptide (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) isolated in 1977 by Schoenenberger and Monnier from cerebral venous blood of rabbits during electrically indu... GHK: GHK is the parent tripeptide Gly-His-Lys, originally isolated from human plasma by Loren Pickart (1973) as an activity that caused aged hepatocytes to synthesize proteins like younger tissue. It is DI...

What does the research say about DSIP vs GHK?

DSIP: Schoenenberger & Monnier first isolated and characterized DSIP in 1977 (PNAS 74(3):1282-6, PMID 265572). Graf & Kastin's 1984 review (Neurosci Biobehav Rev, PMID 6145137) summarized the first decade of work, noting reported effects on sleep, pain, and stress but also substantial inconsistency across labs and species. Schneider-Helmert (Eur Neurol 1… GHK: The overwhelming majority of GHK research uses the GHK-Cu complex; direct studies of copper-free GHK are limited. Pickart (J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2008, PMID 18644225) reviewed GHK's role in tissue remodeling and wound healing. Pickart et al. (Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2012, PMID 22666519) reviewed GHK-Cu in oxidative stress and cognitive aging. Picka…

DSIP vs GHK

Q: Can you stack DSIP and GHK?

DSIP (cognitive) and GHK (cosmetic) are in different categories and are sometimes researched together in combined protocols. Consult a licensed provider before combining any compounds.

Q: Are DSIP and GHK legally available through compounding pharmacies?

DSIP and GHK are both among peptides under FDA review for the Category 1 (503A) list; if added, they would require a valid prescription to be compounded by registered 503A/503B pharmacies. They are not yet authorized — in April 2026 the FDA removed 12 peptides from Category 2, which does not place them on the Category 1 list or authorize compounding. The FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee is advisory and meets July 23–24, 2026 to review nominations and make recommendations to the FDA.

Head-to-head comparison of DSIP and GHK — mechanism, dosing, side effects, legal status, and pricing.

DSIP

DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is a nonapeptide (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) isolated in 1977 by Schoenenberger and Monnier from cerebral venous blood of rabbits during electrically induced sleep. It has been studied as a putative sleep and stress modulator, but the evidence base is weak, largely pre-2000, and DSIP is not FDA-approved.

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GHK

GHK is the parent tripeptide Gly-His-Lys, originally isolated from human plasma by Loren Pickart (1973) as an activity that caused aged hepatocytes to synthesize proteins like younger tissue. It is DISTINCT from GHK-Cu, the 1:1 copper(II) complex tracked as a separate entry — but GHK binds copper readily in vivo, so in physiological environments the bare peptide rapidly associates with available Cu(II). Not FDA-approved for any indication; used in cosmetic and research contexts only.

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DSIP

GHK

Where Researchers Are Buying

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DSIP

Best $/mg

$3.00/mg

Peptide Supply Co.B

17 trusted vendors listing

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GHK

Best $/mg

$0.550/mg

Hydro Research PeptidesC

2 trusted vendors listing

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Lab Verification

COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.

DSIP

COAs

99.4%

Avg purity

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Full testing data

GHK

No COA data yet.

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2026 FDA review: DSIP and GHK are both under FDA review for the Category 1 (503A) list — not yet authorized

DSIP and GHK are both among peptides under FDA review for the Category 1 (503A) list; if added, they would require a prescription to be compounded by registered 503A/503B pharmacies — they are not yet authorized. In April 2026 the FDA removed 12 peptides from Category 2, which does not place them on the Category 1 list or authorize compounding. The FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee is advisory and meets July 23–24, 2026 to review nominations and make recommendations to the FDA.

Track the FDA review →Find a prescriber →Find a compounding pharmacy →

DSIP Research Summary

Schoenenberger & Monnier first isolated and characterized DSIP in 1977 (PNAS 74(3):1282-6, PMID 265572). Graf & Kastin's 1984 review (Neurosci Biobehav Rev, PMID 6145137) summarized the first decade of work, noting reported effects on sleep, pain, and stress but also substantial inconsistency across labs and species. Schneider-Helmert (Eur Neurol 1986, PMID 3792404) reported sleep normalization in 18 middle-aged and elderly chronic insomniacs given DSIP over one week — small, open, and never replicated at scale. Schneider-Helmert et al. (Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1987, PMID 3582201) explored phase-shifted insomnia. Kovalzon & Strekalova (J Neurochem 2006, PMID 16539679) summarized the field as a 'still unresolved riddle,' noting that no DSIP receptor or gene has been identified. No Phase 3 trials, no FDA approval, no modern controlled replication.

Key references

GHK Research Summary

The overwhelming majority of GHK research uses the GHK-Cu complex; direct studies of copper-free GHK are limited. Pickart (J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2008, PMID 18644225) reviewed GHK's role in tissue remodeling and wound healing. Pickart et al. (Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2012, PMID 22666519) reviewed GHK-Cu in oxidative stress and cognitive aging. Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero & Margolina (BioMed Res Int, 2014, PMID 25302294; 'GHK and DNA: Resetting the Human Genome to Health') summarized microarray data indicating GHK modulates expression of thousands of human genes. No human clinical trials exist for injected bare GHK; cosmetic formulations typically use topical GHK or GHK-Cu at ~50–200 ppm.

Key references

The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling (Pickart, J Biomater Sci Polym Ed) (2008)

Can you stack DSIP and GHK?

DSIP (Cognitive) and GHK (Cosmetic) are in different categories and target different biological pathways. This is a common pattern in multi-compound research protocols. Researchers should monitor the biomarkers from both profiles and watch for interactions listed in each compound’s contraindications. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before combining any research compounds.

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This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.