Epitalon vs NAD+
Epitalon (Synthetic tetrapeptide (pineal bioregulator)) and NAD+ (Cellular coenzyme (dinucleotide)) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | Epitalon | NAD+ |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Synthetic tetrapeptide (pineal bioregulator) | Cellular coenzyme (dinucleotide) |
| Research category | Longevity & Cellular | Longevity & Cellular |
| Length (amino acids) | 4 amino acids | Not documented |
| Molecular weight | 390.35 g/mol | 663.43 g/mol (free acid) |
| Half-life | Not documented | Not documented |
| Origin | Epitalon (also spelled Epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed in Russia by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, designed as a short-peptide analog derived from studies of the pineal extract Epithalamin. It emerged from Russian peptide bioregulator research aimed at tissue-specific regulatory peptides. | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a naturally occurring coenzyme present in all living cells, first described in the early 20th century in the context of fermentation and cellular respiration. It is not a peptide but a dinucleotide composed of a nicotinamide moiety and an adenine moiety joined through ribose and phosphate groups. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How Epitalon works
Epitalon is proposed to act as a peptide bioregulator influencing gene expression and pineal function. Reported preclinical mechanisms include modulation of the pineal gland and melatonin regulation, and studies have described effects on telomerase activity and telomere length in cultured human cells. The precise molecular mechanism in vivo is not fully established, and much of the mechanistic data comes from cell-culture and animal models.
How NAD+ works
NAD+ functions as a central redox cofactor, cycling between its oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms to shuttle electrons in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Beyond redox chemistry, NAD+ is a required substrate for enzymes that consume it, including sirtuins (NAD+-dependent deacylases), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) involved in DNA repair, and CD38. Cellular NAD+ levels have been reported to decline with age in various tissues, which is a focus of aging research. It is synthesized de novo from tryptophan and through salvage pathways from precursors such as nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide riboside.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
Epitalon
NAD+
What sets each apart
Epitalon
Epitalon is a defined 4-amino-acid pineal bioregulator peptide, distinct from thymic peptides (immune focus) and mitochondrial peptides, with a research emphasis on telomere/telomerase biology.
NAD+
Unlike the peptides in this category, NAD+ is a small-molecule coenzyme central to redox metabolism rather than a signaling peptide, and it is studied primarily via precursor supplementation.
Frequently asked questions
What is epitalon and what is it studied for?
Epitalon (epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, modeled on the pineal peptide epithalamin. It is studied in aging research for reported effects on telomerase activity, telomere length, circadian/melatonin regulation, and antioxidant markers, largely in older Russian experimental programs and cell/animal models.
What is the sequence and molecular weight of epitalon?
Epitalon is the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), with molecular formula C14H22N4O9 and a molecular weight of about 390.35 g/mol. Its short four-residue length is one reason it is thought to have a very brief systemic half-life.
How is epitalon cycled in research protocols?
Reported research and community protocols use short cycles rather than continuous dosing, commonly a 10-20 day course repeated once or twice per year. Cycling reflects the older Russian research design of intermittent short courses rather than daily long-term administration.
What is NAD+ and what is it studied for?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme central to cellular energy metabolism, redox reactions, and as a substrate for sirtuins and PARP enzymes involved in DNA repair. It is studied in models of aging, mitochondrial function, metabolic decline, and neuroprotection, where tissue NAD+ levels fall with age. It is a naturally occurring coenzyme, not a peptide.
Is NAD+ a peptide?
No. NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzyme composed of two nucleotides (one bearing adenine, the other nicotinamide) joined through phosphate groups, not a chain of amino acids. It is grouped in longevity research catalogs alongside peptides because of its role in aging and mitochondrial studies, but it is a distinct chemical class.
How does NAD+ differ from precursors like NMN and NR?
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside) are biosynthetic precursors that cells convert into NAD+, whereas NAD+ is the finished coenzyme. Precursors are commonly studied as oral routes to raise intracellular NAD+, while NAD+ itself is studied via IV or subcutaneous routes in research settings. Direct cellular uptake of intact NAD+ is a subject of ongoing research.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.