GHK-Cu and Longevity and Anti-Aging: What Has Been Studied

What the research covers

A PubMed search found no human study of GHK-Cu for longevity or lifespan. A 2026 study found that it extended lifespan in a tiny worm, C. elegans.

In 1973, researchers reported a small peptide in human blood serum. It helped normal liver cells survive longer. In 1977, the same group reported that a growth-modulating serum peptide is glycyl-histidyl-lysine, or GHK. GHK-Cu is GHK bound to copper. In the worm study, it also improved stress resistance and movement. In aging rodent (mouse) groups, GHK at 15 mg per kg a day by injection for 5 days was tested. It prevented the learning loss caused by lack of sleep.

The human trials found put GHK-Cu or copper peptides on skin or wounds. In a 1994 trial in diabetic foot ulcers, GHK-Cu gel closed ulcers more than a plain gel. Median closure was 98.5 percent against 60.8 percent. In a 1992 trial in 86 patients with leg ulcers, a 0.4 percent copper peptide cream did no better than placebo. That abstract does not name the peptide. In 13 patients after CO2 laser skin resurfacing, wrinkles and skin quality improved in both groups. Objective tests found no difference between the GHK-Cu and the other group. Patients using GHK-Cu products did report higher satisfaction. No human trial of GHK-Cu on its own given by injection was found. One 2018 study gave 1,000 patients scalp injections of a mix that included copper tripeptide-1. The mix also held several growth factors and thymosin beta-4. The study had a single arm, with no comparison group.

Sources

1. Mulder GD, Patt LM, Sanders L, et al. Enhanced healing of ulcers in patients with diabetes by topical treatment with glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine copper Wound Repair Regen (1994). PMID 17147644 doi:10.1046/j.1524-475X.1994.20406.x Randomised placebo-controlled trial of GHK-Cu gel in diabetic foot ulcers; more closure than vehicle gel.
2. Bishop JB, Phillips LG, Mustoe TA, et al. A prospective randomized evaluator-blinded trial of two potential wound healing agents for the treatment of venous stasis ulcers J Vasc Surg (1992). PMID 1495150 doi:10.1067/mva.1992.37086 Randomised trial, 86 patients with venous leg ulcers; 0.4% copper tripeptide cream no better than placebo. Tripeptide not named in the abstract.
3. Miller TR, Wagner JD, Baack BR, et al. Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin Arch Facial Plast Surg (2006). PMID 16847171 doi:10.1001/archfaci.8.4.252 Randomised study, 13 patients after CO2 laser resurfacing; no objective difference; higher satisfaction with GHK-Cu.
4. Kapoor R, Shome D Intradermal injections of a hair growth factor formulation for enhancement of human hair regrowth - safety and efficacy evaluation in a first-in-man pilot clinical study J Cosmet Laser Ther (2018). PMID 29482481 doi:10.1080/14764172.2018.1439965 Single-arm study, 1,000 patients, scalp injections of a hair formula containing growth factors, thymosin beta-4 and copper tripeptide-1; no comparison group.
5. Wen H, Zhao K, Luo X, et al. The GHK-Cu delays aging in Caenorhabditis elegans via coordinated regulation of mitochondrial function and activation of DAF-16/SKN-1 pathways Biogerontology (2026). PMID 42084774 doi:10.1007/s10522-026-10444-x C. elegans (worm) study: GHK-Cu extended lifespan.
6. Rosenfeld M, Nickel K, Ladiges W GHK peptide prevents sleep-deprived learning impairment in aging mice Aging Pathobiol Ther (2023). PMID 37035833 doi:10.31491/apt.2023.03.109 Aging rodent (mouse) study: GHK 15 mg/kg a day by injection for 5 days prevented learning loss from sleep deprivation.
7. Pickart L, Thaler MM Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver Nat New Biol (1973). PMID 4349963 First report (1973) of a tripeptide in human serum that prolonged survival of normal liver cells.
8. Schlesinger DH, Pickart L, Thaler MM Growth-modulating serum tripeptide is glycyl-histidyl-lysine Experientia (1977). PMID 858356 doi:10.1007/BF02002806 Same group (Pickart, Thaler), 1977: identifies the growth-modulating serum tripeptide as glycyl-histidyl-lysine.