AHK-CuCosmetic / Skin
Copper peptide studied for hair growth and follicle support.
- Status
- Research / not approved
- Developer
- Synthetic copper complex of the tripeptide Ala-His-Lys (cosmetic copper peptide)
- Receptors / target
- Copper(II)-delivering tripeptide; in cultured cells associated with dermal-papilla proliferation and VEGF expression — no defined receptor
- FDA-approved?
- NO
- Prescription available?
- NO
- Studied for
- hair growth / follicle stimulationdermal angiogenesis & skin repaircollagen / elastin supportanti-aging cosmetics
Overview
AHK-Cu (alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex; "copper tripeptide-3") is a synthetic copper-binding tripeptide marketed almost exclusively as a cosmetic ingredient for hair and skin and sold as a research-use-only compound. It is a structural analogue of the better-known GHK-Cu but, unlike GHK-Cu, is not produced naturally in the body. Critically, published research on AHK-Cu specifically is sparse — essentially a single in-vitro/ex-vivo study — so most claims circulating about it are extrapolated from copper-peptide chemistry generally rather than demonstrated for AHK-Cu. There are no approved medical uses, and the FDA has not evaluated it.
Mechanism
The single primary study (Pyo et al., 2007; cultured cells and excised follicles only) reports that AHK-Cu stimulates proliferation of human dermal-papilla cells, reduces their apoptosis, elongates hair follicles in organ culture, and raises VEGF output by dermal fibroblasts. The broader rationale is that the tripeptide carries copper(II) into cells, where copper participates in collagen/elastin synthesis and angiogenic signaling — but that carrier mechanism is characterized for GHK-Cu, not directly proven for AHK-Cu. No receptor target, binding affinity or human pharmacokinetic data have been published for AHK-Cu; the mechanism should be treated as plausible but largely inferred.
Clinical evidence
There are no human clinical trials of AHK-Cu — no RCTs, no controlled topical studies, no published case series. The only direct evidence is the 2007 laboratory study using cultured cells and excised hair follicles, which cannot establish whether a topical AHK-Cu product increases hair density or improves skin in real people. Human efficacy is, in practical terms, unstudied; the two GHK-Cu reviews cited here are included only as copper-peptide context, not as evidence for AHK-Cu.
Safety profile
No systemic human safety data exist for AHK-Cu; it has not been tested for toxicity, absorption or adverse effects in humans, and no dosing has been established. Copper-peptide ingredients used in cosmetics generally have a reasonable topical-tolerability record, but that record belongs to the class (chiefly GHK-Cu) and should not be assumed to transfer to AHK-Cu, especially for any injected or systemic use where there is no safety evidence at all. This is a research-use-only compound with no FDA evaluation; nothing here is therapeutic or dosing advice.
- Topical (weeks)
Marketed for hair/skin over weeks of topical use, but the only study is a single in-vitro/ex-vivo experiment — there is no human time-course.
- Reality
Human onset, duration and effect are unstudied; treat any timeline as unverified.
Reported in published literature and user reports. Not a complete list, and not medical advice.
- Injection-site or topical irritation
- Possible copper accumulation with overuse
- Skin sensitivity or redness
If severe or unexpected symptoms occur, contact a qualified medical professional. PEPTIDES·INDEX does not provide medical advice.
- No human contraindication data exist for AHK-Cu; it has not been tested for toxicity, absorption, or adverse effects in humans. The caution below is grounded in basic copper biology, not controlled findings.
- Because AHK-Cu delivers copper, caution is reasonable for people with copper-metabolism disorders such as Wilson's disease, where copper accumulation is harmful.
- No systemic or injectable human safety data exist; the topical-tolerability record belongs to the copper-peptide class (chiefly GHK-Cu) and should not be assumed to transfer. Research-use-only.
- No documented human drug interactionsInteraction profile uncharacterized in humans (research use only)
Compare
- vs GHK-Cu
The naturally occurring, better-studied copper tripeptide AHK-Cu is modeled on
FAQ
Is AHK-Cu FDA-approved?
No. AHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-3) is marketed as a cosmetic ingredient and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is sold research-use-only with no approved medical use.
Is there human evidence that AHK-Cu grows hair?
No. The only direct evidence is a single in-vitro/ex-vivo study using cultured cells and excised follicles. There are no human clinical trials of AHK-Cu, so its hair and skin claims are unproven in people.
How is AHK-Cu different from GHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a structural analogue of GHK-Cu but is not produced naturally in the body and is far less studied; most claims about it are extrapolated from copper-peptide chemistry generally rather than demonstrated for AHK-Cu.
How is AHK-Cu used?
It is marketed almost exclusively for topical (cosmetic) use in hair and skin products. No human dosing has been established, and there is no safety or efficacy evidence for injected or other systemic routes.
How is AHK-Cu thought to work?
The single primary study reports it stimulates dermal-papilla cell proliferation, reduces their apoptosis, elongates follicles in organ culture, and raises VEGF output. The broader rationale is that the tripeptide carries copper(II) into cells for collagen/elastin and angiogenic signaling, but that carrier mechanism is characterized for GHK-Cu and not directly proven for AHK-Cu.
Is AHK-Cu banned in sport?
It is not specifically named as a prohibited substance. However, it is research-use-only, has no purity standards, and anti-doping lists can change, so unverified material carries independent risk.
Similar compounds
Starting references for the library summary. These are not dosing instructions or medical advice.
For research-use educational context only. Not medical advice and not a recommendation to use any compound. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before any health decision.