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Comparison

DSIP vs Epitalon

DSIP is nootropic & neuro; Epitalon is bioregulators. They are compared here because they are frequently considered against each other, not because they act alike.

DSIP Epitalon
Class Nootropic & neuro Bioregulators
Evidence Preliminary human Preliminary human
Human trials ~7 ~2
Half-life ~7-15 minutes Not established
Reported range 100-300 mcg 100-200 mcg
Frequency Once nightly before bed Once daily for 10-20 day courses, 2-3 courses per year
Routes Subcutaneous, Intramuscular Subcutaneous, Oral, Intramuscular
FDA approved No No
Research use only Yes Yes
Banned in sport No No
Studied for Sleep research, Stress and chronic pain research Longevity research, Melatonin rhythm, Telomere research
Reported side effects Headache, Grogginess, Injection-site reactions Injection-site reactions, Transient fatigue

DSIP

DSIP was identified in cerebral venous blood of rabbits during electrically induced delta-wave sleep, and named for that observation. Its mechanism remains poorly defined, with proposed activity spanning modulation of corticotropin release, opioid signalling and thermoregulation. Human studies of sleep effects have produced mixed and often null results, so the name substantially oversells the reproducible evidence.

Epitalon

Epitalon is one of the short peptide bioregulators characterised by Vladimir Khavinson, a series of di- to tetrapeptides each associated with a specific tissue. The proposed mechanism is direct interaction with DNA promoter regions to modulate transcription of tissue-specific genes, restoring protein synthesis in ageing or damaged tissue. It is the most studied compound in the series, associated in the original work with restoration of melatonin rhythm and with telomerase activation in cell culture. Nearly all supporting work comes from a single research group and has not been independently replicated under contemporary trial standards, which is the central limitation of the entire class and should be stated on every page in it.

DSIP vs Epitalon: common questions

What is the difference between DSIP and Epitalon?

DSIP is nootropic & neuro and Epitalon is bioregulators, so they act on different pathways. DSIP: A nonapeptide isolated from rabbit brain during sleep induction, with inconsistent human results despite the name. Epitalon: A short peptide bioregulator directed at the pineal gland, from the Khavinson series developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.

Which has stronger evidence, DSIP or Epitalon?

They sit at the same evidence level: preliminary human. DSIP has about 7 human studies and Epitalon about 2.

Are DSIP and Epitalon FDA approved?

Neither is FDA approved for any indication.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. PubChem compound record (CID 68816) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  2. FDA: Unapproved drugs and "research use only" products ↗ · regulatory status of non-approved products
  3. CAS Registry Number 62568-57-4 ↗ · chemical identity
  4. PubChem compound record (CID 219042) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms

Published literature

  1. Pollard BJ, Pomfrett CJ. Delta sleep-inducing peptide.Eur J Anaesthesiol 2001.PubMed 11437870 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2346.2001.00917.x
  2. Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2026.PubMed 41490200 · doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00236
  3. Steiger A, Holsboer F. Neuropeptides and human sleep.Sleep 1997.PubMed 9456470
  4. Banks WA. Peptides and the blood-brain barrier.Peptides 2015.PubMed 25805003 · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2015.03.010
  5. Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle.J Neurochem 2006.PubMed 16539679 · doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03693.x
  6. Meisenberg G, Simmons WH. Minireview. Peptides and the blood-brain barrier.Life Sci 1983.PubMed 6304442 · doi:10.1016/0024-3205(83)90352-1
  7. Schneider-Helmert D. DSIP in insomnia.Eur Neurol 1984.PubMed 6391925 · doi:10.1159/000115714
  8. Graf MV, Kastin AJ. Delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a review.Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1984.PubMed 6145137 · doi:10.1016/0149-7634(84)90022-8
  9. Khavinson VKh. Peptides and Ageing.Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2002.PubMed 12374906
  10. Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, et al.. Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties.Int J Mol Sci 2025.PubMed 40141333 · doi:10.3390/ijms26062691
  11. Khavinson V, Linkova N, Diatlova A, et al.. Peptide Regulation of Cell Differentiation.Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020.PubMed 31808038 · doi:10.1007/s12015-019-09938-8
  12. Khavinson V, Linkova N, Dyatlova A, et al.. Peptides: Prospects for Use in the Treatment of COVID-19.Molecules 2020.PubMed 32987757 · doi:10.3390/molecules25194389
  13. Ivko OM, Trofimova SV, Trofimov AV, et al.. [Peptidergic regulation of expression of cellular aging marker proteins in buccal epithelium.].Adv Gerontol 2024.PubMed 39742404
  14. Kloeden PE, Rössler R, Rössler OE. Artificial life extension. The epigenetic approach.Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994.PubMed 8010616 · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb56852.x
  15. Anisimov VN, Arutjunyan AV, Khavinson VK. Effects of pineal peptide preparation Epithalamin on free-radical processes in humans and animals.Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2001.PubMed 11335874

Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.

Read this first This page compares published reference data. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use either compound. Several compounds documented on this site are not approved for human use.