For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption. For Research Use Only. Not for Human Consumption. Not for diagnostic, therapeutic or medical use. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
GHK-Cu, the Copper Peptide: A Plain-Language Research Guide
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Key points
- A tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) that binds copper tightly.
- Systemic evidence is animal and lab only; human data are mostly topical and mixed.
- Not FDA-approved as a systemic drug; copper tripeptide-1 is a cosmetic ingredient.
What it is
GHK-Cu is a small molecule made of three amino acids (glycine, histidine and lysine) bound to a copper ion. The peptide holds on to copper with high affinity, and the combined complex weighs roughly 402 daltons.
How researchers study it
Most experiments use skin explants, cell cultures and wound or matrix-remodeling models. Researchers look at how the complex relates to extracellular-matrix genes and to copper-dependent enzymes.
What the evidence shows
For anything beyond the skin surface, the evidence is limited to animal and laboratory work. The human studies that do exist are mostly about topical use and report mixed results on appearance, so they should not be stretched to systemic claims.
Regulatory status
GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved as a drug for systemic use. Under the name copper tripeptide-1 it is a common topical cosmetic ingredient, which is a different regulatory category.
