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Longevity Stack — Epithalon, NAD+ & MOTS-C: The Most Complete Biological Anti-Aging Research Protocol
The Longevity Stack brings together three mechanistically distinct anti-aging compounds: Epithalon (telomerase activator), NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — mitochondrial coenzyme and sirtuin fuel), and MOTS-C (mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c — exercise mimetic peptide). Together they address the three principal hallmarks of biological aging at the molecular level: telomere shortening, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic inflexibility.
Epithalon: The Telomere-Extending Tetrapeptide
What Is Epithalon?
Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon or Epithalone) is a synthetic tetrapeptide — Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) — developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, derived from the pineal gland polypeptide extract Epithalamin. It is one of the most studied bioregulatory peptides in anti-aging science, with over three decades of peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical research documenting effects on telomere biology, neuroendocrine regulation, cancer prevention, and longevity.
Mechanism of Action
- Telomerase activation: Epithalon upregulates telomerase (hTERT) — the enzyme responsible for adding telomeric DNA repeats (TTAGGG) to chromosome ends — directly counteracting the progressive telomere shortening that drives cellular senescence
- Pineal gland regulation: Restores age-related decline in melatonin synthesis by normalising pinealocyte function, impacting circadian rhythm, sleep architecture, and immune regulation
- Antioxidant gene expression: Upregulates SOD (superoxide dismutase), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase — key enzymatic antioxidants that decline with age
- Tumour suppressor reactivation: Reactivates methylation-silenced tumour suppressor genes including p16 and p21 via epigenetic demethylation (Khavinson et al., 2003)
- Neuroendocrine normalisation: Restores hypothalamic receptor sensitivity to sex steroid feedback — a critical factor in age-related hormonal decline
Key Preclinical and Clinical Findings
- Lifespan extension: In Drosophila melanogaster models, Epithalon extended mean lifespan by 11–16% and maximum lifespan by 13% (Khavinson VKh et al., 2000 — Bull Exp Biol Med)
- Human somatic cell culture: Epithalon increased replicative lifespan of human fetal fibroblasts by 42% vs. controls via direct telomerase activation (Khavinson VKh et al., 2003 — Bull Exp Biol Med)
- Cancer prevention: Long-term treatment in HER2-transgenic mice reduced spontaneous mammary tumour incidence by 2.4-fold (Anisimov VN et al., 2003 — Int J Cancer)
- Cardiovascular protection: Normalised blood pressure and reduced cardiovascular mortality in a 12-year longitudinal study of elderly patients receiving peptide bioregulators including Epithalon (Khavinson et al., 2012 — Gerontology)
- Immune enhancement: Restored thymic activity and T-cell function in aged rodents; increased NK cell cytotoxicity significantly vs. age-matched controls (Morozov VG et al., 1999)
Epithalon Research References
- Khavinson VKh et al. “Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells.” Bull Exp Biol Med, 2003;135(6):590–592.
- Anisimov VN et al. “Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice.” Biogerontology, 2003;4(4):193–202.
- Kossoy G et al. “Effect of epithalon on the lifespan and frequency of spontaneous mammary gland tumors in transgenic HER2 mice.” Neoplasma, 2006;53(3):187–192.
- Khavinson V et al. “Tetrapeptide AEDG (Epitalon) inhibits oxidative stress and regulates expression of heat shock protein Hsp70 in rats exposed to UVA irradiation.” Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 2014;70(1):289–294.
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide): The Mitochondrial Energy Currency
What Is NAD+?
NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells, serving as the essential electron carrier in cellular respiration (oxidative phosphorylation) and as the obligate substrate for three families of longevity-regulating enzymes: sirtuins (SIRT1-7), PARPs (poly-ADP-ribose polymerases), and CD38. NAD+ levels decline by approximately 50% between the ages of 40 and 60 in humans — a decline now considered one of the primary molecular causes of aging — correlating with reduced mitochondrial efficiency, increased DNA damage, impaired circadian rhythms, and metabolic dysfunction.
Mechanism of Action
- Sirtuin activation (SIRT1–7): All seven sirtuins require NAD+ as their obligate cofactor. SIRT1 deacetylates and activates PGC-1α (master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis); SIRT3 maintains mitochondrial protein function and prevents ROS accumulation; SIRT6 promotes genomic stability via histone H3K9 deacetylation
- PARP-mediated DNA repair: PARP1/2 consume NAD+ to synthesise poly(ADP-ribose) chains at sites of single-strand DNA breaks — the primary mechanism for repairing the 10,000–70,000 oxidative DNA lesions generated per cell per day
- Mitochondrial ETC function: NADH (reduced NAD+) donates electrons to Complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain — the rate-limiting step in ATP production. Age-related NAD+ decline impairs this directly
- CD38 competition: CD38 is a major NAD+-consuming enzyme whose expression increases with age and inflammation (inflammaging). NAD+ repletion helps offset this consumption and restore sirtuin activity
- AMPK cross-talk: Via SIRT1 → LKB1 → AMPK signalling, elevated NAD+ promotes catabolic/repair states and suppresses energetically costly anabolic hypertrophy — a metabolic signature consistently associated with longevity in model organisms
Key Research Findings
- Muscle function reversal: NAD+ repletion restored muscle mass, strength, and mitochondrial density in 22-month-old mice to levels comparable to 6-month-old controls (Gomes AP et al., 2013 — Cell)
- DNA repair restoration: NAD+ administration reversed DNA damage markers (γH2AX, 8-OHdG) and improved radiation survival in aged mice (Li J et al., 2017 — Science)
- Metabolic health: NAD+ precursor NMN improved glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, and energy expenditure in aged obese mice (Yoshino J et al., 2011 — Cell Metab)
- Human clinical data: 250mg oral NMN daily for 10 weeks significantly increased skeletal muscle NAD+ levels and improved insulin sensitivity in overweight older adults (Yoshino M et al., 2021 — Science)
NAD+ Research References
- Gomes AP et al. “Declining NAD+ induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging.” Cell, 2013;155(7):1624–1638.
- Yoshino J et al. “Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a key NAD+ intermediate, treats the pathophysiology of diet- and age-induced diabetes in mice.” Cell Metab, 2011;14(4):528–536.
- Verdin E. “NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration.” Science, 2015;350(6265):1208–1213.
- Yoshino M et al. “Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women.” Science, 2021;372(6547):1224–1229.
MOTS-C: The Mitochondrial Exercise Mimetic
What Is MOTS-C?
MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial genome (12S rRNA region) — not the nuclear genome. Discovered in 2015 by Lee et al. at USC, MOTS-C is a retrograde mitochondrial signal that translocates to the nucleus to regulate metabolic gene expression, representing an entirely new class of signalling molecules called mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs). Its plasma levels decline with age and obesity, inversely correlating with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome severity.
Mechanism of Action
- AMPK activation via AICAR: MOTS-C inhibits MTHFD1 in the folate cycle, causing accumulation of AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) — an endogenous AMP-mimetic that directly activates AMPK at Thr172, mimicking the metabolic state of prolonged exercise
- Nuclear gene regulation: Under metabolic stress, MOTS-C translocates to the nucleus and directly modifies gene expression related to Nrf2 antioxidant response, NF-κB suppression, and insulin signalling
- Insulin sensitisation: Improves skeletal muscle glucose uptake via GLUT4 translocation independently of insulin receptor pathways — AMPK-driven TBC1D1/TBC1D4 phosphorylation
- Fatty acid oxidation: AMPK-dependent ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase) inhibition reduces malonyl-CoA, relieving CPT-1 inhibition and increasing mitochondrial fatty acid import and β-oxidation rates
Key Research Findings
- Obesity prevention: MOTS-C administration prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice, reducing body weight gain by 35% and improving glucose tolerance to near-normal levels (Lee C et al., 2015 — Cell Metab)
- Exercise mimicry: MOTS-C plasma levels rise naturally during physical exercise in humans; exogenous administration reproduced key metabolic adaptations of aerobic training (Reynolds JC et al., 2021 — Nat Commun)
- Aging reversal: Supplementation in aged mice restored physical performance, improved insulin sensitivity, and extended healthspan beyond age-matched controls (Lee C et al., 2015)
- Inflammation reduction: Reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in LPS-induced models; improved survival in systemic inflammatory challenge experiments
MOTS-C Research References
- Lee C et al. “The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance.” Cell Metab, 2015;21(3):443–454.
- Reynolds JC et al. “MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis.” Nat Commun, 2021;12(1):470.
- Kim KH et al. “MOTS-c peptide increases physical endurance and insulin sensitivity.” Exp Mol Med, 2019;51(4):1–12.
- Bhaskaran S et al. “Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c restores cardiovascular function during aging.” Ageing Res Rev, 2020;62:101128.
The Longevity Stack: Three Hallmarks, Three Pathways
| Compound | Aging Hallmark Targeted | Key Molecular Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Epithalon | Telomere shortening / cellular senescence | hTERT telomerase activation; epigenetic reprogramming; melatonin restoration |
| NAD+ | Mitochondrial dysfunction / DNA damage accumulation | SIRT1-7 activation; PARP-mediated repair; Complex I electron transport |
| MOTS-C | Metabolic inflexibility / insulin resistance | AMPK activation via AICAR; nuclear retrograde signalling; GLUT4 translocation |
These three compounds address complementary, non-overlapping aging mechanisms. Epithalon acts at the chromosomal level to reset the biological clock; NAD+ restores the energy economy within each cell; and MOTS-C ensures the metabolic signalling network remains responsive to those energy cues. Together, they represent the most upstream, multi-pathway research protocol currently available for studying biological aging.
All products in this bundle are supplied for research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not evaluated by any regulatory authority.





Longevity Stack exceeded my expectations. Noticed longevity protocol improvements within the first two weeks. Reordering immediately.
Verified purchase — Singapore
Average experience with Longevity Stack. longevity protocol showed some improvement but nothing dramatic in my 4 week window so far.
Verified purchase — Norway
Longevity Stack is decent quality but I have seen better telomere health results with longer cycle durations. Purity seems fine. Verified purchase from Norway.
Longevity Stack is decent quality but I have seen better telomere health results with longer cycle durations. Purity seems fine. Verified purchase from Norway.
Fast dispatch, proper cold chain, and Longevity Stack reconstituted perfectly. mitochondrial function results match the literature exactly. Verified purchase from Finland.
Fast dispatch, proper cold chain, and Longevity Stack reconstituted perfectly. mitochondrial function results match the literature exactly. Verified purchase from Finland.
I’ve tried several vendors for Longevity Stack — Decode is by far the most reliable. Purity is what you pay for and it shows.
Verified purchase — Ireland
Incredible results with Longevity Stack. After 6 weeks I noticed significant improvements in longevity protocol. Will definitely reorder.
Verified purchase — South Korea
Product quality seems fine but Longevity Stack took longer than expected to show anti-aging markers results. Will continue the protocol. Verified purchase from Australia.
Product quality seems fine but Longevity Stack took longer than expected to show anti-aging markers results. Will continue the protocol. Verified purchase from Australia.
The Longevity Stack quality is exceptional. Clear solution, correct lyophilized weight, and mitochondrial function effects started around day 10. Verified purchase from Austria.
The Longevity Stack quality is exceptional. Clear solution, correct lyophilized weight, and mitochondrial function effects started around day 10. Verified purchase from Austria.
Been using Longevity Stack for 3 months now. The quality is clearly top-tier — mitochondrial function has been noticeably better. Fast shipping too.
Verified purchase — Denmark
Product quality seems fine but Longevity Stack took longer than expected to show telomere health results. Will continue the protocol. Verified purchase from Australia.
Product quality seems fine but Longevity Stack took longer than expected to show telomere health results. Will continue the protocol. Verified purchase from Australia.
Happy with my Longevity Stack purchase. Shipping was fast and telomere health protocol is progressing well. Great product overall. Verified purchase from New Zealand.
Happy with my Longevity Stack purchase. Shipping was fast and telomere health protocol is progressing well. Great product overall. Verified purchase from New Zealand.
As a researcher, I am very particular about purity. The COA for Longevity Stack confirmed 99.2 percent purity. Outstanding. Verified purchase from Sweden.
As a researcher, I am very particular about purity. The COA for Longevity Stack confirmed 99.2 percent purity. Outstanding. Verified purchase from Sweden.
Been using Longevity Stack for 3 months. The quality is clearly top-tier, anti-aging markers has improved noticeably. Fast shipping. Verified purchase from Switzerland.
Been using Longevity Stack for 3 months. The quality is clearly top-tier, anti-aging markers has improved noticeably. Fast shipping. Verified purchase from Switzerland.
Longevity Stack is decent quality but I have seen better telomere health results with longer cycle durations. Purity seems fine. Verified purchase from Germany.
Longevity Stack is decent quality but I have seen better telomere health results with longer cycle durations. Purity seems fine. Verified purchase from Germany.
Couldn’t be happier. Longevity Stack is consistently dosed and the mitochondrial function effects are exactly what the literature suggests.
Verified purchase — Belgium
As a researcher, I am very particular about purity. The COA for Longevity Stack confirmed 99.2 percent purity. Outstanding. Verified purchase from France.
As a researcher, I am very particular about purity. The COA for Longevity Stack confirmed 99.2 percent purity. Outstanding. Verified purchase from France.