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GhHuman trials

GHK-Cu protocol

GHK-Cu is a small natural peptide bound to copper. Human studies are gels and creams on the skin. One older trial tested a gel on diabetic foot ulcers. We found no human study of injected GHK-Cu.

Not approved as a medicine by the US FDAUS FDA lists non-injectable GHK-Cu as under evaluation for pharmacy compounding (list updated May 2026)No human study of injected GHK-Cu found
ProtocolMixingResultsSide effectsHow it worksSources

The protocol at a glance

The one controlled trial with clear numbers used a GHK-Cu gel applied daily to diabetic foot ulcers in 1994. Newer skin-care studies are small.

ItemWhat is known
Human injection doseNot established
Studied inPeople (gels and creams on skin), plus lab and animal work
Diabetic foot ulcers (1994 trial)Gel applied once a day after the ulcer was cleaned; gel strength not stated in the abstract

Mulder GD et al. 1994 (Wound Repair Regen). A 2026 review states clinical evidence for GHK-Cu is sparse and that older cosmetic studies are small or poorly described.

Community reports

We did not capture a community dose for the standalone product. Community use is mostly skin products, with some people injecting it.

What people say they do, collected from community discussions. Not tested in a trial; shown so you can compare it with the evidence above.

Mixing

No mixing table here: this one is used as a capsule, nasal spray or skin product, or has no human amount to calculate from. The general mixing calculator works for any vial.

What the trials found

Multicentre, randomised, evaluator-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of GHK-Cu gel in diabetic foot ulcers (1994). The abstract does not give the number of people. What was measured: how much of the ulcer closed.

98.5%median ulcer closure with GHK-Cu gel
60.8%median ulcer closure with plain gel
7%ulcer infections with GHK-Cu gel started right after cleaning
34%ulcer infections with plain gel

Mulder GD et al. Wound Repair Regen 1994 (PMID 17147644). Mateescu DM et al. Pharmaceutics 2026 (PMID 42797253) reviews the later evidence, including a 13-person laser-skin study that was negative on objective measures.

Side effects

  • The 1994 gel trial reported fewer ulcer infections with the gel.
  • No human safety data for injected GHK-Cu were found.
  • This is a copper complex, so the form used matters. The 2026 review says many products do not define it well.

How it works

Skin and wound repair (lab data)

Lab studies point to effects on collagen rebuilding, calming inflammation and new blood vessels. Clinical proof is thin.

Sources

  • Mulder GD et al. Wound Repair Regen 1994, PMID 17147644
  • Mateescu DM et al. Pharmaceutics 2026 (GHK-Cu evidence review), PMID 42797253
  • FDA 503A bulk drug substances list (Category 1), updated May 14 2026: GHK-Cu except injectable routes
  • Drugs@FDA / openFDA search: no GHK-Cu product