Carl read the papersWhat it actually is
AOD-9604 is the tail end (amino acids 176–191) of human growth hormone, with a tyrosine swapped in at the front. This region is linked to GH’s effect on fat metabolism.
The appeal is targeted fat metabolism without GH’s growth or blood-sugar effects — but human results have been mixed.
How it’s thought to work
- Lipolysis — reported to stimulate fat breakdown.
- Reduced lipogenesis — may limit new fat formation in models.
- No IGF-1 spike — doesn’t raise IGF-1 or blood sugar like full GH.
What the research says
Early animal work looked promising, but human trials were largely disappointing for weight loss: as a pill it showed a small edge in a 12-week trial (2.6 kg vs 0.8 kg on placebo), then a 536-person, 24-week trial found no significant weight loss and development stopped in 2007. It’s also studied for cartilage/joint applications.
- Fat metabolism (mixed human results).
- Cartilage and joint repair research.
- Marketed in some cosmetic/obesity contexts historically.
Watch: AOD-9604 explained
Video by Chancellor Harn, ND, MS on YouTube. Not affiliated with Peptide Carl and not an endorsement — included because a second explanation of the same mechanism is often what makes it click.
Reported protocols
These are the doses the peptide community actually reports running (Reddit & forums), alongside published research — logged for education, not as a recommendation to use.
| Parameter | Commonly reported range |
|---|---|
| Community dose | 300 mcg (range 250–500) |
| Frequency | Once daily, AM fasted |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Cycle | 10–12 weeks minimum, then 4–8 week break |
| Community tip | Fasted AM + fasted cardio within 30 min; rotate injection sites |
Common use cases
| Goal | Community protocol notes |
|---|---|
| Fat loss | 300 mcg AM fasted, 10–12 wks + break |
| With a calorie deficit | pair with a modest deficit |
| (Reality) | human fat-loss evidence is weak |
Mixing it (reconstitution)
Freeze-dried peptides must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before they can be measured. Carl’s calculator turns “mg in the vial + ml of water + target dose” into “units on the syringe” — and tells you how long the vial lasts.
→ Open the Reconstitution Calculator
Injection & handling
SubQ once daily, AM fasted — inject then do fasted cardio within 30 min (a community habit; no study has tested whether it adds anything). Rotate sites. Refrigerate reconstituted, use within ~28 days.
Stacks it appears in
- Used alone — AOD-9604 is usually studied on its own rather than stacked.
Sources
- hGH and AOD9604 in obese and beta3-knockout mice, Endocrinology 2001 (PMID 11713213)
- AOD9604 metabolic studies in obese rats, Horm Res 2000 (PMID 11146367)
- Stier et al., AOD9604 human safety across 6 RCTs, J Endocrinol Metab 2013 (doi 10.4021/jem157w)
- Obesity drug review incl. AOD-9604 trial failure, Curr Cardiol Rev 2013 (PMID 23092275)
- AOD9604 in rabbit knee osteoarthritis, Ann Clin Lab Sci 2015 (PMID 26275694)
- FDA: bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (AOD-9604 entry)
