Comparison
Alpha-GPC vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side of Alpha-GPC and GHK-Cu. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Alpha-GPC
Alpha GPC supplement profile: 300 to 600 mg dosage, acetylcholine synthesis, attention and reaction-time evidence, side effects, and choline donor comparisons.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
Effects at a glance
Alpha-GPC
- •Choline donor supplement, roughly 40% choline by weight; crosses blood-brain barrier efficiently
- •Replicated small gains in attention and reaction time at 300 to 600 mg in healthy adults
- •Standard prescription cognitive medication in much of Europe (Gliatilin) at 1,200 mg/day for vascular cognitive impairment
- •ASCOMALVA trial (n=210) showed cognitive preservation when added to donepezil over 24 months
- •Increases acute power output (~14%, single trial) and transient growth hormone secretion at 600 mg
- •TMAO production raises a contested cardiovascular concern at chronic high doses
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-GPC | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, choline alfoscerate, GPC, alpha-glyceryl phosphorylcholine | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 2 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | daily |
| Routes | oral | topical, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 257.22 | 340.85 |
| Molecular formula | C8H20NO6P | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) |
| Mechanism | Hydrolyzed to free choline and glycerophosphate after absorption; choline supports acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in CNS. | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US); prescription medication in much of Europe | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; choline generally recommended in pregnancy | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended |
| CAS | 28319-77-9 | 49557-75-7 |
| PubChem CID | 71920 | 73587 |
| Wikidata | Q411478 | Q3104638 |
Safety profile
Alpha-GPC
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- dizziness
- occasional insomnia with evening dosing
Contraindications
- established cardiovascular disease (TMAO concern)
- concurrent strong anticholinergic therapy
Interactions
- anticholinergic medications: partial mutual antagonism(minor)
- cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil): additive cholinergic effect, basis for ASCOMALVA protocol(minor)
- scopolamine: partial counteraction of anticholinergic effect(minor)
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Alpha-GPC comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. GHK-Cu is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Alpha-GPC.
- → If your priority is athletic performance, pick Alpha-GPC.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick GHK-Cu.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Alpha-GPC is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Alpha-GPC. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for GHK-Cu only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Alpha-GPC and GHK-Cu?
Alpha-GPC and GHK-Cu differ in category (supplement vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-GPC or GHK-Cu?
Alpha-GPC half-life is 4 hours; GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-GPC with GHK-Cu?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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