Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Berberine
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Berberine. 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.
AOD-9604
AOD 9604 peptide: 16-amino-acid hGH fragment 176-191. Preclinical lipolytic activity, phase 2 obesity trial showed no weight loss vs placebo.
Berberine
Berberine supplement guide: 1500 mg/day lowers fasting glucose and HbA1c, AMPK activation, metformin parity in RCTs, dihydroberberine absorption.
Effects at a glance
AOD-9604
- •Modified 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191)
- •Preclinical models show lipolytic activity in adipose tissue without GH-axis growth effects
- •Phase 2 obesity trial (Heffernan 2001) showed no significant weight-loss difference versus placebo
- •Anecdotal protocols use 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneously daily on an empty stomach
- •No FDA approval; the obesity drug development program was discontinued in 2007
- •Granted GRAS status in some jurisdictions for compounded use; not validated for fat loss in humans
Berberine
- •Lowers HbA1c by ~0.7% versus placebo at 1500 mg/day across 27-trial meta-analysis (Lan 2015)
- •Roughly comparable to metformin on fasting glucose and HbA1c in small head-to-head RCTs (Yin 2008)
- •Reduces LDL cholesterol 10-20% and triglycerides 15-25% via PCSK9 inhibition
- •Activates AMPK, the cellular energy sensor that drives insulin-independent glucose uptake
- •Oral bioavailability under 1%; dihydroberberine is the higher-absorption alternative at lower doses
- •GI side effects affect 10-30% at 1500 mg/day; split dosing with meals reduces incidence
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Berberine |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | natural |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | berberine HCl, berberine hydrochloride |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 3 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 1500 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 3x daily with meals |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 2 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 3 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 336.36 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C20H18NO4+ |
| Mechanism | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone proposed to stimulate beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling in adipocytes, increasing lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation without engaging the GH receptor or activating IGF-1. | Activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis while increasing peripheral glucose uptake. Inhibits PCSK9 transcription, modulates bile acid signaling, and shifts gut microbiome composition. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Dietary supplement (US, EU, UK, Canada); Rx in some Asian jurisdictions |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Contraindicated (kernicterus risk in neonates) |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 2086-83-1 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 2353 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q411435 |
Safety profile
AOD-9604
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- transient mild headache (anecdotal)
- minimal in clinical trials
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- no established human safety profile for chronic use
Interactions
- beta-blockers: theoretical antagonism of beta-3 adrenergic lipolytic signaling(minor)
Berberine
Common side effects
- constipation
- diarrhea
- abdominal cramping
- flatulence
- nausea
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- neonatal jaundice
- severe liver disease
Interactions
- metformin: additive HbA1c reduction; additive GI side effects(moderate)
- insulin or sulfonylureas: additive hypoglycemia risk; dose adjustment may be required(major)
- statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin): CYP3A4 inhibition raises statin plasma levels(moderate)
- cyclosporine: raises cyclosporine levels through CYP3A4 and P-gp inhibition(major)
- calcium channel blockers (amlodipine): elevated plasma levels via CYP3A4 inhibition(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Berberine 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. AOD-9604 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Berberine.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Berberine.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Berberine is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Berberine. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for AOD-9604 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 AOD-9604 and Berberine?
AOD-9604 and Berberine differ in category (peptide vs natural), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Berberine?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Berberine half-life is 3 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Berberine?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper