Comparison
AOD-9604 vs DHEA
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and DHEA. 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.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
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
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | DHEA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | hormone |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 12 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 25 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily, typically morning |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral, vaginal, topical |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 288.42 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C19H28O2 |
| 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. | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| WADA status | unknown | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Contraindicated in pregnancy |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 53-43-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 5881 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q411733 |
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)
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(minor)
Which Should You Take?
DHEA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A 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 hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick DHEA.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, DHEA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: DHEA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, 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 DHEA?
AOD-9604 and DHEA differ in category (peptide vs hormone), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or DHEA?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; DHEA half-life is 12 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with DHEA?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper