Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Vitamin D3 + K2
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Vitamin D3 + K2. 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.
Vitamin D3 + K2
Vitamin D3 K2 supplement profile: cholecalciferol at 1000-4000 IU/day corrects deficiency, MK-7 directs calcium to bone, away from arteries.
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
Vitamin D3 + K2
- •Reduces non-vertebral fractures 10-20% in older adults at 800 IU/day or above when combined with calcium
- •VITAL trial showed neutral results on primary CV and cancer endpoints at 2000 IU/day over 5 years
- •Vitamin D supplementation reduces respiratory infection incidence ~10-20% in deficient populations
- •K2 MK-7 has 72-hour plasma half-life vs 1-2 hours for MK-4; once-daily dosing is sufficient
- •Synergy hypothesis is largely preclinical; dedicated combination RCTs are limited
- •Daily dosing outperforms bolus dosing for immune and infection outcomes
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Vitamin D3 + K2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | supplement |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | cholecalciferol + menaquinone, D3/K2, vitamin D3 with MK-7 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 360 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 0.05 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily with a fat-containing meal |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 384.64 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C27H44O (D3); C46H64O2 (MK-7) |
| 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. | D3 converts to calcidiol then calcitriol, activating the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to increase intestinal calcium absorption and modulate immune and bone gene transcription. K2 carboxylates osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, directing calcium toward bone and inhibiting vascular calcification. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Dietary supplement (global) |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Recommended at standard doses for fetal bone development; consult clinician at higher doses |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 67-97-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 5280795 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q139347 |
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)
Vitamin D3 + K2
Common side effects
- GI upset at high doses
- headache (rare)
- hypercalcemia (only at sustained very high D3 doses)
Contraindications
- hypercalcemia
- sarcoidosis
- active hyperparathyroidism
- warfarin therapy (K2 component requires stable intake)
Interactions
- warfarin: K2 component can affect anticoagulation; maintain stable intake and inform anticoagulation clinic(moderate)
- thiazide diuretics: additive calcium retention; hypercalcemia risk with high-dose D3(moderate)
- digoxin and calcium channel blockers: additive effects from D3-induced hypercalcemia(moderate)
- glucocorticoids: reduced vitamin D efficacy and bone effects(moderate)
- cholestyramine and orlistat: bind fat-soluble vitamins; separate dosing by 2 to 4 hours(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Vitamin D3 + K2 comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 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 bone density, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Vitamin D3 + K2 is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Vitamin D3 + K2. 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 Vitamin D3 + K2?
AOD-9604 and Vitamin D3 + K2 differ in category (peptide vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Vitamin D3 + K2?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Vitamin D3 + K2 half-life is 360 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Vitamin D3 + K2?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper