What SS-31 Is & How It Works
SS-31 (also known as Elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide designed to selectively bind cardiolipin, a phospholipid critical for the structural integrity and function of the inner mitochondrial membrane. By stabilizing cardiolipin, SS-31 helps optimize electron transport chain efficiency, reduce electron leak and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and preserve ATP generation under stress conditions. Unlike antioxidants that scavenge free radicals after damage occurs, SS-31 works upstream by improving mitochondrial bioenergetics and membrane stability (PubMed, NCBI).

Clinical & Translational Research Findings
SS-31 is one of the most extensively studied mitochondrial peptides in human clinical research. In multiple Phase I–III trials across cardiovascular, renal, and mitochondrial disorders, SS-31 demonstrated improvements in mitochondrial efficiency, reduced oxidative stress markers, and enhanced cellular resilience. In a randomized controlled trial in older adults, SS-31 significantly improved skeletal muscle mitochondrial ATP production capacity compared to placebo (PubMed). Additional studies in heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion injury showed improved cardiac function and reduced tissue damage, supporting its role in energy-intensive tissues (PubMed).

Why It’s Studied for Performance, Aging & Recovery
Because mitochondrial dysfunction is a central driver of fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, metabolic inefficiency, and age-related decline, SS-31 has become a compound of interest in research focused on cellular energy optimization and resilience under load. By directly targeting mitochondrial membrane stability rather than hormonal or stimulatory pathways, it offers a unique research model for studying sustained energy production, tissue recovery, and protection against metabolic stress, distinguishing it from conventional metabolic agents (NCBI).