Comparison · Updated
DSIP VS Selank
Short answer
DSIP and Selank have the same evidence tier: both are tier A (Controlled human trials).
Neither DSIP nor Selank is FDA-approved.
Neither DSIP nor Selank is on the WADA Prohibited List.
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Side by side
| Field | DSIP | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence tier | A Tier A · Controlled human trials | A Tier A · Controlled human trials |
| Tier rationale | Small double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in chronic insomnia (e.g. Bes et al. 1992, n=16) found weak or no meaningful benefit; registered as a medicine in Russia but not FDA/EMA-approved. | One small randomized trial (62 patients with anxiety disorders, selank vs medazepam, 2008; indexed in PubMed as an RCT), otherwise small Russian clinical studies; registered in Russia but not FDA/EMA-approved. |
| FDA status | Not approved | Not approved |
| Other approvals |
|
|
| WADA | Not on the Prohibited List | Not on the Prohibited List |
| Family | Mind | Mind |
| Residues | 9amino acids | 7amino acids |
| Molecular weight | 848.8 Da | 751.9 Da |
| Formula | C35H48N10O15 | C33H57N11O9 |
| Discovered | 1977Isolated from rabbit blood during induced sleep and characterized by Schoenenberger and Monnier (PNAS 1977). | Not on file |
| Routes studied | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Intranasal, Subcutaneous |
| Mechanism | DSIP (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) has no identified gene, precursor protein, or specific receptor, so its mechanism and physiological role remain unresolved. Animal studies report effects on sleep, stress hormones, neurotransmitter levels, and opioid-related behaviors. | Selank is a synthetic analog of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension for stability. It has been reported to modulate GABAergic neurotransmission and serotonin metabolism and to affect enkephalin-degrading activity in blood; it also retains immunomodulatory activity related to tuftsin. |
| Safety notes | Human safety data are limited to small trials from the 1980s-1990s. | Registered as an anxiolytic in Russia. |
| Cited studies | 1 study | 1 study |
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Questions
- Which has stronger evidence, DSIP or Selank?
- DSIP and Selank have the same evidence tier: both are tier A (Controlled human trials). DSIP: Small double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in chronic insomnia (e.g. Bes et al. 1992, n=16) found weak or no meaningful benefit; registered as a medicine in Russia but not FDA/EMA-approved. Selank: One small randomized trial (62 patients with anxiety disorders, selank vs medazepam, 2008; indexed in PubMed as an RCT), otherwise small Russian clinical studies; registered in Russia but not FDA/EMA-approved. Tiers rate the strength of published evidence, not effectiveness.
- Is DSIP FDA-approved?
- DSIP is not FDA-approved. Approvals listed outside the US: Russia — Deltaran® intranasal (registered 2016) for stress-related states and alcohol withdrawal.
- Is Selank FDA-approved?
- Selank is not FDA-approved. Approvals listed outside the US: Russia — Selank nasal drops 0.15% (Peptogen), registration ЛСР-003338/09.
- Are DSIP and Selank banned in sport?
- Neither DSIP nor Selank is on the WADA Prohibited List.
- How do DSIP and Selank work?
- DSIP (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) has no identified gene, precursor protein, or specific receptor, so its mechanism and physiological role remain unresolved. Selank is a synthetic analog of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension for stability.