CJC-1295 DAC vs. CJC-1295 No DAC | What’s the Difference?

Researchers interested in experimenting with peptides may be curious about the difference between CJC-1295 vs. CJC-1295 DAC.

The short answer is that CJC-1295 DAC has an added piece to the end of the peptide — called a “drug affinity complex” (hence the abbreviation “DAC”).

But that little piece changes how the modified peptide works with the biggest change being that it significantly prolongs the half-life up to 6 to 8 days. That means the peptide can continue to have an effect up to two weeks later. Because CJC-1295 DAC works longer, there are some differences in the research protocol, as well.

This guide will outline all the main similarities and differences between CJC-1295 No DAC and CJC-1295 DAC — including their benefits, side effects, and safety profiles.

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What is CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 peptide is known by several different names including “modified growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)”, “Modified GRF (1-29)”, and “ModGRF 1-29”. Sometimes it is referred to simply as “CJC-1295, without DAC”.

All of these names refer to a particular peptide compound that’s basically just a short chain of amino acids [1].

But this particular peptide has the same chemical structure as part of the body’s natural growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) [2]. That means it has the same effect: It works to upregulate growth hormone levels in blood [3].

Growth hormone (also known as human growth hormone, or HGH) matters because it’s involved in many important bodily functions. It helps cells reproduce, grow and repair themselves [4] and it helps with things like repairing tissue, building muscle, keeping skin healthy, and more.

While the body naturally makes GH, it begins to make less and less of it over time. That’s partly why older people find that their bones take longer to heal. Because CJC-1295 stimulates the body to release more GH, it can have the effect of increasing GH levels [5].

Ultimately, CJC-1295 HGH has the effect of making it easier and faster for the body to repair itself, build muscle, and burn fat.

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What is CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC is very similar to regular CJC-1295 — they’re both synthetic peptides that are a modified version of endogenous GHRG (1-29).

The big difference between the two peptides is that CJC-1295 DAC has an extra molecule added to the end of the peptide called “drug affinity complex”.

DAC is essentially a few nitrogen and oxygen atoms held together with some bonds. But those few atoms make a big difference in how the peptide is used in the body and how long it takes to break down.

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The Differences?

So what’s the difference between CJC-1295 vs. CJC-1295 DAC?

Here are the basics.

Difference in Half-life

One of the biggest differences between CJC-1295 vs. CJC-1295 DAC is their half-life.

Regular CJC-1295 is closer to the body’s own peptide. That means it’s used by the body in much the same way. The body’s own GHRH only has a half-life of a few minutes [6]. Like GHRH, CJC-1295 also has a very short half-life — about 30 minutes.

However, the extra DAC massively changes how the body uses the peptide. Basically, the DAC gives the peptide a lysine linker. That helps protect it when it is circulating around in the bloodstream and keeps it from being broken down.

The DAC also allows the peptide to better bind to the protein albumin in the blood, which helps it continue to have an effect for a long time.

Together, this means that the extra little add-on drastically prolongs the half-life of CJC-1295 DAC in blood plasma — it’s estimated to be about 6 to 8 days [3].

Differences in CJC-1295 Dosage

Because CJC-1295-DAC has a much longer half-life, researchers in past studies have dosed it differently from regular CJC-1295.

Here’s a brief difference in the dosing schedules of the two types of CJC-1295:

CJC-1295: Dr. William Seeds, in his book “Peptide Protocols” [7], states that he used a CJC-1295 dosage of 1 mcg per kilogram of body weight. He cites a “saturation dosage” of 100 mcg; that means that doses higher than that don’t add much to the release of GH, but may increase the risk of side effects. According to Dr. Seeds, CJC-1295 was administered every day during an experiment.

CJC-1295 DAC: Given its longer clearance time, CJC-1295 DAC is administered less frequently than CJC-1295. According to Dr. Seeds, a dose of 100 mcg taken twice a week is typically used as a starting saturation dose [7]. For a short-term treatment protocol or other research, it may be appropriate to take 100 mcg in a single daily injection daily. Research subjects in past trials have been administered CJC-1295 DAC once or twice a week.

Differences in Application

In general, the effects of CJC-1295 with and without DAC are the same. However, Dr. Seeds notes that CJC-1295 DAC is sometimes used for burns or for significant soft-tissue applications after some surgeries because it helps the body repair these types of tissues.

This may be one additional use of CJC-1295 DAC beyond the uses that the two have in common (which are building muscle, burning fat, anti-aging effects, and better sleep).

Differences in Diet Restrictions

The purpose of CJC-1295 is to stimulate the body to produce growth hormone (GH). The timing of meals and the diet of the research subjects can interfere with the effect of CJC-1295.

With CJC-1295, the half-life is short, so timing matters. Researchers will want to ensure that test subjects take it on an empty stomach — at least two hours after eating. That will make sure that it has the desired effect and produces an elevation in GH levels. And, ideally, the test subjects will wait as long as possible after the injection to eat (minimum of 30 minutes).

Since the half-life for CJC-1295 DAC is so long, there’s no dietary restriction with this form of CJC-1295. Still, it’s beneficial for researchers to ensure test subjects comply with the same guidelines as CJC-1295 and take it on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes after their last meal.

The ideal post-injection meal will be high in protein and moderate in fat with relatively low carbohydrates. The reason is that carbohydrates can affect insulin levels, and insulin can stop the effect of GH burning fat.

Differences in Naming

Another difference to keep in mind is that different vendors may use different naming conventions when selling these products. 

For example, our preferred vendor sells these peptides using the following names:

• They call CJC-1295 with DAC “CJC-1295 DAC”
• They call CJC-1295 without DAC “Mod GRF (1-29)”

Researchers looking for regular CJC-1295 and unable to find it may consider that their vendor is calling the peptide by another name.

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The Similarities?

These two peptides are mostly similar. That’s important to keep in mind.

Most importantly, they both have the same primary effect of increasing GH levels in the blood. Any additional benefits come indirectly through that increase in GH.

Also, they both raise GH levels in such a way that they don’t just increase GH release immediately. Instead, they stimulate the pituitary to release its GH following a natural pulsatile release schedule based on the circadian rhythm.

That’s a good thing. It means rather than a test subjects’ system being blasted with GH, GH goes up when it naturally would in their circadian rhythm. That’s better for the health of the test subjects.

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CJC-1295 DAC Benefits

What do we know so far about CJC-1295 benefits?

Well, the main reported effect of CJC-1295 DAC is that it increases the amount of growth hormone in plasma [3]. That, in turn, may entail beneficial effects for research subjects.

These include:

• Increasing lean tissue and muscle mass. Researchers are actively researching CJC-1295 and body composition because research has shown that growth hormone makes it easier for the body to recover from a workout and put on muscle [8, 9].
• Helping to burn fat. Studies have shown that growth hormone plays a large role in converting adipose tissue into energy [8, 10].
• Slowing down visible signs of aging. Research has linked growth hormone to the process of creating collagen in the skin. This suggests that CJC-1295 and other growth hormone-releasing hormones may help your body repair and create thick, elastic, and youthful skin [11, 12].
• Helping to improve sleep. The precise role that growth hormone plays in sleep is not yet clear, but research has shown that growth hormone may have a beneficial effect on sleep [13].
• Aiding with injury recovery. Growth hormone plays an essential role in repairing tissue and helps the body recover from injury. According to Dr. Seeds, CJC-1295 DAC may be especially effective in repairing tissue after severe burns or significant soft tissue damage [7].

Having reviewed the benefits of CJC-1295 DAC we now turn our attention to the side effects caused by this research chemical. 

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CJC-1295 DAC Side Effects

Researchers interested in working with CJC-1295 and/or CJC-1295 DAC may be curious about the downsides.

As with any synthetic compound, some research subjects may experience side effects when taking either of these peptides. Based on reports to date, these side effects have been rare and mild. The majority of direct studies of CJC-1295 on human subjects have found few or no side effects in the short term. None of them have found severe side effects in the short term [3, 5, 7].

Still, it’s important to be aware of all the possibilities. Potential side effects of CJC-1295 include:

• Redness and tenderness at the injection site
• Increased heart rate
• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Flushing
• Hives
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty swallowing
• Flu-like symptoms

Side effects are more likely to occur with larger doses. Starting with smaller doses can help research avoid severe side effects.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have sufficient clinical data to know much about the long-term safety of CJC-1295.

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Where to Buy CJC-1295 Online? | 2024 Edition

Based on our extensive testing of peptide products from a variety of online vendors, our team has been able to identify two companies in particular that consistently deliver in terms of quality and service.

Here are our two favorite places to buy CJC-1295, either with DAC or as ModGRF (1-29) (without DAC).

Core Peptides

Core Peptides is easily one of the best sources for peptides we’ve found. They’re legit and provide high-quality, research-grade products.

Here’s what we like about them:

• Third-Party Testing: To prove that it only ships pure CJC-1295 products, Core Peptides posts lab reports for each peptide from an esteemed third-party lab on its website.
• Convenient Payment Options:This vendor accepts a range of payment options, including credit cards, Revolut, and Zelle.
• Quick Shipping: Core Peptides is based in the US, so delivery within the US happens within 2-3 business days. The vendor waives the shipping fees on orders of $200+.

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Limitless Life

In our experience, Limitless Life is a highly trustworthy vendor of peptides that offers extremely fast shipping and a variety of payment options.

Here are the reasons why they are great:

• Immaculate Quality Control: They rely on third-party HPLC-MS analysis to verify the purity of their products, ensuring that each batch of peptides is produced to a high standard.
• Shipping Fee Waiver: Limitless Life has attractive shipping options and offers free shipping on orders over $350.
• Newsletter Discount: Customers that sign up to the Limitless Life newsletter are offered a 10% discount off their first order.

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Bacteriostatic Water and CJC-1295

For optimal peptide research, the preparation and storage of CJC-1295 requires certain items — including sterile vials, bacteriostatic water, and more.

While sourcing these items for research can be an annoyance, it is absolutely required for study.

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CJC-1295 vs. CJC-1295 DAC | Verdict

The overall effect of CJC-1295 is essentially the same — with or without DAC. The original peptide and its modified version both elevate levels of growth hormone in the blood.

That, in turn, has a number of well-documented effects on boosting the body’s ability to build, maintain and repair tissue. Results can include better muscle synthesis, faster fat burning, faster recovery from injury, and younger-looking skin.

But there are some differences, the main one being that when CJC-1295 has DAC attached, it takes effect for much longer. That means it should typically be dosed with less frequency.

Not sure which one would work best for your research? Researchers can order both versions from our preferred vendor.

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