Peptide data sheet
DSIP
Cognitive · Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide
Verdict
unprovenThe unproven label reflects how far the sleep evidence actually reaches: DSIP has a memorable origin story and decades of scattered research, but the human sleep studies are small, dated, and difficult to replicate, several found no reliable effect, and no modern controlled trial has confirmed it as a dependable sleep aid.
By MrPepTalks Editorial
Reviewed for scientific accuracy · research information, not medical advice
Last updated Reviewed
Quick answer
DSIP, or delta sleep-inducing peptide, is a small naturally occurring peptide first isolated in 1977 from the blood of sleeping rabbits. It is commonly researched for sleep, stress, and pain, and early studies reported effects on sleep quality in some people. The catch is that the human data is old, small, and hard to replicate, several studies reported no clear benefit, it is not FDA-approved, and it is sold for research use only.
- Class
- Naturally occurring nonapeptide (nine amino acids); neuromodulatory research peptide
- Half-life
- very short in blood (minutes, reported); reported to cross into the brain and act centrally
- FDA status
- Not FDA-approved. There is no approved DSIP drug in the United States; it is sold for laboratory research use only and is not approved for human use.
- WADA banned?
- No
Which form actually works?
Injectable (subcutaneous)
Unproven
The form most people ask about and the one closest to how DSIP was given in the older human research. The historical sleep and stress studies are the source of most of the interest here, and they are small, dated, and inconsistent, so the injectable route carries a thin and mixed evidence base rather than a confirmed one.
Intranasal (nasal spray)
Unproven
Sometimes sold and discussed on the theory that a nasal route helps a fragile peptide reach the brain, but the historical human studies did not center on this form, so claims about it rest on even less direct evidence than the injectable route. Treat it as less supported, not more.
Third-Party Testing & Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A certificate of analysis (COA) is a lab document that reports what a specific batch of material actually contains. Reputable research suppliers publish one for every batch, tied to a lot number you can match against the vial you received.
- HPLC — purity
- High-performance liquid chromatography reports purity as a percentage: how much of the sample is the intended compound rather than impurities.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) — identity
- Mass spectrometry confirms identity by measuring the sample's molecular mass, so it matches the peptide the label names.
It also matters who ran the test. In-house results come from the seller's own lab; an independent third-party lab has no stake in the result, so its COA generally carries more weight. Look for a named testing laboratory, a batch or lot number, and a test date that lines up with the vial in hand.
New to reading one? This guide walks through a COA line by line: how to read a peptide COA.
Sources
- Schoenenberger GA, Monnier M. Characterization of a delta-electroencephalogram (sleep)-inducing peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1977.
- Schneider-Helmert D, Schoenenberger GA. Effects of DSIP in man. Multifunctional psychophysiological properties besides induction of natural sleep. Neuropsychobiology, 1983.
- Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle. J Neurochem, 2006.
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