At SleepEQ, our mission has always been to restore—not override—the body’s natural sleep rhythms. For too long, sleep has been treated as a problem to be chemically silenced with sedatives or overwhelmed with high-dose melatonin. But sleep is not something you knock out. It’s something your biology already knows how to do—if you give it the right signals.
That’s the philosophy behind SleepEQ and our proprietary ingredient Biofactor-E™, a sublingual peptide blend anchored by AEDG peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)—also known by its more recognized research name, Epitalon.
Now, a groundbreaking 2021 human study by Ivko et al., published in Advances in Gerontology, has confirmed what our science team and users have known anecdotally: AEDG peptide doesn’t just help you sleep—it helps your body remember how to produce melatonin and regulate its own circadian genes.
The Challenge: Why Sleep Breaks Down as We Age
Sleep disturbances are often one of the earliest symptoms of biological aging, and they’re especially common in people under chronic circadian stress—such as shift workers, frequent travelers, or anyone exposed to evening screen time.
Over time, this disruption takes a toll on the pineal gland, the tiny structure deep in the brain responsible for producing melatonin, the master hormone of sleep and biological timing. As pineal function declines, so too does the body's internal regulation of its circadian genes, which act as molecular clocks that control not just sleep, but also hormone release, cellular repair, immune function, and brain performance.
In the Ivko study, researchers examined middle-aged healthcare workers (aged 40–50) who had worked night shifts for at least a year—a real-world model for accelerated pineal aging. What they found was dramatic:
- These individuals had melatonin output levels comparable to elderly patients
- They showed high expression of circadian stress markers such as CLOCK and Csnk1e
- They had markedly reduced expression of the CRY2 gene, a core regulator of melatonin feedback
In other words, their internal timekeeping systems were out of sync—despite being otherwise healthy and active adults.
The Solution: AEDG Peptide as a Biological Reset
The SleepEQ formula was built around one core insight: instead of adding external melatonin, we could help the pineal gland relearn how to function by using peptides that act upstream.
AEDG peptide was synthesized based on the amino acid sequences found in Epithalamin, a naturally occurring polypeptide complex extracted from the pineal gland. Decades of animal and in vitro studies suggested AEDG could modulate melatonin synthesis, support telomerase activity, and even extend lifespan in model organisms.
But what about humans?
The 2021 Ivko et al. study is one of the first to examine AEDG’s effects on melatonin and circadian gene expression in real people. Participants with reduced pineal function were randomly assigned to receive either:
- A placebo (normal saline spray)
- Or AEDG peptide, delivered sublingually—just like SleepEQ
After a 20-day treatment period, the differences were clear:
Key Findings
1. AEDG Peptide Boosted Natural Melatonin Output
Using overnight urine samples to measure 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-COMT)—the major metabolite of melatonin—researchers found:
- A 1.7-fold increase in melatonin output in the AEDG group
- No significant change in the placebo group
- Output returned to normal age-appropriate levels in the peptide group
This confirms what SleepEQ users often report anecdotally: a gradual return to “normal” sleep cycles, especially deep-stage sleep and improved morning alertness.
2. AEDG Normalized Disrupted Clock Gene Expression
The researchers also measured expression levels of three core circadian genes in leukocytes and lymphocytes:
- CLOCK (Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput)
- Csnk1e (Casein kinase I epsilon)
- CRY2 (Cryptochrome Circadian Regulator 2)
Before treatment, subjects had:
- 3.2x higher CLOCK expression
- 3.26x higher Csnk1e expression
- 2.3x lower CRY2 expression than the healthy control group
After AEDG treatment:
- CLOCK expression decreased by 1.9x
- Csnk1e decreased by 2.1x
- CRY2 increased by 2x, restoring healthy feedback regulation
These shifts signal a rebalancing of the molecular circadian machinery—not just a boost in melatonin, but a recalibration of the genes that determine when and how your body knows it’s time to sleep.
Why This Matters: Restoring Sleep From Within
This study provides hard evidence for what makes SleepEQ unique: its ability to activate the body's own melatonin pathway, rather than providing a synthetic substitute.
Most melatonin supplements—even the “clean” or time-release versions—flood the system with supraphysiological doses, leading to receptor downregulation, grogginess, and dependency over time. In contrast, SleepEQ uses AEDG to nudge the pineal gland, allowing your body to resume its own rhythm.
This upstream strategy has several benefits:
- No grogginess or sedation: Because you're not adding exogenous hormones, your sleep architecture (especially deep and REM sleep) stays intact
- Sustainable effect: Peptides work by building biological resilience, not masking symptoms
- Systemic improvement: Circadian gene rebalancing may also support hormonal, immune, and cognitive health
A Word on Delivery: Why Sublingual Absorption Matters
One of the often-overlooked factors in supplement efficacy is delivery method. SleepEQ uses a sublingual tablet, just like the AEDG spray used in the study. This allows the peptide to bypass digestion and enter circulation rapidly, where it can begin signaling the pineal gland and gene pathways directly.
Many peptide formulations lose potency in the gut or fail to reach target tissues. Sublingual delivery ensures bioavailability where it counts.
The Takeaway: SleepEQ Is the First Peptide-Based Sleep Aid With Human Validation
The Ivko et al. study isn’t just validation—it’s a blueprint. It shows that peptides like AEDG can do what melatonin can’t: restore sleep naturally by repairing the body's own circadian machinery.
If you’re someone who:
- Has tried melatonin but felt groggy or dependent
- Experiences inconsistent sleep from travel, stress, or age
- Wants a sleep aid that respects your biology rather than overrides it
…then SleepEQ may be the solution your body has been waiting for.
The Future of Sleep Is Peptide-Based.
At SleepEQ, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift—moving sleep science from sedation to synchronization.
Join thousands who are reclaiming their rest with the only sleep supplement designed to rebuild, not replace your sleep rhythms.
Learn more or try SleepEQ at www.sleepeq.us