Timing Mitochondrial Support Supplements to Recovery Days — Key Protocol Principle
DeLauer's overarching protocol principle is that mitochondrial support supplements — including peptides — should only be taken on recovery days, not training days. On training days, the oxidative stress signal should be left intact to drive adaptation. On recovery days (6–48 hours post-training), mitophagy-supporting compounds can amplify the body's natural cleanup process. This applies to both urolithin A and, by implication, any mitochondrial peptides a user might be taking.
Stacking Warning: Mitochondrial Peptides + Low-Carb/Fasted Training = Oxidative Overload
DeLauer presents a specific stacking risk: combining mitochondrial-stimulating peptides (MoSC, SS31, SLUPP) with low-carb or fasted training creates compounding oxidative stress because fatty acid oxidation already generates more reactive oxygen species than glucose metabolism. He uses the analogy of 'revving an engine already redlining' to describe this danger. The recommendation is to avoid these peptides on hard training days and instead use mitophagy-supporting compounds on recovery days.
Peptides That Spin Up Mitochondria May Cause Oxidative Damage
Thomas DeLauer warns that certain peptides used for mitochondrial support (referencing MoSC, SS31, SLUPP) can over-rev mitochondria, causing oxidative damage rather than recovery. He argues that when combined with low-carb or fasted training — which already increases mitochondrial oxidative stress — these compounds push the system past the hormetic sweet spot into genuine oxidative damage. This is framed as a key risk of stacking aggressive mitochondrial peptides on top of an already stressed system.