Cytomaxes, cytogens and sublingual drops — how they differ

spa Cytomaxes — a natural peptide fraction

Cytomaxes are made by isolating peptides from animal organs and tissues. The booklet Health Territory describes them as low-molecular-weight peptide complexes with a mass of up to 5 kDa, extracted from the organs and tissues of young calves; each preparation is a group of peptides and amino acids corresponding to the tissue it came from.

The catalogue states that the technology for isolating low-molecular-weight peptide fractions was developed by staff of the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology under the academician V. Kh. Khavinson, and that it became the basis for the whole class of preparations known collectively as cytomaxes.

In terms of composition the key point is this: a cytomax is not a single molecule. It is a fraction — a mixture of peptides isolated together from the same tissue. The catalogue calls this tissue specificity: a complex isolated from a particular organ is associated with the cells of that organ, and different cytomaxes differ in their source tissue rather than in their principle.

The catalogue names tell you nothing until you know the source material. The booklet names each cytomax together with the tissue it was isolated from: Endoluten — a peptide complex of the pineal gland, Vladonix — of the thymus, Cerluten — of brain tissue, Ventfort — of the vascular wall, obtained from the aorta, Sigumir — of bone and cartilage tissue, Svetinorm — of the liver, Suprefort — of the pancreas. It is the source material, not the name, that separates one cytomax from another.

Form and course. Capsules come in packs of 20 or 60, each capsule weighing 0.215 g. The manufacturer’s usage recommendation: 1–2 capsules 1–2 times a day with meals; the course lasts 1–3 months and is suggested to be repeated after 1–3 months.

science Cytogens — a synthesised short sequence

Cytogens grew out of a single observation: what matters for the interaction is not the whole long natural peptide chain but one short sequence of two to five amino acids. Most synthesised peptides are therefore copies of that active part.

In manufacturing terms this is an entirely different route. A cytogen is made not from tissue but from amino acids — the press kit states plainly that cytogens are synthesised from amino acids and are characterised by short molecules. The composition is precisely defined: in the sublingual Visulingual, for instance, each of the four peptide complexes consists of three amino acids.

This is also where the practical difference buyers ask about comes from: a cytomax is made from animal-derived raw material, while a cytogen is synthesised from amino acids.

The cytogen list is shorter. The same booklet names Vesugen — a peptide of the vascular wall, Pinealon — of the cerebral cortex, Crystagen — of the T-cell arm of the thymus, Cartalax — of cartilage, Ovagen — of the liver, Chonluten — of the lungs and stomach. Set that against the list of roughly twenty cytomaxes and the practical consequence becomes visible: not every tissue that has a cytomax also has a cytogen.

Form and course. Capsules are likewise 0.215 g, in packs of 20 or 60. The catalogue states: 1–2 capsules 1–2 times a day with meals, an intake period of 10–30 days, and a repeat course suggested after 4–6 months. Note that the cytogen course is shorter and the gap between courses longer than for cytomaxes.

biotech Sublingual drops — the same material in another form

The sublingual (lingual) line is not a separate third substance. It is the same cytomaxes and cytogens in liquid form: a 10 ml bottle with a dispenser. The catalogue accordingly calls them lingual cytomaxes and lingual cytogens.

Concentration and dose differ. The catalogue states that the daily dose of the sublingual single-peptide preparations is half that of the corresponding capsules, and that the concentration of cytogens in sublingual form is 100 micrograms per millilitre. The sublingual cytomax class is listed at 10 mg/ml, so the same number of drops in different lines does not mean the same amount of peptide.

Why a different form at all. The catalogue explains that the mucosa under the tongue is thin and densely networked with superficial veins, so active substances pass through the mucosa into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism in the liver. It also notes that a liquid form with a dispenser is easier to measure precisely and to adjust during a course.

Form and course. The usage recommendation is the same for both sublingual lines: 5–6 drops under the tongue 3–4 times a day, 10–15 minutes before meals; the course lasts 1 month and is suggested to be repeated after 3–6 months.

checklist The short comparison

If you want it in one view, the differences fit into a few lines.

• Origin: cytomaxes are isolated from animal tissue; cytogens are synthesised from amino acids.
• Composition: cytomaxes are a peptide fraction, that is, a mixture; cytogens are one precisely defined short sequence.
• Form: both types exist as capsules and as sublingual drops.
• Pack: capsules in 20 or 60 units of 0.215 g; drops in a 10 ml bottle with a dispenser.
• Course length: cytogens 10–30 days; cytomaxes 1–3 months; sublingual 1 month.
• Gap before the next course: cytogens 4–6 months; cytomaxes 1–3 months; sublingual 3–6 months.
• Animal-derived raw material: cytomaxes yes; cytogens no.

arrow_forward How to choose

In the manufacturer’s methodological publication the courses are laid out by month rather than by product: first month, second month and so on. In that same logic cytogens usually sit at the start as a short opening course, and cytomaxes come later as the longer continuation.

The same publication gives alternative schemes using sublingual cytomaxes and cytogens; they are built so that a capsule can simply be swapped for the corresponding sublingual form. That is useful if capsules do not suit you.

The practical criteria, which depend on you rather than on the theory:

One more detail that confuses buyers. The catalogue recommends taking capsules with meals and the sublingual drops 10–15 minutes before meals. The methodological publication explains separately that the words “with meals” appear on the pack because of how food supplements are certified, even though the publication itself suggests taking them before meals. Where the instructions differ, follow what is printed on your own pack.

• Whether animal-derived raw material is acceptable to you — if not, choose a cytogen.
• Whether you swallow capsules easily — if not, the sublingual form is a direct equivalent.
• How much dose control you want — the number of drops can be adjusted more finely than capsules.
• What course length you are planning — 10–30 days or 1–3 months.
• The price of a whole course rather than of one pack — a shorter course is not automatically cheaper per month.

verified_user What else is worth knowing

One thing you will deliberately not find here: a pointer saying which product is for which illness. The original manufacturer publications do contain such tables, because they were written for the Russian market, where these products have a different legal status. In the European Union they are food supplements, and an illness may not be given in the description as the reason for taking one.

So everything above is about origin, composition, form, concentration and how the product is taken. Whether a particular supplement suits your situation — especially if you take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding — is a question for a doctor or a pharmacist, not for a shop.

If you have not yet read where this product family came from and what short peptides are in the first place, we cover that in the article “What peptide bioregulation actually is”.

Food supplement. A food supplement is not a substitute for medicine and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. A food supplement should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet. Keep out of the reach of children. If pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist.