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LL-37 Benefits: Claims vs What Studies Show

Benefits people claim for LL-37, set against what published studies measured, and where no study exists.

Medical review pendingAntimicrobial peptideUpdated
Strongest evidence
Human RCT
Human / animal studies
5 / 3
in our evidence file (PubMed search, 11 Oct 2026)
FDA status
Not approved
Off Category 2, 15 Apr 2026

Claimed benefits and what studies show

Each row is an area where people claim a benefit, with the strongest study we summarise behind it. Animal and cell results are labelled and are not human results. User reports are not counted as evidence here.

LL-37 claimed benefits and the studies behind them
ClaimBest evidenceStudies (human / animal)What was measuredPage
HealingHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 43 / 3Granulation index; Inflammatory markers and bacteria; Healing, whole study populationEvidence for healing
SkinHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 43 / 2Granulation index; Healing, whole study population; Healing, large-wound subgroup (post hoc)Evidence for skin
InflammationHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 0Inflammatory markers and bacteriaEvidence for inflammation

Strongest study per claim: Healing, Archives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520; Skin, Archives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520; Inflammation, Archives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520.

What the studies measured

LL-37 outcomes in published studies
OutcomeResultStudy typeSource
Granulation indexGranulation index rose more in the LL-37 cream group than placebo on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 (p = 0.031, 0.009, 0.006, 0.037).Human RCTArchives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520
Inflammatory markers and bacteriaLL-37 cream enhanced the healing rate but did not lower IL-1α, TNF-α or aerobic bacterial colonization.Human RCTArchives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520
Time to negative SARS-CoV-2 RNANegative-conversion time was 9.80 ± 2.67 with oral LL-37 vs 14.04 ± 5.89 with placebo (p < 0.01) when started early.Human RCTn = 238Journal of medical virology 2023, PMID 37605995
Healing, whole study populationNo significant improvement in healing with LL-37 versus placebo in the full population (primary analysis).Human RCTn = 148Wound repair and regeneration 2021, PMID 34687253
Healing, large-wound subgroup (post hoc)A post hoc subgroup analysis (wounds of at least 10 cm2) showed improvement in several healing parameters; hypothesis-generating only.Human RCTn = 148Wound repair and regeneration 2021, PMID 34687253
Ulcer healing rate (lower doses)Healing rate constants were approximately six-fold (0.5 mg/mL, p = 0.003) and three-fold (1.6 mg/mL, p = 0.088) higher than placebo.Human RCTn = 34Wound repair and regeneration 2014, PMID 25041740
Ulcer area reductionMean ulcer area decreased 68% (0.5 mg/mL) and 50% (1.6 mg/mL).Human RCTn = 34Wound repair and regeneration 2014, PMID 25041740
Highest doseThe 3.2 mg/mL group did not differ from placebo (non-monotonic dose response).Human RCTn = 34Wound repair and regeneration 2014, PMID 25041740
Injected-lesion responseAfter 8 weekly injections, injected lesions shrank clinically.Human case reportn = 1Journal of cutaneous pathology 2018, PMID 29665030
Biodistribution after IV bolusAfter IV injection the labeled LL-37 was rapidly cleared from blood, mostly by the liver, with transient lung distribution.Animal · mouse (not a human result)European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics 2024, PMID 38972467
Biodistribution after subcutaneous doseAfter subcutaneous dosing the radiotracer was absorbed systemically (two-phase kinetics) and cleared mainly by the kidneys.Animal · mouse (not a human result)European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics 2024, PMID 38972467
Pressure ulcer areaLL-37 in chitosan hydrogel promoted healing of pressure ulcers in mice (formulation study, not free peptide alone).Animal · mouse (not a human result)n = 6Military Medical Research 2020, PMID 32321591
Wound healingNanoparticle-delivered LL37 accelerated wound healing compared with PLGA or LL37 alone (formulation study).Animal · (species not stated in abstract) (not a human result)Journal of controlled release 2014, PMID 25173841
Stability in wound fluidLL-37 showed no apparent cleavage in non-healing ulcer wound fluid for up to 24 h at 37°C ex vivo.In vitro (not a human result)n = 9Acta dermato-venereologica 2011, PMID 21547341
Not shown in any study we cite. Searches behind this page: PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “"LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]”: 3,020 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR clinical trial[pt] OR patients[tiab])”: 730 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (ulcer*[tiab] OR wound[tiab])”: 261 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (venous[tiab] AND ulcer*[tiab])”: 7 results.

The wound-healing claim

The wound-healing claim has human randomised trials behind it: a first-in-man ulcer trial and a phase IIb trial, the second finding no significant overall difference versus placebo.[3]

In a diabetic foot ulcer trial, LL-37 cream raised granulation index versus placebo cream, applied twice a week for 4 weeks.[1]

In vitro, LL-37 in a hydrogel inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth at 5 micrograms per millilitre, a lab measure and not a treatment result.[7]

Antimicrobial, inflammation and skin claims

The nanoparticle wound study describes LL-37 as an endogenous human host defence peptide that modulates wound healing and angiogenesis and fights infection.[8]

In the diabetic foot ulcer trial, LL-37 cream did not lower IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha or bacterial colonisation, so an anti-inflammatory benefit was not shown there.[1]

In macrophages in a dish, LL-37 in a hydrogel at 1-5 micrograms per millilitre inhibited TNF-alpha release.[7]

What the literature search found

A dated PubMed search on 2026-10-02 for ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (healed[tiab] OR healing[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR placebo[tiab]) found 4 results.

Calculated from query ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (healed[tiab] OR healing[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR placebo[tiab]); date 2026-10-02; result count 4. Formula: count reported by the search record in the evidence file

The safety-focused PubMed query on topical use, run on 2026-10-11 for ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (topical[tiab] OR cream[tiab] OR ulcer*[tiab] OR "phase"[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) AND (adverse[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR irritation[tiab]) found 18 results.

Calculated from query ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (topical[tiab] OR cream[tiab] OR ulcer*[tiab] OR "phase"[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) AND (adverse[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR irritation[tiab]); date 2026-10-11; result count 18. Formula: count reported by the search record in the evidence file

More on LL-37

DosageSide effects

Common questions

Is LL-37 proven to work?

The strongest study we summarise for LL-37 is human rct evidence, among 9 studies. A trial result is not an approval; see the legal status.

What does LL-37 do?

It is a human cathelicidin host defence peptide with antimicrobial, immune-modulating and wound-healing roles.[6]

What are the benefits of LL-37 peptide?

The best human data are topical, in leg and foot ulcers; the phase IIb trial found no overall significant healing difference versus placebo.[3]

More on LL-37

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.For injury recoveryWhat research says about LL-37 for injury recovery.For skinWhat research says about LL-37 for skin.

Sources

  1. 1Efficacy of LL-37 cream in enhancing healing of diabetic foot ulcer: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.Archives of dermatological research · 2023PMID 37480520Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2Efficacy and safety of Oral LL-37 against the Omicron BA.5.1.3 variant of SARS-COV-2: A randomized trial.Journal of medical virology · 2023PMID 37605995Accessed 11 Oct 2026
  3. 3Evaluation of LL-37 in healing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers: A multicentric prospective randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society · 2021PMID 34687253Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Treatment with LL-37 is safe and effective in enhancing healing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society · 2014PMID 25041740Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Dermatologic toxicity from novel therapy using antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in melanoma: A detailed examination of the clinicopathologic features.Journal of cutaneous pathology · 2018PMID 29665030Accessed 11 Oct 2026
  6. 6Biodistribution of the cationic host defense peptide LL-37 using SPECT/CT.European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V · 2024PMID 38972467Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Chitosan hydrogel encapsulated with LL-37 peptide promotes deep tissue injury healing in a mouse model.Military Medical Research · 2020PMID 32321591Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PLGA nanoparticles loaded with host defense peptide LL37 promote wound healing.Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2014PMID 25173841Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Stability of the cathelicidin peptide LL-37 in a non-healing wound environment.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2011PMID 21547341Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: "LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab] (3020 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR clinical trial[pt] OR patients[tiab]) (730 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (ulcer*[tiab] OR wound[tiab]) (261 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (venous[tiab] AND ulcer*[tiab]) (7 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (healed[tiab] OR healing[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR placebo[tiab]) (4 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab] OR stability[tiab]) (136 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (infection[tiab] OR antimicrobial[tiab] OR biofilm[tiab]) AND (mice[tiab] OR rat[tiab] OR murine[tiab]) (386 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (adverse[tiab] OR "side effect*"[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR toxicity[tiab]) AND (trial[tiab] OR patients[tiab] OR topical[tiab] OR clinical[tiab]) (87 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026
  18. 18PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (topical[tiab] OR cream[tiab] OR ulcer*[tiab] OR "phase"[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) AND (adverse[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR irritation[tiab]) (18 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026
  19. 19PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (melanoma[tiab] OR intratumoral[tiab] OR intra-tumoral[tiab]) (21 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026

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