Ingredient 2 of 3
ESS60 in Mighty K9: What C60 Is and What Research Shows
ESS60 is SES Research Inc.'s trademark for C60, a ball-shaped molecule of 60 carbon atoms (USPTO via Justia, ESS60). Mighty K9 has 1.6 mg in each 2 mL serving. A small 2012 rat study reported longer lives, a larger 2021 mouse study did not, and no controlled trial has tested C60 in dogs (Baati et al., 2012) (Grohn et al., 2021).
Written by the Mighty K9 editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is ESS60 for dogs?
ESS60 is a brand name for C60, also called carbon-60 or a fullerene. It is a hollow ball made of 60 carbon atoms.
SES Research Inc. registered ESS60 as a trademark in 2020, for carbon fullerenes used in supplements (USPTO via Justia, ESS60). So ESS60 is a supplier's name for a C60 ingredient. It is not a separate substance with its own science.
C60 does not dissolve in water. Makers dissolve it in oil, which is why Mighty K9 is an olive oil. The label footnote says ESS60 is not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO. Dogs do not need it to stay healthy.
Profile
How much ESS60 is in Mighty K9?
Each 2 mL serving holds 1.6 mg of ESS60, which is 0.8 mg per mL. That is the same strength as the 2012 rat study's oil.
| Label name | ESS60 |
|---|---|
| What it is | Carbon-60 fullerene, trademark of SES Research Inc. |
| Form | Carbon molecule dissolved in the oil |
| Position on the label | 2 of 3 (ingredients are listed in order) |
| Amount per 2 mL serving | 1.6 mg per 2 mL (0.8 mg/mL) |
| Job in the bottle | The headline ingredient; sold as an antioxidant |
| Dog evidence | No controlled dog trials |
| Main caution | Breaks down in light; keep the bottle dark. Long-term safety in dogs has not been studied. |
"Contains 100% ESS60" on the front means the C60 is the ESS60 brand. It does not mean the bottle is pure ESS60.
The study behind the hype
Does C60 make animals live longer?
One small study says yes; a bigger one says no. In 2012, rats given C60 in olive oil at 1.7 mg/kg had an estimated median lifespan of 42 months (Baati et al., 2012).
Rats on water lived about 22 months, and rats on plain olive oil about 26. But there were only about six rats per group, and the result was never reproduced.
Most C60 marketing, including the sales page's cellular aging theme, traces back to this one paper. It was in rats, not dogs.
The replication
Did anyone repeat the C60 lifespan study?
Yes, and it did not work. A larger independent study in 2021 gave aged mice C60 in olive oil. Median lifespan was 145 weeks with C60 and 144 weeks without, no real difference (Grohn et al., 2021).
The same team found two more problems. Commercial C60 oils varied in strength and purity. And C60 oil left in light broke down, with a half-life of about 2 days. The light-exposed oil made mice sick, and some died.
Keep Mighty K9 in its amber bottle, capped, in a cool, dark cupboard. Never leave it on a sunny windowsill or in a hot car.
Dog data
Has C60 been tested in dogs?
Only once, and not in a way that answers the joint question. Six beagles ate C60 in grape seed oil for 9 days, and a blood marker of inflammation, CRP, fell compared with their own starting levels (Hui et al., 2023).
| Study | Animals | C60 oil | What was measured | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baati, 2012 (Baati et al., 2012) | Rats, about 6 per group | Olive oil, 0.8 mg/mL | Lifespan | 42 vs 22 and 26 months |
| Grohn, 2021 (Grohn et al., 2021) | Aged mice | Olive oil | Lifespan, light stability | 145 vs 144 weeks; breaks down in light |
| Hui, 2023 (Hui et al., 2023) | 6 beagles, 9 days | Grape seed oil | Blood CRP | Fell; no control group |
| Burres, 2024 (Burres et al., 2024) | 20 rats, 14 days | Extra virgin olive oil | Safety | No adverse effects at 3.8 mg/kg/day |
The beagle study had no control group and the authors hold a related patent application. Nobody measured joints, walking or stiffness. See how the sales claims hold up.
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Is C60 safe for dogs?
Short-term rat data looks clean, but long-term dog data does not exist. The only regulatory-style study gave 20 rats C60 in extra virgin olive oil at 3.8 mg/kg/day for 14 days and found no adverse effects (Burres et al., 2024).
It was funded by SES Research, and two of its authors co-own the company, which sells ESS60. The authors themselves call for genotoxicity and long-term studies.
Fourteen days in rats is not years in a senior dog. Give only the 2 mL serving, and stop if your dog vomits or has loose stools. See Mighty K9 side effects.
Dose per kilogram
How much C60 does your dog get per kilogram?
Our arithmetic from the label: 1.6 mg divided by your dog's weight.
A 10 kg dog gets 0.16 mg of ESS60 per kg, about 9% of the rat dose. A 30 kg dog gets 0.05 mg per kg, about 3%. Bigger dogs get far less per kilogram because the serving does not change.
This is not a reason to give more. No one knows the right dose for a dog, and extra servings add fat. Ask your vet about small or toy dogs.
FAQ
ESS60 and C60 for dogs: common questions
What is ESS60 for dogs?
ESS60 is a trademarked form of C60, a ball-shaped carbon molecule, owned by SES Research Inc. (USPTO via Justia, ESS60). In Mighty K9 it is dissolved in olive oil at 1.6 mg per 2 mL serving. It is sold as an antioxidant, but no controlled dog trial has tested it.
Is ESS60 the same as C60?
Yes, ESS60 is a brand name for C60, also called carbon-60 fullerene. The trademark identifies the supplier, not a different molecule (USPTO via Justia, ESS60). A brand name does not show that a product works or is purer than another, so ask the seller for lab results.
Does C60 help dogs with arthritis?
There is no evidence that it does. No study has measured C60's effect on dog joints, walking or stiffness. The only dog data is six beagles over 9 days with one blood marker (Hui et al., 2023). Weight control, vet NSAIDs and omega-3 diets have far better evidence (ACVS, Osteoarthritis in Dogs) (AAHA Pain Guidelines, 2022).
Does C60 olive oil extend a dog's life?
No one has shown that. The lifespan idea comes from one small 2012 rat study (Baati et al., 2012). A larger 2021 mouse study found no lifespan gain at all, 145 versus 144 weeks (Grohn et al., 2021). Keeping a dog lean has real lifespan data in Labradors (Kealy et al., 2002).
Who funded the C60 safety study?
SES Research, the company that owns the ESS60 trademark, funded the 14-day rat safety study. Two authors co-own the company (Burres et al., 2024). It found no adverse effects at 3.8 mg/kg/day, but it was short and in rats, and the authors ask for longer studies.
How should I store C60 oil for my dog?
Keep it capped, in its amber bottle, in a cool, dark place. Light breaks C60 down, and light-exposed C60 oil made mice ill in a 2021 study (Grohn et al., 2021). Do not decant it into clear containers or leave it near a window.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked veterinary sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards, and how we check reviews, before you rely on a page. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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More about Mighty K9
C60 in olive oil research
The 2012 rat study, the 2021 mouse replication and the dog data, read line by line.
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Benefits, checked
Every Mighty K9 sales claim set beside the dog research, plus the real points in its favor.
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How it works
The daily 2 mL routine, what ESS60 is claimed to do, and what dog research actually shows.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for Mighty K9
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