Peptides 101: Benefits, Uses, Safety & More
Peptides are tiny molecules made of small parts called amino acids, which are also the building blocks of proteins (1). Peptides help repair damage, signal for hormone production, support the immune system, and much more. They occur naturally in our bodies and can also be made in a lab.
Healthcare researchers have been working with peptides for decades, although interest in their use has grown in recent years. Peptides offer a myriad of benefits, such as improving injury recovery, sleep and energy levels, immunity, skin and hair health, athletic performance, and much more.
Understanding what peptides can do and how they’re used is important for anyone curious about using them for health or beauty reasons.
Types of Peptides
Peptides are made up of short strings of amino acids, which are usually 2-50 amino acids long. They come in two types:
- Naturally occurring peptides are made by our bodies to perform various tasks, like regulating our immune system and keeping the skin healthy.
- Synthetic peptides are made in a lab to mimic their natural functions or create entirely new effects. Some synthetic peptides are identical to their natural form, but most are analogs (meaning they’re modified to make them more useful) (2).
Both types of peptides have their uses in medicine, skincare, and other fields, offering a range of benefits for improving health and well-being.
For example, the thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) peptide, which is made up of 28 amino acids, helps regulate immune function. Made by the thymus gland, which sits behind your sternum, this peptide supports the function of several immune cells (3).
This peptide is being studied as a potential treatment for conditions in which the immune system is compromised or dysregulated, such as cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
Benefits of Peptides
Peptides offer an impressive variety of health benefits and are used in medicine, cosmetics, and performance enhancement. The primary benefits of peptides can be divided into the following areas:
Boosting Growth Hormone
Growth hormone (GH) is a natural hormone that helps you grow, repair tissues, and maintain overall health. It’s made and released by the pituitary gland at the base of your brain.
Peptides that boost growth hormone (GH) tell your body to make more GH, helping with muscle growth, tissue repair, fat loss, exercise recovery, and many other aspects of your health.
These peptides are especially popular among bodybuilders and athletes (even if they’re not strictly legal) because they help boost physical performance and muscle growth and repair.
Growth hormone peptides can be divided into two types: (4)
- GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone): acts directly on the pituitary gland to make and release GH. Examples of GHRH peptides include sermorelin and tesamorelin.
- GHRP (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide): stimulates the pituitary gland to release GH by mimicking the action of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger and GH release. Examples of GHRP peptides include GHRP-6 and Ipamorelin.
These two peptide types are often combined to get the strongest release of GH.
Repair & Healing
Many peptides are involved in tissue repair. They’re used to heal wounds, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones and are often used in sports medicine, orthopedics, and dermatology.
The most popular peptides in this category are BPC-157 and TB-4 (5). Like the GH peptides, they’re frequently combined to get the best results.
Skin & Hair Health
Peptides offer several benefits for skin and hair health. They can improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, promote collagen production, and improve hair growth, all of which support a healthy, youthful appearance.
Our skin also contains antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that act as the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, protecting us against inflammatory skin conditions (1).
The most popular peptides in this category are GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide) and Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4). Such peptides are increasingly being used in cosmetic and haircare products.
Anti-Aging
Peptides play a significant role in anti-aging, mostly thanks to stimulating collagen production. Collagen is a protein that provides structure and firmness to the skin, but its production decreases with age. By using peptides that mimic the body’s natural collagen-building process, it’s possible to help rejuvenate the skin and reduce signs of aging.
Peptides such as Epithalon (Epitalon) and GHK-Cu have anti-aging properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and the ability to repair DNA damage, potentially slowing down the aging process (6).
Boosting Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone that is important for the development of male physical characteristics, such as muscle mass and facial hair. It also plays an important role in maintaining both men’s and women’s overall health, including bone density and mood regulation.
Similar to peptides that boost growth hormone, certain peptides can signal the body to produce more testosterone through natural mechanisms. For example, peptides like Kisspeptin-10 and Gonadorelin stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn increase testosterone production.
What’s Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy is the use of specific peptides to improve a person’s health. It’s often used in anti-aging medicine, sports medicine, and regenerative medicine.
Peptide therapy is considered a safe and effective treatment option when prescribed and administered by a qualified healthcare provider. Treatment plans are individualized based on the patient’s specific needs and health goals.
How are Peptides Taken?
Peptides are most commonly administered in one of three ways:
- By injection: this is the most common method because it’s the most effective.
- Orally: some peptides can be taken by mouth as pills, capsules, or powder. However, this method is less effective because the peptides are at least partially degraded in the digestive system before they can reach your bloodstream and have an effect.
- Topically: some peptides can be applied directly to the skin or hair.
Applying peptides nasally with a spray or sublingually (under the tongue) is also possible. These methods are similar because they avoid the digestive tract and allow the peptides to absorb directly into the blood vessels. However, administering peptides this way is less common than the three above options.
Advantages of Peptides
The biggest advantage of peptides, and why there’s so much hype around them, is that they’re relatively safe and effective (7).
Peptides are highly specific, targeting only the desired receptors or cells, which reduces their side effects. In contrast, many pharmaceutical drugs come with a long list of potential side effects because it’s hard to create ones that only target one part of the body without affecting other parts.
Peptides are also easier to modify, allowing researchers to create tailor-made peptides for specific goals. And because your body naturally produces peptides, they’re tolerated well and have a good safety profile.
Did you know? Discovered in 1921, insulin was the first peptide drug in the world.
How Do Peptides Work?
Peptides work as signaling molecules that attach to specific receptors in cells, producing a response. They regulate many different processes, including immune function, cell growth, and hormone production (1).
Some also function as:
- Hormones that regulate specific tissues in the body,
- neurotransmitters, sending signals between neurons in the brain and other parts of the central nervous system
- antimicrobial properties and help the body fight infections
Peptide Drugs
Certain lab-made peptides are approved by the FDA to treat specific health conditions. There are currently over 100 peptides on this list, including:
- Octreotide (Sandostatin), used to treat acromegaly and certain tumors.
- Goserelin (Zoladex), used to treat prostate cancer, breast cancer, and gynecological disorders.
- Desmopressin (DDAVP), used for a rare condition called central diabetes insipidus and bed-wetting.
- Somatropin (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Nutropin, Omnitrope), used for growth hormone deficiency and other conditions.
- Teriparatide (Forteo), used for osteoporosis.
- Ziconotide (Prialt), used to treat severe chronic pain.
These peptides are heavily regulated, so they can only be prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional in appropriate cases.
Peptide Side Effects & Safety
Peptides are generally safe when used appropriately and under the guidance of a healthcare professional. They are typically tolerated well, which means people experience few serious side effects (8).
However, peptides can have potential side effects like any medication or supplement. Common ones include:
- Injection site reactions, such as pain, rashes, swelling, or redness
- Temporary nausea, fatigue, or headaches
Taking precautions when using peptides is important, such as ensuring proper dosing and administration.
Individuals with underlying medical conditions or those taking other medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting peptide therapy.
Peptides vs Growth Hormone & TRT
Peptides are often compared with two related treatments: growth hormone injections and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
The biggest difference is that certain peptides can stimulate the body’s natural production of hormones like GH and testosterone. This results in a significant but modest increase in these hormones with relatively few side effects.
In contrast, injecting synthetic growth hormone or testosterone into your body can result in a large increase in these hormones. That’s why these therapies’ effects and potential side effects are much greater than peptides.
In summary, both peptides and GH and TRT treatments can replace or supplement the natural levels of growth hormone and testosterone. However, peptides generally result in smaller increases of these hormones and have fewer and milder side effects because they use your body’s natural mechanisms.
Peptide Supplements & Food Sources
You may be surprised to hear that some of your favorite supplements are actually peptides. For example, creatine, the most widely consumed and evidence-backed athletic supplement ever, is a small peptide.
Another popular example is collagen peptides, which are taken for their supposed skin, joint, hair, and anti-aging benefits (9).
Peptides are also naturally found in many foods, and especially protein-rich ones like meat, fish, beans, soy, and oats.
Peptides: The Future is Bright
Peptides are natural molecules that are unlocking an exciting new frontier in healthcare. Thanks to their potency and safety, peptides offer serious advantages over standard drugs.
Peptides can boost immune function and tissue repair, support fat loss and muscle gain, enhance athletic performance, slow down the signs of aging, and provide other benefits.
They’re already widely utilized for some health conditions, used by bodybuilders and athletes, and are increasingly popular among older adults. However, further research is needed to fully unlock their potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Peptides shouldn’t be confused with anabolic steroids, which are especially popular in the bodybuilding community. Steroids are fatty molecules with much more powerful effects on the body, which is why they can result in huge physique changes but at the cost of serious side effects. In contrast, peptides have weaker effects and are much safer.