iloliloli/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Search the word “peptides” and a long list of online retailer options will come up. You’ll be presented with vials of molecules with strange names that sound like something from an exoplanet: GHK-Cu, CJC12-95, thymosin beta-4.
These synthetic peptides are becoming popular among biohackers and wellness influencers. They often take them via injection, in the hope that they will enhance athletic performance and optimize health.
Among online enthusiasts, fitness TikToker Noah J claimed in a recent video that the peptide BPC-157 healed his shoulder injury: “I absolutely love this thing!” Like many influencers who talk about peptides, his profile is linked to a discount code for an online retailer.
(NPR contacted Noah J via his TikTok and Instagram accounts for comment and to ask whether he receives any income from sales of the peptide, but did not hear back.)
But there are risks when using substances that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human use. What do doctors and scientists say about this trend?
Claim
Various synthetic peptides stimulate natural biological processes that can improve one’s health and appearance. Different peptides have different claims but some of the most popular are: muscle growth, improved immune function and slowed aging.
evidence
Peptides are chains of amino acids. Their number in the human body is in millions. Some signal your body to do important things like regulate immune function, develop certain cells, and control hormones.
There are well-known synthetic peptides that are FDA-approved, effective medications. Insulin is one, as is GLP-1, the active ingredient in obesity drugs.
But many of the other peptides you can buy are, at best, experimental, and their purported benefits are unproven.
Says most research has been done on animals or in laboratories, not on humans Paul Knoepfler, A cell and molecular biologist at the University of California, Davis. Depending on the peptide and its application, the science could make theoretical sense, he says, but Knoepfler cautioned that using an untested peptide could cause serious harm.
For example, some animal studies show that BPC-157 helps tissue repair because it accelerates the growth of new blood vessels. Knoepfler cautioned that this peptide could theoretically also encourage the growth of precancerous cells.
“You have to test them in clinical trials to be sure there are any positives or negatives,” he says.
Knoepfler also notes that the same substance that is useful in one dosage may be ineffective or even harmful in another dosage.
“You can’t decide what dose to take,” he says, but without further research, the therapeutic dose is unknown. “There is often no apparent rhyme or reason to the wellness peptide supplements that people are taking,” he adds.
Knoepfler says anyone who is committed to trying these should consult a physician.
Some are open to alternative viewpoints. And it’s better to talk to the doctor yourself than to pretend, agree Howard Schlamberg, A former FDA deputy commissioner. “At least if you’re talking to your doctor, you’re talking to someone who can theoretically be held accountable.”
Dr. Amanda Kahn She runs a concierge medical practice in midtown Manhattan and says many of her patients come to her for a second or third opinion for issues like inflammation or chronic pain. Kahn says that in some cases the popularity of peptides has outstripped the science, but she would tout them as an “adjunctive” therapy if she felt it was appropriate.
She told NPR that she makes sure patients understand that these drugs are experimental. “I don’t promise it’s going to fix everything,” she says.
market
Some people are purchasing peptides without a doctor’s involvement and purchasing them from online sellers. It contains research-grade peptides whose labels state that they are not for pharmaceutical use.
But Kahn and Knoepfler warn that these products may contain solutions or contaminants that are toxic, and they say people should not buy peptides without consulting a physician.
Doctors who prescribe these usually refer patients Compounding Pharmacies. These are specialized pharmacies that can prepare tailored versions of medications for individual patients.
Peptides that are not FDA-approved – including many popular peptides touted by influencers – cannot be obtained from a general pharmacy.
Part of the problem is that, with a few exceptions, these pharmacies are not regulated the same way as drug manufacturers, and that can make compounding products risky, Schlamberg says.
“This has been a long-term challenge for the FDA for many years,” says Schlamberg, who added that when compounding pharmacies produce large quantities of a drug, quality control is of greater concern.
Scott Bruner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, says compounding pharmacies are licensed and inspected by state boards of pharmacy. He argues that this regulatory framework is not weak, just different.
“Inspection is rigorous and appropriate for a pharmacy making a drug for a patient that has been prescribed by a doctor,” he says.
In an email statement, the FDA told NPR it is working to develop a list of bulk drug substances that can be used in compounding. Currently, some peptides are on the fda list Of substances with “significant safety concerns”.
And purchasing peptides marketed as supplements is risky. Schlamberg says these products could be viewed as unregulated drugs, although the volume of online retail sales makes it difficult for the FDA to go after every bad actor.
When it comes to peptides, “it’s really like a Wild West,” he says.
ground level
Some popular peptides marketed online may have potential health and wellness benefits. But most have not been well studied for efficacy and safety in humans, so taking them is a gamble.
Consulting a physician and purchasing peptides from a compounding pharmacy can reduce some of the risks. Still, these drugs are experimental, and long-term health consequences are unknown.
