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Remember the 90s cult classic Death Becomes Her <\/em><\/em>where Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn take a magic potion that makes them look and feel younger?<\/p>\n Peptides seem to be today\u2019s version of that magic potion \u2014 or at least that\u2019s what a growing number of influencers online want you to think. <\/p>\n A quick scroll through social media shows people raving about \u201cwellness\u201d peptides with robot names like BPC-157 as the fountain of youth. The injectable concoctions, also known as synthetic peptides, are said to heal injuries, slow aging, boost lean muscle, clear brain fog<\/a> and more. <\/p>\n Of course, you can\u2019t believe everything you read on the internet. And hopefully the thought of injecting anything into your body gives you proper pause. But it\u2019s not just social media buzz. Peptides have been in the spotlight recently after an FDA-advisory panel recommended loosening restrictions on six peptides to help treat different health conditions. <\/p>\n So what are peptides, anyway? And can they put more pep in your step? Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n What are peptides? <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Peptides are short chains of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids in the body that serve as building blocks for proteins. \u201cThe sequence of these amino acids \u2014 think like letters of an alphabet creating words \u2014 determines the peptide\u2019s function in the body,\u201d said Angela DeRosa, D.O.<\/a>, founder and CEO of the Hormonal Health Institute and member of HealthyWomen\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Advisory Council<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your body makes peptides \u2014 there are more than 7,000 naturally occurring peptides in the human body \u2014 and peptides are also made using amino acids found in dietary proteins like eggs and legumes. Other peptides, like collagen peptides<\/a>, can be taken orally as a dietary supplement. <\/p>\n Peptides can also be synthesized in labs to treat certain health conditions. Well-known commercial synthetic peptides like insulin, semaglutide and tirzepatide are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). <\/p>\n However, most of the synthetic peptides you see on social media, are made in compounding pharmacies or other facilities and are not FDA approved, which means the product isn\u2019t held to the same strict standards for quality, safety and efficacy as FDA-approved products. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n What do peptides do? <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Peptides essentially act as messengers in the body to support metabolism, immune health and muscle repair and regulate hormones, among other important body processes.<\/p>\n DeRosa said peptides act like a key fitting into a lock. \u201cThey bind to a specific receptor on the outside of a given cell in the body and that binding triggers a response inside the cell. The reaction depends on which peptide is used as each peptide has a different target.\u201d For example, oxytocin, a peptide hormone, targets milk duct receptors to allow the breast ducts to let down milk for breastfeeding<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Why do people use synthetic peptides?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n FDA-approved synthetic peptides are prescribed to help treat diseases such as diabetes<\/a> or obesity<\/a>.<\/p>\n Synthetic peptides can also be prescribed to complement traditional treatments for certain conditions such as insomnia<\/a>, cognitive decline and hormone problems. \u201cFor example, if a patient has severe testosterone deficiency and is extremely fatigued and doesn\u2019t sleep well or has sexual dysfunction, taking a growth hormone peptide or PTP-141 for libido will not work well until the testosterone deficiency has been fixed,\u201d DeRosa said. \u201cThen these peptides become nice layering treatments on top of testosterone.\u201d <\/p>\n DeRosa also noted that taking peptides can help optimize cellular function, immunity and mitochondria health and help with physical disorders, such as healing after soft tissue injury, joint issues and musculoskeletal disorders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Do the injectable \u201cwellness\u201d peptides work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n We know FDA-approved prescription peptides have the research to back up the benefits of the medications. However, most of the synthetic peptides sold online are not FDA-approved, and many don\u2019t have the data to back up the claims.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious about taking peptides, DeRosa said to find a clinician who has the proper training and education on peptides.<\/p>\n \u201cInfluencers are not reputable sources and don\u2019t have the proper education to know who is an appropriate candidate for each peptide, what the medical considerations or interactions are, what labs or screening should be done before taking a peptide or how to properly monitor someone taking peptides,\u201d DeRosa said. \u201cAre they obtaining the products from legal and safe compounding pharmacies versus getting peptides from someone at their gym? A clinician can help guide people to appropriate sources.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n An FDA-advisory panel voted to loosen restrictions on six peptides. What does that mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n \u201cThis vote is not a green light to prescribe peptides,\u201d DeRosa said. \u201cThe pharmacy compounding advisory committee recommended to the FDA that these peptides be reclassified from category 2 \u2014 illegal to compound \u2014 to category 1, or legal to compound, while under active review by the FDA.\u201d<\/p>\n This means that compounded pharmacies would be able create slightly altered versions of the six peptides to sell to consumers.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that the panel vote<\/a> is a recommendation to the FDA \u2014 the FDA has the final legal say. And the FDA still has to go through a long public notice and comment process before any official changes can happen. \u201cUntil then, these compounds are still not approved to legally compound.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
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