Peptides have become the latest health and wellness trend, with online influencers touting their effectiveness in improving nearly everything from your looks, muscle recovery, fat loss, anti-aging and longevity.

Peptides have been used for medicinal purposes for a long time; insulin was discovered more than 100 years ago. Since then, the FDA has approved some 100 different peptide therapies for various conditions. Before jumping on the bandwagon, it’s important to know what peptides are, what they do and what pitfalls to avoid. 

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up protein. Peptides serve as fast acting chemical messengers in the body, telling cells, tissues and organs what to do. Your body makes many types of peptides on its own for different uses. For example, insulin is a peptide made in your body that controls blood sugar levels. Endorphins are used to block pain signals and relieve stress. Antimicrobial peptides are found in the skin and fight off harmful bacteria and help heal wounds.

Many foods are naturally high in peptides, such as eggs, milk, dairy, meat and fish, legumes, grains and seeds. The body uses peptides from the food we eat to repair tissue, build muscle and run chemical processes. 

Scientists have learned to create synthetic peptides that have many uses in medicine and are FDA approved. GLP-1s are used to treat diabetes and aid in weight loss. Other injectable peptides treat endocrine disorders, stimulate new bone growth to treat severe osteoporosis or regulate bleeding disorders. Having FDA approval means that these peptide medications have been studied in large clinical trials, so there is good data supporting their safety and effectiveness. 

Peptide drugs are nearly always injected, as the digestive system breaks them down into their amino acid components, rendering them less effective. Until recently, the pharmaceutical companies thought that people would not inject themselves regularly unless it was medically necessary. The success of GLP-1 drugs changed that perception and opened the door for many new uses for peptides scientists had previously discovered and started a chain of events.

Compounding pharmacies then began to formulate customized medications using FDA-approved ingredients as patients sought cheaper alternatives to the expensive and often hard to find pharmaceutical-produced GLPs. Peptides do have enormous potential to revolutionize treatment for many chronic conditions, which has led to people exploring other uses for peptides but forgoing the necessary step of rigorous testing in humans.  

Lately, there have been many new peptide products on the market claiming all sorts of things: that they can boost athletic performance or muscle growth, reduce inflammation, support joint health or have anti-aging benefits and more. These peptides are largely unregulated and have varying degrees of research to back their claims. Getting peptides from a compounding pharmacy is safer than from unregulated peptide companies that may be outside the U.S., as compounding pharmacies are highly regulated and have quality standards. It is much safer to use FDA-approved medicines or products that are prescribed by a doctor familiar with your health goals and issues. Your doctor may use compounding pharmacies that he or she knows and trusts.

The danger with unregulated products of any kind is that there is no evidence to say that they are safe for use in humans or not. These products may be manufactured in less-than-ideal conditions or may even be contaminated with impurities. The biggest worry is that we have no idea what long term effects an unregulated peptide could have, which could be anything from allergic reactions, autoimmune responses or even cancer. People who have used unregulated peptides report experiencing gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, fatigue and injection site irritation.

Are peptide products good for me? Topical peptide creams and serums are usually safe and can improve skin hydration and firmness. However, using unapproved or self-injected peptides can have serious consequences and perhaps long-term safety risks from product contamination or adverse responses. As for anti-aging effects for skin, retinol works faster and better than peptide products, while peptides are better for more gentle moisturizing and sensitive skin. Peptide facial products produce more subtle results that take longer to show than retinol. The two products can work well together as peptides repair and soothe skin and counter the drying effects of retinol. 

But how can one know whether a product has FDA approval? You can verify if a peptide product has FDA approval by searching the FDA-approved Peptide List Database using the brand name, active ingredient or new d rug application number. 

FDA-approved peptide medications require a prescription, list a specific commercial manufacturer, display a lot number and state an approved medical indication. Products labeled “for research only,” “not for human consumption” or those that are sold in generic vials online do not have FDA approval. FDA approval applies to specific brand name drugs and medical use, not to raw peptide compounds. It is important to know that while the FDA may approve certain peptides for compounding, that does not mean that the final compounded medicine has FDA approval. 

Editor’s note: Compounding is when a pharmacist creates a medicine for a specific patient by mixing or altering various ingredients. Individual compounded products do not go through the FDA formal approval process though the individual ingredients may have approval. Compounding alters medications to meet patient needs such as eliminating allergens.