Influencers are promoting peptides for better health. What does the science say?
8 hours ago
- #health trends
- #peptides
- #FDA regulation
- Influencers and biohackers are promoting synthetic peptides like GHK-CU, CJC12-95, and BPC-157 for health benefits such as muscle growth, immune function, and anti-aging.
- Peptides are chains of amino acids that regulate biological processes, but many synthetic peptides sold online lack FDA approval and human clinical trials.
- Research on peptides is mostly limited to animal or lab studies, with potential risks like promoting precancerous cell growth or unknown dosages.
- Doctors warn against self-administering peptides due to risks of toxicity, contamination, and lack of regulation in online sales.
- Compounding pharmacies provide tailored peptide treatments but are less regulated than standard drug manufacturers, raising quality control concerns.
- The FDA lists some peptides as having 'significant safety concerns,' and purchasing them as supplements is risky due to unregulated markets.
- While some peptides show potential benefits, their efficacy and long-term safety in humans remain unproven, making their use experimental and uncertain.