A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review - PubMed

3 hours ago

The use of peptides and peptide analogs is emerging as a new trend in doping for sports and bodybuilding, marketed as selective and safer alternatives to anabolic-androgenic steroids.
Clinical evidence supporting peptide use in sports is limited, with most studies focusing on therapeutic applications rather than supraphysiological or combined protocols used in bodybuilding.
Potential risks associated with peptide use include cardiovascular strain, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and psychiatric instability, compounded by unregulated supply chains that may offer mislabeled or contaminated products.
Regulatory bodies like WADA are improving detection technologies, but analytical challenges persist due to peptides' structural similarities to endogenous hormones and short half-lives.
There is a lack of data on peptide prevalence in the general population, despite anecdotal reports and social media promotion, especially among recreational gym-goers and younger individuals, highlighting a critical knowledge gap.
Peptides should be considered experimental substances with poorly defined long-term risks, making their use in both competitive and recreational settings high-risk and ethically problematic until further longitudinal data is available.

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