Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks the body uses to make proteins. Because they are small, many peptides act as signaling molecules that help cells and tissues communicate. The body makes thousands of them naturally, including hormones like insulin and oxytocin.
Interest in peptides has grown quickly, and so has the amount of confusing or overstated information online. This page is meant to give a balanced, plain-language overview of what peptides are, how they are regulated, and what is and isn’t known about them.
Not all peptides are regulated the same way, and the difference matters.
FDA-approved peptide medications have gone through clinical trials and are approved for specific, diagnosed conditions. Examples include:
When there is a diagnosed condition, an FDA-approved medication is generally the appropriate starting point.
Research peptides are different. Compounds such as BPC-157, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin and TB-500 are not FDA-approved for any use. Much of what is known about them comes from animal or small early-stage studies, large clinical trials are lacking, and long-term safety data is limited. Their availability and regulatory status can also change. They are described here for general education only.
Researchers are looking at peptides in several areas of normal body function, including:
Peptides are widely used in topical skin-care products. Researchers study them for their possible role in collagen signaling, skin barrier function and skin appearance. Copper peptides such as GHK-Cu are a well-known example.
Some peptides are being studied for how they may interact with the body’s natural recovery response after injury or exercise. Most of this research is still early, much of it in animals, and results in people have not been well established.
None of the following are FDA-approved. Listed for general education only.
If you’ve read or heard about a peptide and want a straightforward explanation of what the research does and doesn’t show, we’re happy to talk it through. Whether anything is appropriate for you depends on your health history, goals and current medications.
Feel free to contact us or call (435) 900-1210 with questions.
This page is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Except for the FDA-approved medications noted above, the peptides discussed here are not FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and their effects in people have not been well established. Individual responses vary, and no specific results are implied. Please talk with a licensed healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.
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