What is Peptide Therapy? What To Know
Peptide therapy is an increasingly popular strategy to improve various health issues. Peptides are small proteins that can act as signaling molecules in your body. They can affect your immune health, metabolism, skin health, and many other areas of your body.
What is peptide therapy, exactly? And how can you benefit from it? Let’s find out.
What Is Peptide Therapy?
Before we get into the potential uses and benefits of peptide therapy, let’s start with the basics.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, made up of 2 – 50 amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein (1). Peptides are smaller than proteins. This means your body can break down and absorb them more easily. They can enter your skin, intestines, and bloodstream quickly.
Types of Peptides
Peptides offer both structural and functional support for biological functions, including in cellular communication, wound healing, and fat burning. There are two types of peptides: endogenous and exogenous.
Endogenous peptides are natural peptides found inside your body, in your cells and tissues (1). Endogenous peptides can have various roles, including forming hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, enzymes, and other biological compounds.
Exogenous peptides are peptides you support your body with from outside sources, including supplements, food, cosmetics, or medication. We use exogenous therapeutic peptides that come from supplements or medication.
What Is Peptide Therapy
Peptide therapy is a therapeutic strategy that uses synthetic peptides to improve various areas of your health. Peptide therapy may help with a variety of things, including decreasing inflammation, improving immune health, strengthening the skin barrier, promoting wound healing, supporting antioxidant levels, aiding cellular communication, reducing blood pressure, lowering the risk of blood clots, and aiding weight loss (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). They do this by triggering hormonal release that can affect various bodily processes.
History and Development of Peptide Therapy
Peptide therapy is not new. Initially, it was studied in the mid-20th century mainly for hormone regulation and neurotransmission. Since then, we’ve had major advances in biotechnology, which allowed scientists to synthesize specific peptides for specific needs (10, 11, 12, 13).
Targeted peptide therapy may be used for metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and age-related issues (14, 15, 16). Some peptide-based medications, including insulin for diabetes and growth hormone peptides, allowed new treatment approaches (17, 18). There is ongoing research on how peptide therapy may be used for regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and other areas (19, 20).
How Peptide Therapy Works
Now that you understand what is peptide therapy, let’s look at how peptide drugs work in your body.
Cell Communication and Regulation
Peptide therapy may help to enhance cell communication and regulation in your body. These amino acid chains can interact with various receptors on the surface of your cells, which can trigger biochemical processes that affect cell behaviors (21, 22).
These processes can help to regulate inflammation, tissue repair, the immune response, and other areas of your health. By supporting cellular communication, peptides may allow your cells to respond to stress, cellular and tissue damage, and the effects of aging better and keep you healthy longer.
Targeted Treatment Approach
One of the best things about peptide therapy is that we can use a targeted treatment approach. Specific peptides are designed and can be used to address specific health conditions. Each has a unique structure that allows them to target specific receptors and pathways in your body.
One peptide may help with tissue repair and regeneration. Another one may be great for reducing inflammation and autoimmunity. Another one may be fantastic for hormonal imbalances, weight loss, or age-related symptoms.
Here you can read about different peptides to use for weight loss. In this article, you can learn about the benefits of IGF-1 for anti-aging and increasing lean muscle mass. Here, we detailed the benefits of BPC 157 peptides for gut-brain health. And in this article, you can learn about CJC-1295 and ipamorelin for anti-aging benefits.
We can also stack peptides, which means multiple peptide compounds for a synergic benefit to target various health issues at the same time (23, 24). Considering that long list of peptides and the variety of peptide stacking options, it’s critical that you work with your healthcare professional to pick the best peptide stack for your needs.
Common Uses of Peptide Therapy
Peptide therapy may be used for a variety of health benefits. Here are some of the most common uses of peptide therapy:
Anti-Aging and Skin Health
One of the most common uses of peptide therapy is for anti-aging treatment, more specifically for improving skin health. Peptides can stimulate collagen production, which is critical for skin elasticity and firmness. Since your body’s collagen production naturally declines as you age, you will develop fine lines, wrinkles, saggy skin, and other signs of skin aging.
By improving collagen synthesis, collagen peptides can improve your skin texture and elasticity, decrease the risk and appearance of wrinkles, and support your overall skin health. The effects don’t take long either. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology has found that 12 weeks of line-targeting peptide serum (LTPS) helped to reduce wrinkles and expression lines and improve skin health (25). Peptides may also offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, which may improve cellular repair and reduce skin damage.
Muscle Growth and Repair
Another common use of peptide therapy is for muscle recovery and strength, especially in athletes and those who are looking to gain muscle or perform well. Growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) are two of the most popular peptides that may stimulate protein synthesis and support the production of growth hormones.
According to a 2019 review published in Sexual Medicine Reviews, using peptides that mimic human growth hormone production can stimulate the pituitary gland, which can improve body composition, increase lean mass, reduce fat mass, and improve sleep (26). According to a 2020 review published in Cells, using IGF-1 may improve muscle mass and reduce muscle atrophy (27). Overall, peptide hormone therapy may help to increase muscle mass, improve athletic performance, reduce the risk of injuries, and support your recovery from injuries. However, they should not be abused and misused.
Benefits of Peptide Therapy
Besides the common uses of peptides, there are also some other benefits of peptide treatments we should mention.
Enhanced Energy and Metabolism
Peptide therapy may help to improve your metabolic function and energy levels. Growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) and mitochondrial peptides may help to improve your body’s ability to create more cellular energy. According to a 2020 review published in the American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism, mitochondrial-derived peptides may support mitochondrial metabolism, improve cellular or mitochondrial homeostasis, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders (28).
By allowing your cells to convert nutrients into energy more efficiently, they may help to increase mitochondrial efficiency, stamina, endurance, and vitality. By helping to regulate your metabolic hormones, they may allow better fat burning, a healthier metabolism, weight loss, and weight maintenance.
Improved Immune Function
Finally, peptide therapy may play a role in supporting your immune system. For example, thymosin alpha-1 and LL-37 are peptides that can promote T-cell and natural killer cell production and activity. They can help your body fight infections more effectively, lower inflammation, and boost overall immune health, especially in people with autoimmune disorders.
Peptides may also offer antimicrobial properties that can protect you from various pathogens. According to a 2020 review published in the World Journal of Immunology, thymosin alpha-1 may offer antibacterial and antiviral properties, help fight infections, and decrease morbidity and mortality in sepsis and numerous infections (29). They may also play a role in treating autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases characterized by a weakened immune system (30, 31).
Potential Side Effects and Risks
While peptide therapy is generally considered safe, there are some potential adverse reactions and side effects you should be aware of before deciding if this treatment is right for you.
Possible Adverse Reactions
Peptide therapy is considered safe for most people when used according to a doctor’s instructions. Common side effects may include:
- allergic reactions
- hives or swelling
- headaches
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- dizziness
- skin sensitivity
- skin rashes
- fast heart rate
- heart palpitations
- high blood pressure
Serious side effects are rare. However, we must note that supplements are not tested or regulated by the FDA, so some peptide supplements on the market may cause more side effects.
Who Should Avoid Peptide Therapy
You should be cautious about using therapeutic peptides if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medication, or have a medical condition. In these situations, talk to your doctor to determine if peptide therapy is safe for you. Talk to your doctor about what medications and supplements you may be taking to avoid any negative interactions.
How to Start Peptide Therapy
If you’re interested in starting peptide therapy to improve your overall health, you’ll need to find a qualified healthcare provider who can help you through the process.
Consulting with a Qualified Healthcare Provider
Before starting peptide therapy, it is critical that you work with a qualified healthcare provider who specializes in this treatment. They can do a physical exam, go over your medical history, symptoms, goals, and medications you are taking, and help you choose the right peptide combination for you. They can also monitor your progress. Working with a qualified healthcare professional can minimize risks and optimize your results.
Available Forms of Peptide Therapy
There are a variety of forms of peptide therapy, including injections, oral supplements, and creams. Peptide injections are generally the most effective, as they get right into your bloodstream and tend to be the most bioavailable.
However, a peptide drug or topical cream may be more convenient and less intimidating. Though they are usually less potent, they may be the right option for you. We recommend that you work with your healthcare provider to find the best treatment to meet your needs. At our center, we are happy to help to select the best form for your situation.
Is Peptide Therapy Right For You?
The future of peptide therapy is exciting. More and more people know about peptide therapy and its benefits. Research is ongoing and advancements are rapidly evolving on how to use peptides for the prevention and treatment of various health conditions, as well as for overall wellness.
There are so many ways you may benefit from peptide therapy, including increased energy levels, skin rejuvenation, and immune support. If you are interested in exploring peptide therapy or need support improving your health, we encourage you to set up an appointment with us here.