Your Peptide Starter Pack
Is everybody using peptides ? The answer is closer to yes than you think — and even they might not know it.
GLP-1's are peptides , and so is insulin — to name just two of the many that are FDA-approved. Now, a handful of others are up for debate in Washington, DC..
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The topic? Whether the FDA should reinstate seven peptides to the 503A Bulk Drug Substances list, which would allow compounding pharmacies to start producing them again (after they were removed three years ago). The Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) are discussing and voting on July 23 and 24, then will pass their recommendations to the FDA to make the final call.
Peptides are everywhere — and if we're betting — bound to become mainstream. So why don't the vast majority of Americans know what they are?
Peptides, the basics
Peptides are nothing more than short chains of amino acids, which are popularly known as the "building blocks" of proteins.
"I think of them as biological messengers," says clinical pharmacist and precision health expert James LaValle, RPh, CCN, the chief science officer at Life Time and clinical co-chair of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine . Each specific kind of peptide carries a different instruction, explains LaValle, who is also chair of the International Peptide Society. "They help regulate processes such as metabolism, hormone activity, immune function, tissue repair, inflammation and digestion."
The special thing about peptides is that they occur naturally in your body, says Dr. Sue Decotiis , MD, a triple-board certified physician specializing in peptides, weight loss and aging. "Our body is run on peptides," she explains. "They're easily metabolized." That can — theoretically — make them easier to tolerate.
You've probably heard of peptide injections, but there are multiple ways to take peptides, like:
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Pills:Some peptides (like GLP-1s) are becoming more common in pill form .
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Topical creams:These are best when you're looking for local skin effects (like a copper peptide cream ).
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Patches:Sometimes called strips, these sit on your skin or dissolve orally in your mouth.
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Injections:Injections are likely the most popular method, but they're not automatically better, LaValle says. Still, injections "often provide the most predictable systemic exposure because many peptides are broken down in the digestive tract."
There's no one best method to get your peptides — it depends on the specific peptide and your goals. LaValle's rule of thumb is to choose the method of delivery that shows the most effectiveness clinically, or in studies.
Which peptides are approved?
Roughly 100 peptides are officially FDA-approved. For background, this means that a drug company "has taken exhaustive measures to get it approved, so they've done all this testing and paid all this money," Decotiis explains. That means we have lots of data on these peptides (including GLP-1s, insulin, and some human growth hormone-releasing peptides) verifying how to use them safely.
Peptides don't have to be FDA approved for doctors to prescribe them — but they do have to be deemed safe enough for compounding. When a drug is compounded , it means that a licensed pharmacist or physician has mixed the ingredients of the drug to create a medication tailored to your individual needs — versus getting the version of the drug produced by a pharmaceutical company, which is the same for everyone. (You might remember when compounded GLP-1's gained popularity a few years ago during the shortage of FDA-approved options like Ozempic.)
Compounded drugs aren't FDA approved, which means the FDA hasn't reviewed their safety, quality or effectiveness. That means it's essential to find a provider that has experience prescribing peptides and works with a compounding pharmacy that they trust, Decotiis says. You're putting a lot of faith into the provider and their pharmacy, so you need to know that they know what they're doing.
What is peptide stacking?
If you're on social media, then you've no doubt heard people talking about peptide "stacking." This term refers to using two or more peptides simultaneously to achieve different or complementary effects. Some popular peptide stacks include:
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Glow peptides:Claims to support skin and hair health, tissue repair, and skin elasticity. This stack consists of the peptides BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu (copper peptide).
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Wolverine peptides:Claims to help speed up healing from surgery and muscle and joint injuries. muscle tears. This stack consists of BPC-157 and TB-500.
Note that neither BPC-157 or TB-500 are approved for compounding, though both are up for debate at the advisory council meeting. Speaking of…
So what about this FDA advisory committee meeting…?
The PCAC is currently meeting to discuss seven peptides:
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BPC-157
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KPV
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TB-500
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MOTS-c
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Emideltide (also called DSIP)
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Semax
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Epitalon
These peptides (plus five more) were previously on the 503A Bulk Drug Substances list, meaning they were able to be prescribed and compounded. However, all 12 were reclassified in 2023 to restrict their use. At the time, the FDA cited safety concerns and a lack of evidence supporting their efficacy.
Now these seven peptides are back up for debate, and there's some controversy around it—especially because some members of the PCAC have been linked to clinics and businesses that supply peptides, per the New York Times . The committee's first vote, on BPC-157, came out in favor of widening access to the peptide.
However, the committee can only recommend actions; the final say comes from the FDA, which has advised against broader access to these peptides. In documents preparing for the hearing, FDA scientists noted that the peptides under discussion aren't well-understood or sufficiently studied, per NYT.
It is interesting to note that Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is a known user and supporter of peptides. So… watch this space for updates.
What if I want to use peptides?
Do it under the care of a physician who specializes in them. "You should never purchase something you inject in your body without the supervision of a healthcare provider," says LaValle. "Seek out a healthcare provider with experience using peptides and who is a good match for you and the health goals you are trying to accomplish."
He especially warns against using peptides labeled as "research only," as they "may or may not have the active ingredient in proper amounts, may not be purified and therefore may be adulterated with forever chemicals, solvents, metals or endotoxins."
And our experts agreed that, as helpful as some peptides can be, they are effective as just one part of a holistic, healthy lifestyle, with quality nutrition , exercise, sleep , and stress management. "Peptides should be one tool in a broader health plan," says LaValle, "not a shortcut around the fundamentals."
