Largely Unregulated: The Buzz About Peptides

Peptides—chains of typically 2 to 50 amino acids—are the new buzzword in wellness, adding incredible hype to what’s considered healthy. Indeed, the peptide buzz is everywhere, from skincare to performance enhancement, anti-aging, weight loss, and medical treatments. So, what are they? Peptides are naturally found in the body and can also be ingested through food and synthetic supplements. Composed of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, and connected in a specific sequence, peptides regulate myriad bodily functions, including hormone production (this means insulin), immune response, tissue repair, and cell signaling. Peptides are incredibly versatile due to their specificity and ability to target receptors or processors in the body. Although loaded with potential benefits, peptides, including synthetic peptides, also often lack proper regulation and quality control and come with several risks and dangers.

Again, peptides are tiny chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), they are shorter than proteins, and they typically contain 2 to 50 amino acids, although some definitions extend this range to 100. By contrast, proteins are longer and often contain over 100 amino acids. Peptides can be imagined as short strings of unique “pearls.” These pearls represent the 20 proteinogenic amino acids commonly found in nature. Without getting too far off track while describing the processes of our amazing human bodies, proteinogenic amino acids are the amino acids that are incorporated into proteins during the process by which cells synthesize proteins based on genetic instructions, a process known as translation.

Peptides can be arranged in countless possible sequences, with the ability to repeat at any frequency. For example, in collagen—a key protein in skin, cartilage, and tendons—the amino acid glycine appears every third position in a specific pattern. Peptides are essential because, along with fat and water, proteins (and their smaller cousins, peptides) make up almost the entire composition of our bodies. And despite their shared structural principles, proteins serve an extraordinary variety of functions and are fundamental to our diet. Thanks to the varied combinations of amino acids, peptides serve diverse roles, from hormones to structural components. Many peptides are biologically active, functioning as hormones like insulin (with two peptide chains of 30 and 21 amino acids linked together), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (a tripeptide with three amino acids), or calcitonin (32 amino acids). This versatility makes peptides indispensable for bodily functions, medical treatments, and even dietary needs.

Peptides are indeed incredible, so why should there be concern over the astonishing hype surrounding them? For starters, synthetic (artificial) peptides, such as those sold online, often aren’t regulated by agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Yes, peptides sold in drug products (such as peptides for chronic pain, the treatment of Rett syndrome, and, of course—with obesity plaguing our nation—weight-loss) are regulated by the FDA, but the online craze has a life of its own. Synthetic peptides, which are lab-made chains of amino acids, aren’t automatically dangerous, but, like anything produced with a hefty profit in mind, they can cause problems depending on how they’re made, used, or regulated. The danger arises when synthetic peptides are sold and used without proper oversight, particularly in applications such as bodybuilding (the World Anti-Doping Agency has banned BPC-157 and any growth-hormone-releasing peptides) or anti-aging.

But, unfortunately, the peptide craze is messier than that. Incredibly, and with FDA approval, some actually consider that synthetic peptides like semaglutide, used for medical treatments like diabetes (which we know is linked to poor diet, vaccines that destroy immune response, ultra-processed foods, and so on), is safe for unprecedented weight loss. The hype around peptide semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) is so fierce (and profitable) that sales easily reached $42 billion last year for Danish company Novo Nordisk.

And guess what? Propagandized American consumers account for more than 71 percent of the company’s obesity drug sales. In fact, sales of the weight-loss peptides have become a significant economic force in Novo’s tiny homeland of Denmark, whose population of 6 million is smaller than that of New York City. In the US, a massive $4.1 billion factory expansion to make Ozempic (the demand for it is so widespread, there has been a shortage), with buildings that stretch half a mile, has broken ground in Clayton, NC. Additionally, in December, Novo Holdings acquired New Jersey-based drug manufacturer Catalent for $11.7 billion, adding three more factories to meet the unprecedented demand.

As we move past the weight-loss craze, which, again, enjoys the FDA’s stamp of approval, many synthetic peptides sold online, such as BPC-157 or CJC-1295, aren’t regulated by agencies like the FDA. These “research chemicals” or “research peptides” might be impure or incorrectly labeled and sold without oversight. In turn, improper use of these experimental (and expensive) products can lead to side effects like infections, allergies, or even worse health issues. Misuse is also a problem—people sometimes take these peptides without proper medical advice, using wrong doses or injecting them improperly, causing issues like hormonal imbalances, joint pain, or irritation at the injection site. For instance, overusing peptides that boost growth hormones may disrupt your body’s natural hormone levels, which certainly makes sense and sounds extremely dangerous.

Likewise, there is a notable lack of long-term research on many synthetic peptides, particularly those used outside of medical applications. Without solid studies, it’s hard to know if they’re safe over time or if they might cause serious problems like organ stress or, for example, increase cancer risks. Unlike natural peptides, which your body carefully controls, synthetic peptides from untrustworthy sources or misused can be incredibly dangerous.

To stay safe, work towards having a healthy, natural, and thriving body. Along with that, if you’re going to experiment with research peptides (and the word “experiment” is accurate), only use synthetic peptides prescribed by a healthcare provider that you have researched thoroughly, and avoid buying from untrustworthy online sellers who have paid influencers a hefty sum to gleefully promote their products. Always check with a doctor before trying peptides for non-medical reasons, like muscle growth or skincare, and be cautious about new peptides with little research. The problem isn’t necessarily that they’re synthetic—it’s about how they’re made, who’s selling them, and how they’re used.