A FEW YEARS ago, talking about peptides would pretty much guarantee blank stares from your friends. Now peptides is the latest buzzword in wellness spaces. But what is a peptide exactly?
The simplest definition of a peptide is that it’s a small protein—a chain of amino acids (those are the building blocks of protein). While protein is most known for building muscles, it also has other important functions. Peptides act as messengers throughout the body, telling it to perform a wide variety of functions from regulating hormones to boosting your immune system. There are millions of natural peptides in the body.
Given their versatility, artificial versions of peptides are used in medicine. These are lab-grown strings of amino acids that mimic fragments of the natural peptide. Insulin and GLP-1s (Ozempic, Zepbound) are two well-known examples of FDA-approved synthetic peptides.
Other peptides have also exploded in popularity. BPC-157 is an experimental peptide circulating around fitness spaces with influencers like Joe Rogan touting the benefits. (The muscle recovery effects are so popular that people are even injecting it into their dogs). Even peptides like SS-31 that are FDA-approved are being repurposed beyond their original intended use (in this case, the new use is for better eyesight). Social media has also been buzzing about peptides as a way to maximize wellness. People are using a number of different peptides to increase cognition, longevity, sleep duration, and revive sexual libido.
Numerous peptides, including BPC-157, are still experimental, meaning their effects—and side effects—are still under scrutiny. Most benefits have been largely anecdotal. Men’s Health recently created a guide on nineteen of the most popular peptides. This includes an in-depth analysis of the studies available on the twelve peptides under review by the FDA later this summer. The resource is intended to help people understand the research behind each peptide and make informed decisions on their personal health.
When people start tossing around the word “peptide,” it’s worth remembering that peptides aren’t all just one thing.
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, MS is the associate health & fitness for Men’s Health and has previously written for CNN, Scientific American, Popular Science, and National Geographic before joining the brand. When she’s not working, she’s doing circus arts or working towards the perfect pull-up.
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