What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks your body uses to make proteins. Think of them as tiny protein fragments that act as signaling molecules. Your body naturally makes many peptides, but their levels tend to drop as you age.
Some peptides tell your body to repair tissue. Others boost your immune system or protect your mitochondria (the energy factories inside your cells). Scientists are studying whether restoring these peptides to youthful levels could slow down aging or help your body repair itself better.
How Peptides Differ from Supplements
| Supplements | Peptides |
|---|---|
| Vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids | Short protein fragments (2-50 amino acids) |
| Sold over the counter at any store | Often require a prescription or are sold as “research chemicals” |
| FDA loosely regulates as food | Most peptides for anti-aging are NOT FDA approved |
| Generally well-studied | Human data ranges from excellent (some) to almost nonexistent (others) |
| Taken orally (pills, powders) | Often injected or used as nasal sprays (stomach acid destroys most peptides) |
The Regulatory Reality
This is important: most peptides discussed in longevity circles are not FDA-approved for anti-aging. Some are approved for specific medical conditions (like thymosin alpha-1 for hepatitis, or elamipretide for Barth syndrome). Others exist in a gray zone — sold by compounding pharmacies or as “research chemicals” with no quality control.
We cover them anyway because people are using them. Our job is to tell you what the science actually says, what the risks are, and where the evidence is strong vs. where it’s entirely based on animal studies.
Peptide Profiles
Each profile below follows the same format as our supplement deep dives: a Simple Summary anyone can understand, followed by the detailed science. We grade the evidence honestly — even when the truth is “we just don’t know yet.”
- BPC-157: The Body’s Repair Peptide — What the science actually shows about the most popular peptide in sports medicine
- Coming soon: Epitalon, GHK-Cu, MOTS-c, Thymosin Alpha-1, Thymosin Beta-4, SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Important Disclaimer: Peptides are an emerging area of science. Many covered here are NOT FDA-approved for anti-aging or longevity. Some are prescription-only. Others are sold as research chemicals with no quality control. This information is for educational purposes only. Nothing on this page is medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before considering any peptide. Full disclaimer