You may be hearing a lot about peptides—supplements that can help with muscle repair and boost your immune system. But many man-made (synthetic) peptides haven’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and there are questions about whether they are safe.
In this Q&A, endocrinologist Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program, explains what peptide supplements do and whether they are safe and effective.
What are peptides?
Peptides are natural substances that your body makes. They are chains of amino acids, which are molecules that combine to form proteins. Proteins help your body grow, repair itself, and stay healthy.
What are the most common types of peptides that doctors prescribe?
The three peptides that doctors safely prescribe are insulin, oxytocin, and GLP-1s.
- Insulin helps your body turn food into energy. It also keeps your blood sugar at a healthy level. People with diabetes may need insulin if their bodies don’t make enough insulin or can’t use it correctly.
- Oxytocin helps during labor and breastfeeding. It also helps us feel calm, trusting, and emotionally stable. Doctors may use oxytocin when women are giving birth to help start or strengthen labor contractions.
- GLP–1s regulate blood sugar and tell your brain when you’ve had enough to eat. Doctors might prescribe a GLP-1 (such as Wegovy® or Zepbound®) to suppress your appetite, slow digestion, and help you lose weight.
Your body makes all of these peptides naturally. Peptides prescribed by doctors are made in scientific laboratories under careful supervision.
Why are people talking about peptides on social media?
Thanks to social media “wellness” influencers, who often are not medical professionals, there is growing interest in synthetic peptides. These influencers often talk about how synthetic peptides can affect healthy aging, healing, muscle repair, and our immune system.
The peptides they recommend often come in the form of pills or shots. They are usually made in compounding pharmacies, which are not as well-regulated as scientific labs. Given the unknowns, you should speak with your doctor to understand any potential risks.
Are synthetic peptides safe and effective?
We don’t know. These peptides are not FDA approved. Not enough studies have been done to know if synthetic peptides are safe. And most of the studies that have been done are on animals, not humans. In addition, scientists have not studied what doses are appropriate and whether these peptides are safe in the long term.
Another concern is that most synthetic peptides are made in compounding pharmacies. These facilities don’t have the same level of FDA monitoring and oversight as scientific labs. This may increase the risk of contamination.
It is also important to know who is prescribing these peptides and whether they are licensed.
Why are peptides so popular?
People are always interested in how to improve their health, live longer, and help our bodies heal. The recent success of GLP-1 medications for weight management has also fueled interest in peptides, but the safety of GLP-1s is backed by significant research.
When it comes to peptide supplements, there is still not much that is understood. I do not support use of synthetic peptides that have not been FDA approved. I recommend caution—you are using them at your own risk. We hope these peptides will be studied more vigorously under FDA guidance.