unregulated peptides

see also:

• hormones
• sports injuries
• https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety-monitoring-and-information/safety-alerts/understanding-your-responsibilities-when-importing-compounding-and-supplying-unapproved-peptide-products

• a number of synthetic injectable peptides are being sold which have not been approved and which may be harmful
• their use is often driven by social media influencers who often spread medical misinformation
• laboratory testing of grey-market vials reveals widespread mislabeling, inconsistent dosing, and heavy contamination
• one of the reasons many of these peptides are not approved for human use is that there is not enough evidence of their safety
• self-injecting unknown substances can cause local tissue damage, severe allergic reactions requiring hospitalization, kidney failure, and can be lethal
• peptides interfering with hormone pathways and cellular growth could potentially stimulate cancers or disrupt endocrine function

• whilst semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have been approved
• marketers have been selling un-approved peptides which may cause additional issues
• see glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) peptide analogs (eg. Ozempic)

• use of melanotan-II (MT-II) causes skin tanning but may also result in a multitude of atypical moles with potential increased risk of melanoma in the future¹⁾

• mainly used to accelerate healing of tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries
• derived from a protein naturally found in human gastric juice. It was first isolated and studied for its role in protecting and healing the gastrointestinal tract.
• thought to work through several mechanisms, including:²⁾
  • upregulation of growth hormone receptors in tendon and muscle tissue
  • promotion of angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
  • modulation of nitric oxide pathways to support tissue perfusion
  • anti-inflammatory effects via interaction with the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems
  • direct cytoprotective effects on the gut lining
• there are currently no published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in humans for BPC-157

• a synthetic peptide derived from the naturally occurring protein Thymosin Beta-4, widely studied in preclinical research for its ability to promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and accelerate healing in muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• primarily used as an experimental or veterinary agent. It lacks official medical guidelines and standard human dosing protocols
• as it encourages cell migration and blood vessel growth, individuals with a history of cancer or elevated cancer risk are generally advised to avoid it.
• long-term use requires careful immune monitoring

• for skin anti-aging