Peptide therapy involves using specific peptides, or short chains of amino acids, to promote health, wellbeing, and anti-aging effects in the body. Peptides used therapeutically are synthetically manufactured and are designed to mimic naturally occurring peptides in the body. They work by binding to and activating cell receptors to regulate biological processes and functions.
How Peptide Therapy Works
Peptides used in therapy work through several key mechanisms:
- Signaling - Peptides bind to cell receptors and activate signaling cascades that regulate biological processes like tissue repair, inflammation control, and cell growth. For example, some peptides stimulate tissue rebuilding, while others reduce inflammation.
- Hormone Regulation - Some peptides directly promote the release of critical hormones in the body like growth hormone, testosterone, or thyroid hormones. This helps restore optimal hormonal balance when levels decline with age.
- Enzyme Activation - Peptides can activate or block enzymes involved in important bodily processes. For example, some peptides regulate enzymes needed for energy production.
Delivery Methods
There are several ways peptides can be administered:
- Injections - Most peptides are given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This allows them to directly enter the bloodstream.
- Oral - A few peptide formulations have been developed for oral delivery. However, most peptides taken orally would be broken down by stomach enzymes.
- Topical - Topical gels and creams allow application directly onto the skin, especially for peptides with effects on wound healing and inflammation.
Types of Peptides Used Therapeutically
Some of the main categories of peptides used in therapy include:
- Growth hormone-releasing peptides - Stimulate the body's own growth hormone production, like ipamorelin and sermorelin. Effects: Increased energy, lean muscle gain, fat loss, injury healing, anti-aging.
- Collagen peptides - Help stimulate collagen production and tissue repair. Effects: Skin, bone/joint, muscle, and tendon healing and rebuild damaged tissues.
- Brain and nervous system peptides - Include cerebrolysin, selank, and semax. Effects: Improved cognitive function, mood enhancement, neuroplasticity, and neural tissue repair.
- Metabolic peptides - Like AOD9604 which mimics a metabolically active fragment of human growth hormone. Effects: Weight loss, fat burning, increased energy expenditure.
- Gut healing peptides - Help repair intestinal lining and reduce gut inflammation. Effects: Heal leaky gut, alleviate IBS, improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
Benefits of Peptide Therapy
Potential benefits depend on the individual peptides used but in general peptide therapy aims to:
- Slow aspects of aging
- Optimize hormones
- Increase strength and lean muscle mass
- Recover faster from injury or surgery
- Reduce inflammation and pain
- Improve skin and wounds
- Enhance cognitive function
- Strengthen joints and bones
- Boost metabolic function and weight loss
Research continues to uncover the extensive therapeutic potential of peptides to enhance health, slow aging, and counteract disease. Synthetically produced peptides allow precision targeting of signaling pathways and biological processes related to tissue repair, inflammation control, and healthy cellular functioning unlike any other class of molecule.
