What to know about that trendy anti-aging peptide (BPC-157)

Faster recovery. Smoother skin. More energy than they’ve had in years. If your social media algorithm looks anything like mine, you probably see someone who swears a peptide changed their life in the first three minutes of scrolling. And if you are like me, you might be wondering how much of these claims are true. This week, we're covering what the human evidence on peptides shows, and how to tell a proven one from a marketed one.

Currently, one of the most talked-about peptides is BPC-157. It’s marketed for injury recovery and anti-aging, but it has just three small human studies (compared to its 36 animal trials). The largest of these three studies had only 16 participants and no control group.

"Patients bring up peptides for all kinds of reasons — workout recovery, a nagging tendon injury, anti-aging,” says Dr. Lucy McBride, a primary care physician and author of the forthcoming book Beyond the Prescription. But when she digs into the problem someone's actually trying to solve, it usually comes down to control and certainty. “They've been lured by sophisticated marketing that there's something hidden behind a velvet curtain that will fix them,” she says. But “this is not data I would rely on to provide recommendations for humans,” says McBride. “We are not rodents.”

GLP-1 medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), are peptides, too. The difference is that they underwent the FDA's full human trial process before approval. “Peptides aren't the villain; unregulated sourcing is,” says McBride.

McBride says that unregulated peptides are enjoying the limelight of their parents, Ozempic and Zepbound, which are “truly wonderful tools for the right patient.” But she cautions that we shouldn’t apply the same enthusiasm to unregulated peptides until they've been proven safe and effective.

Dr. McBride suggests starting with two questions before ever getting to a doctor's office: 

“Sometimes you don't need a GLP-1 to feel satiated; you need to eat lunch,” she says. “Sometimes you don't need Ozempic for metabolic health; you need to focus on a protein- and fiber-rich diet. And sometimes you need both.”

Once you get to a doctor, a yes-or-no question like “Should I take a GLP-1?” isn’t the way to go. This just invites a rushed one-word answer. Instead, Dr. McBride recommends you ask ‘What are the risks and benefits of a [the thing you are inquiring about] for me?’ as a better conversation starter.

Peptides are unregulated, unproven in humans, and give people the illusion of control when it's the boring, unsexy basics that a lot of people are missing, such as sleep, exercise, nutritious eating, stress management, and cardiovascular health management, says McBride. “Peptides hold real promise for health,” she adds, “but let's not let marketing hype get ahead of the science.”

If you've been eyeing a peptide menu at your local med spa, consider this your invitation to ask a few more questions before you order, starting with what you are looking for specifically, followed by what's backed by data, and what's still catching up.

The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.