Benefits & Risks of Peptide Therapeutics for Physical & Mental Health
Andrew Huberman・2 minutes read
Peptides, small proteins made of chains of amino acids, have diverse effects on cellular processes, requiring caution in their use for specific health purposes. Understanding their source, purity, and proper dosages is crucial for safety and effectiveness in achieving desired health goals.
Insights
- Peptides are small proteins made of amino acids with diverse effects on cellular processes and organ systems, requiring caution due to potential side effects and dosages.
- Obtaining peptides through prescription from a board-certified medical doctor ensures purity and safety, avoiding risks associated with gray or black market peptides lacking proper purification.
- Peptide Therapeutics, like BPC-157 and Thymosin beta 4, show promise in tissue rejuvenation and repair, but careful consideration of dosages and potential risks, including tumor growth, is essential.
- Growth hormone peptides, such as ghrp3 and MK677, can stimulate growth hormone release but may lead to elevated cortisol levels and receptor desensitization, necessitating physician oversight for safe usage.
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Recent questions
What are peptides?
Peptides are small proteins made of amino acids.
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Summary
00:00
"Versatile Peptides: Effects, Safety, and Usage"
- Peptides are small proteins made of chains of amino acids, with some being hormones, neuropeptides, or multitaskers.
- Peptides can have pleotropic effects, impacting various cellular processes and organ systems.
- Peptides bind to receptors on cell surfaces, triggering multiple pathways and effects within cells.
- Therapeutic peptides have diverse effects, rarely limited to a single function, requiring consideration of potential side effects and dosages.
- Obtaining peptides can be through prescription from a board-certified medical doctor, ensuring purity and safety.
- Prescription peptides are often FDA-approved and free of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), crucial for avoiding immune responses.
- Gray market and black market peptides may lack proper purification, risking immune reactions and inaccurate labeling.
- Peptides are typically injected subcutaneously or into muscles, but some can be taken orally or topically.
- Understanding the source and purity of peptides is vital for safety and effectiveness in achieving desired health goals.
- Peptides offer a range of therapeutic benefits, but caution is necessary when selecting and using them for specific health purposes.
14:26
Exploring Therapeutic Peptides for Tissue Rejuvenation
- Peptide Therapeutics should be explored under the guidance of a board-certified physician and sourced from reputable sources.
- Specific peptides can aid in tissue rejuvenation and repair, particularly for muscle, connective tissue, and gut issues like IBS or colitis.
- Peptides can also be beneficial for metabolism, growth, fat loss, muscle growth, and improving metabolism in various tissues.
- Therapeutic peptides for longevity may help in preventing tumor growth and potentially increasing lifespan, though this area is still experimental.
- Peptides can enhance vitality, mood, and libido in both men and women.
- Tissue rejuvenation involves cellular turnover, tissue repair, and angiogenesis, which is the development of new blood vessels.
- BPC-157 promotes cellular turnover, cellular migration, and angiogenesis, leading to tissue repair and rejuvenation.
- BPC-157 encourages fiberblast migration and growth, aiding in the repair of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- BPC-157's safety profile is high, with a very high LD50, but caution should be exercised in dosages and duration of use.
- The mode of delivery of BPC-157, whether systemic or local, does not significantly impact its effectiveness, though caution is advised in its use for tumor growth and certain diseases.
30:13
Peptides for tissue repair and rejuvenation.
- BPC 157 is known for increasing fibroblast migration, angiogenesis, and upregulating growth hormone receptors at injury sites.
- The upregulation of growth hormone receptors by BPC 157 can be advantageous for tissue repair but may accelerate tumor growth in individuals with tumors.
- BPC 157's increase in angiogenesis is through upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), contrasting with Avastin, a VEGF inhibitor used in cancer treatment.
- BPC 157's popularity stems from anecdotal reports of accelerated injury recovery, but caution is advised due to potential tumor growth risks.
- BPC 157 is typically taken in doses of 300-500 micrograms, 2-3 times per week, with monitoring for potential tumor growth.
- Thymosin beta 4 and TB500 are peptides gaining attention for tissue rejuvenation and repair, derived from the thymus and known for promoting wound healing in children.
- Thymosin beta 4 and TB500 show promise in animal studies for wound healing, but their efficacy in humans lacks clinical trial validation.
- Thymosin beta 4 promotes stem cell proliferation, extracellular matrix growth, and various cell types associated with tissue repair.
- Thymosin beta 4 is distinct from BPC 157 in its focus on tissue repair rather than growth promotion, often used alongside BPC 157 for tissue rejuvenation.
- Growth hormone, naturally secreted by the pituitary gland, plays a crucial role in metabolism, muscle growth, and fat loss, with reduced production after age 30 affecting overall well-being and vitality.
43:36
Peptides for Growth Hormone Stimulation and Safety
- Growth hormone is released by the anterior pituitary after stimulation by releasing hormone, circulating in the blood and affecting various tissues, increasing ATP production and promoting tissue repair and growth.
- Growth hormone reaching the liver triggers the release of igf-1, which synergistically works with growth hormone in regulating blood sugar metabolism and promoting vitality and energy.
- Synthetic growth hormone is available for purchase and can be injected subcutaneously at night to stimulate tissue growth, but caution is advised due to its indiscriminate growth effects, potentially encouraging tumor growth.
- Negative feedback mechanisms can shut down excessive growth hormone levels, leading to the development of peptide Therapeutics called secretagogues that stimulate growth hormone release indirectly.
- Two categories of peptides for stimulating growth hormone release exist: ghrh peptides and growth hormone releasing peptides, with the latter being more advantageous due to FDA approval and proven efficacy.
- Category one peptides like celin mimic natural growth hormone releasing hormone, increasing growth hormone and igf-1 levels, typically taken at night in doses of 200-400 micrograms.
- Tesamorelin, another category one peptide, reduces visceral fat and shares similar effects with celin, taken about three times per week due to its longer-lasting effects.
- CJC-1295, a category one peptide, has long-lasting effects on growth hormone and igf-1 levels but has safety concerns, making celin and tesamorelin more favorable options.
- Category two peptides like ipomarelin and hexarelin stimulate growth hormone release by mimicking or stimulating ghrelin, increasing hunger and anxiety levels, with hexarelin being the strongest stimulator but potentially causing side effects like increased prolactin levels and receptor desensitization.
- It is crucial to work with a physician when considering peptides like hexarelin due to potential side effects and receptor desensitization risks, making low doses and careful monitoring essential for safe usage.
57:00
"Peptides and Synthetic Compounds for Growth Hormone"
- Type 2 growth hormone promoting peptides include ghrp2, ghrp3, and ghrp6, designed to increase growth hormone levels but can also raise prolactin and cortisol significantly.
- Ghrp3 can double circulating cortisol levels, which can be problematic if not well regulated throughout the day.
- Growth hormone peptides, whether type 1 or type 2, are typically taken before bed, around 20 to 30 minutes before sleep, after at least an hour and a half of not eating, and avoiding food for at least 30 minutes after to maximize their effectiveness.
- MK677 is an oral version of ghrps, causing similar issues like elevated cortisol and prolactin levels.
- Synthetic peptides like cellin and Tess morelan are FDA-approved for specific purposes but used off-label to increase growth hormone and igf-1 levels, taken 3 to 5 times a week.
- Type 2 peptides like hexarelin and ipamorelin can increase growth hormone but may lead to receptor desensitization or internalization.
- Combining different growth hormone peptides can be beneficial, but dosing should be carefully managed to avoid unnecessary increases in cortisol and prolactin.
- Augmenting growth hormone through peptides or synthetic compounds can lead to changes in body structure, increasing tumor growth and cancer risk due to the indiscriminate growth promotion of growth hormone and igf-1.
- Epitalon, a peptide secreted from the pineal gland, is considered a potential longevity agent, mimicking naturally occurring peptides to suppress tumor growth, increase telomere length, and recalibrate Circadian rhythms.
- Epitalon is available as a synthetic compound, obtained from compounding pharmacies, and is used based on animal data showing its ability to increase telomere length, suppress tumor growth, and restore Circadian rhythms disrupted by aging.
01:10:23
Peptides for Longevity and Vitality: Overview
- Peptides for longevity are based on the idea that early thymus activity promotes robust tissue healing, which diminishes as we age.
- Animal studies and natural compounds inspire peptide design, like thymus and beta 4 tb500, but lack direct clinical trials for life extension.
- Melanocyte stimulating hormone-related peptides, such as melanotan 1-5, mimic natural hormones to stimulate skin pigmentation.
- The melanocortin system responds to sunlight, activating melanocytes for skin pigmentation and releasing dopamine, affecting mood and libido.
- Melanotan peptides, crossing the blood-brain barrier, impact psychology, appetite, mood, and libido, mimicking sunlight's effects.
- Peptide pt-141, FDA-approved for hypoactive sexual desire, stimulates pigmentation, potentially affecting libido and mood.
- Side effects of melanocyte-stimulating peptides include nausea, skin flushing, and increased blood pressure, with caution for melanoma patients.
- Kisspeptin, a brain-made peptide, regulates hormone pathways for vitality, libido, and reproduction, with synthetic versions used for various treatments.
- Kisspeptin antagonists suppress kisspeptin for menopausal symptom relief, while kisspeptin peptides aim to enhance vitality, libido, and hormone production.
- Peptide therapeutics, like kisspeptin, offer potential benefits but carry risks due to their pleotropic effects, requiring careful monitoring and expert guidance.
01:25:14
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