Medical providers in the Charleston area told WCSC that public excitement over peptides is outpacing the actual science, and that some people are putting their health at risk to obtain them. Med-spas, weight loss clinics and wellness centers in the region are advertising peptides as compounds for muscle growth, skin health, sleep and energy.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, according to Lauren Parkman, a board-certified nurse practitioner with a specialty certification in obesity medicine. She said the peptides used in her practice include Wegovy and Zepbound, drugs that mimic GLP, a hormone and peptide the body produces naturally.

What peptides actually are

Dr. Todd Joye, founder and owner of InterveneMD, said amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and that more than 50 bound together is called a protein while fewer than 50 is a peptide. He said the body contains more than 7,000 peptides, but only a little more than 100 are currently known, and some, but not all, are FDA-approved.

Joye said peptides are not new, and that the GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been around for at least 20 years. The most common peptide historically, he said, is insulin for diabetes.

Where the research runs out

Parkman said she is not aware of a lot of good clinical research studying the peptides available for purchase online from various companies. The peptides she said providers are most familiar with are the FDA-approved ones.

Joye said long-term safety data is limited for many peptides outside the GLP-1 category. He said he has heard of cases where patients using products bought online had reactions, or where the products did not contain the material they should have.

What the providers advise

Joye said peptides are being used indiscriminately and without proper supervision, and described a patient who reported peptides being handed out at his gym. He said foundational issues including hormones, mitochondrial health, inflammation, diet, stress and nutrition should be addressed first, and that his practice uses diagnostic testing to identify root causes.

Parkman said GLP-1 medications can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, but that those risks can typically be minimized when the drugs are prescribed by a health care provider.

Bottom line

Both providers recommend consulting a primary care physician before pursuing peptide treatment rather than searching online for ways to obtain the compounds. Joye said more research is needed, and that patients should not do this by themselves.