What Are Peptides? The FDA Is Deciding If They're Safe to Use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration — known as the FDA — is holding a special meeting this week to review seven substances called peptides. These peptides were previously banned because of safety concerns. Even so, many people have been buying and using them anyway, often through wellness clinics or social media. The FDA wants to figure out if they are actually safe and if they really work.

Peptides are small proteins made of chains of amino acids. Your body naturally produces some of them, while others are made in labs. The ones being reviewed have been sold through alternative health websites and promoted by influencers on TikTok. Some are made in unregulated labs, often in China, and sold as 'research grade' — meaning they are not officially approved for human use.

FDA scientists reviewed the research on all seven peptides and said there is not enough proof that any of them are safe or effective in humans. The agency is looking at them for specific conditions like ulcerative colitis, insomnia, and osteoporosis. But many people are using them for all kinds of other reasons as well. The FDA's advisers have recommended against approving them for now.

BPC-157 is sometimes called the 'Wolverine compound' after the Marvel superhero, because people believe it helps the body heal fast. The FDA is reviewing it as a possible treatment for ulcerative colitis, a disease of the large intestine. It is also used by people hoping to heal muscles and joints more quickly. A few small human studies showed possible benefits, but those studies had serious weaknesses and are not considered strong evidence.

TB-500 was originally developed as a drug for racehorses and racing greyhounds. The FDA is now reviewing it for wound healing in humans. Researchers could find no studies of TB-500 in humans at all — only one mouse study suggesting it helped with wound healing. FDA experts warned that without more data, the risks of using this peptide are simply unknown.

Epitalon comes from a substance found in the pineal glands of cattle, and it is being evaluated for insomnia. It is widely marketed as a 'longevity peptide' that slows aging and prevents disease. These claims are based on its ability to lengthen telomeres, parts of DNA linked to how long cells live. However, scientists have raised a serious concern: longer telomeres may actually increase the risk of cancer, and the FDA warned that long-term use of epitalon could be carcinogenic.