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From weight loss to 'eternal youth': The peptide boom and its dark side
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ป Latvia /Health & Science

From weight loss to 'eternal youth': The peptide boom and its dark side

From Delfi Latvia · () Latvian

Translated from Latvian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Social media claims that peptides can slow aging, build muscle, and aid weight loss are widespread, but their scientific backing is often unclear.
  • Peptides are amino acid compounds naturally present in the body and have been used in medicine since the 1980s, with some, like insulin, being well-established.
  • While some peptides are approved for medical use, like weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, many others are still in experimental research stages.

Peptides are being heavily promoted on social media as a miracle solution for everything from weight loss and muscle gain to slowing aging and achieving "eternal youth." However, the reality behind these claims is complex, with many peptides lacking thorough scientific investigation and official approval for widespread use.

Peptides are compounds of amino acids, where amino acids are linked together by peptide bonds.

โ€” Eva MoreinoDr. Eva Moreino explains the basic composition of peptides.

Family doctor Eva Moreino explains that peptides are compounds of amino acids linked together. While traditionally defined as a connection of 40-50 amino acids, this can extend to larger molecules like insulin. Contrary to some claims, peptides are not a new human invention; they have always existed within our bodies, playing crucial roles in signaling for various functions such as metabolism, mood regulation, muscle growth, tissue regeneration, collagen production, and nervous system activity.

Now I increasingly hear even from healthcare specialists phrases like no peptide has been approved for use in medicine. That is complete nonsense!

โ€” Eva MoreinoDr. Eva Moreino refutes claims that no peptides are approved for medical use.

Moreino clarifies that peptides have been utilized in medicine since the 1980s. She refutes the notion that no peptides are approved for medical use, citing examples like insulin and oxytocin. Additionally, modern weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are peptide-based and officially approved. She notes a shift where the function is sometimes discovered first, and then the peptide that triggers it is identified, but currently, many discovered peptides' functions remain unknown, presenting a vast area for scientific development.

Peptides have long been used in medicine, since the 80s.

โ€” Eva MoreinoDr. Eva Moreino provides a timeline for the medical use of peptides.

Peptides can be broadly categorized into two groups: those already integrated into medical treatments and those still in experimental phases. While established medical peptides and newer approved drugs exist, a significant number are undergoing research and have not yet received approval for general use. This distinction is crucial as the public encounters a surge of unverified claims about peptide efficacy online.

Peptides have always been in our body, even when we didn't know they existed. Peptides are what mostly signal the body to do something.

โ€” Eva MoreinoDr. Eva Moreino describes the natural presence and function of peptides in the human body.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi Latvia in Latvian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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