Are Peptide Shots Safe?
The FDA held a meeting at last Friday to define what constitutes “from foods” in dietary supplements. The focus was on peptides, short chains of amino acids that have many functions in the body. For example, GLP-1 receptor agonists that are popular for type 2 diabetes and weight loss is a peptide. Insulin is also a peptide. There are an estimated 300,000 peptides that have various functions in the body. We only know what a few hundred do, but there’s great hope for what peptides can do in the body to address specific needs.
The dietary supplement industry has a great interest in having peptides classified as a food so they wouldn’t require the same proof of benefit as pharmaceuticals must meet. There are two problems as I see it. First, there are no research studies from human trials to support the notion that the peptides are safe. We don’t know proper dosing, side effects, nor adverse events in humans. There seems to be plenty of testimonials that circulate on social media but no real trials to assess safety.
Second, and more important, the delivery system has to be intravenous or intramuscular. That means a person will have to inject themselves with a liquid and trust that it’s manufactured under sterile conditions with no contaminants. I don’t know about you, but I draw the line when there is no safety data if I have to break the skin to inject something into my body.
If you want to know more about these peptides and their safety, the research that has been done, the potential benefits they could have, and the general tone of the FDA meeting, sign up to be a Member or Insider as I’ll cover them in the monthly update. The audio should land sometime Friday.
What are you prepared to do today?
