Peptides are one of the hottest topics in wellness and anti-aging. While GLP-1 receptor agonists are the most widely known and used peptides, weight-loss peptides only scratch the surface of cutting-edge peptide therapies available that can revitalize your health.
Peptides play an extensive role in the body and are used in peptide therapy for numerous applications outside of weight-loss, ranging from muscle growth and recovery to cognitive function, skin rejuvenation, libido, immunity, gut health, pain management, and more.
Many peptides are also being studied and used to help manage health conditions. Even GLP-1 agonists are being explored for benefits other than weight loss and metabolic support, with the most recent large trials underway investigating their potential uses in cardiovascular risk reduction, kidney disease, and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The peptide craze is real, and it’s not hype. Many people are using peptide therapy to address health needs, slow down aging, and improve overall well-being, and are seeing impressive results.
In this article, we’ll help you fully understand:
- What peptides are, why they matter, and how they can decline
- The key areas of wellness and anti-aging peptides support
- How to restore lost peptides with peptide therapy
- What peptide therapy is and who might benefit most
- Common peptides used in peptide therapy and the goals they support
- The exact steps you need to take to start your custom peptide therapy protocol
What Are Peptides and Why Your Body Needs Them
The human body produces tens of thousands of unique proteins, all of which require amino acids to form and function properly. Some proteins contain hundreds or even thousands of amino acids, while others, like peptides, are made up of much smaller amounts.
Peptides are short chains of around 2 to 50 amino acids. Despite their small size, peptides have a big impact on how your body functions. Peptides play a crucial role in the regulation and coordination of many bodily systems, acting as cell signaling molecules that tell your cells how to function.
Without peptides, your body would lose many of its abilities to communicate and respond effectively at the cellular level, which could impair crucial processes essential for overall health and healthy aging. This could be anything from tissue repair and muscle growth to sleep, metabolism, energy, sexual function, skin health, cognition, and more.
The human body naturally produces more than 7,000 known peptides and is constantly using, recycling, and rebuilding them. While this process is highly efficient, certain factors can interfere with how peptides are made or how well they function. When that happens, the body’s ability to maintain internal balance can start to shift, leading to a decline in peptide levels over time.
What Causes Peptide Levels to Decline?
Peptide levels don’t stay consistent forever. As you get older, certain peptides become less active or are produced in lower amounts, which can impact everything from skin elasticity and muscle tone to metabolic and cognitive health.
Beyond age, peptide levels can also be disrupted by chronic stress, inflammation, illness, poor sleep, and even overtraining. These stressors interfere with cellular signaling and repair, making it harder for the body to regulate key systems efficiently.
Whatever the reason, when peptide activity declines, the negative effects eventually pop up. Often, they start subtly. You might notice slower recovery, brain fog, energy dips, or visible signs of aging.
But over time, this loss of cellular communication can contribute to more serious health issues, including insulin resistance, muscle wasting, immune dysregulation, and hormonal imbalances. Left unaddressed, these changes may increase the risk of chronic disease.
Can Your Body Restore Lost Peptides?
Yes, but only to a point. Your body naturally produces peptides on its own. But as you age, internal peptide production starts to decline. Factors like chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, and cellular aging can also slow the body’s ability to make and use peptides efficiently.
While a healthy lifestyle that includes quality protein intake, strength training, good sleep, and stress management can help support your body’s ability to produce certain peptides, it’s often not enough to fully restore levels that have dropped significantly.
How to Restore Peptides in the Body
To restore peptide function in the body, some peptides may need to be replicated or replenished using targeted peptide medications or peptide therapy, which can mimic or restore the body’s natural signaling processes to help reestablish healthy communication between cells and bring disrupted systems back into balance.
While peptide therapy has more recently gained momentum in the wellness and longevity space, peptides have been used in medicine for decades. Insulin, for example, is a peptide that’s been used to manage type 1 diabetes since the 1920s.
What’s changed is that research has rapidly expanded our understanding of how peptides influence critical systems in the body. As a result, medications have become more targeted and precise. A good example is semaglutide (Ozempic), a modern GLP-1 peptide designed to help regulate blood sugar, appetite, and metabolic function.
Today, peptides are being used in clinical settings and functional medicine practices across the country that offer peptide therapy as part of personalized protocols to support metabolism, recovery, energy, skin health, healthy aging, and more.
What is Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy is the targeted use of short amino acid chains, called peptides, to regulate, enhance, or optimize specific systems and responses in the body. Peptides used in therapy can mimic or influence a wide range of natural processes. It all depends on the peptide chosen and its role in the body.
Some peptides are used for muscle growth or muscle and tissue repair, others are used for fat metabolism, skin health, inflammation reduction, immune system function, cognition, and sexual wellness. Many peptides can even act on multiple systems at once, meaning they can support more than one area of health simultaneously.
For example, while GLP‑1 agonist peptides are primarily used for weight loss and metabolic health, they are also being studied for cardiovascular health and neuroprotection. BPC‑157 is another example. Most people use it for injury recovery, but it is also being explored for gut health and inflammation support.
Peptides have a wide range of potential therapeutic effects, making them valuable in various areas of medicine, wellness, and anti-aging. Some of the most common reasons people seek peptide therapy include the ability to:
- Support weight loss and improve metabolic health
- Enhance skin quality and promote healthier, more youthful-looking skin
- Stimulate muscle growth and lean body mass
- Increase strength and improve physical performance
- Speed recovery from injuries and exercise
- Reduce pain and support joint health
- Balance hormones and support healthy hormone function
- Improve digestion and overall gut health
- Boost sexual wellness and address certain sexual performance concerns
- Increase daily energy and reduce fatigue
- Improve sleep quality and sleep patterns
- Enhance memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance
- Support brain health and resilience against age-related cognitive decline
- Strengthen bones and improve bone density
We’ll explain the peptide therapy process in more detail further down, but peptides are most commonly introduced to the body by injection (intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular), also known as parenteral delivery.
Other routes, such as oral, nasal, transdermal, and transmucosal delivery, are available for some peptides. However, these can present challenges, such as reduced absorption or breakdown in the digestive tract. More research is being done to improve the stability and absorption of non-injectable peptide forms. In the meantime, parenteral delivery remains the preferred method for most peptide therapy treatments.
Once administered, peptides enter the bloodstream and begin interacting with receptors or target cells, triggering the specific signaling pathways associated with their function. In some cases, effects can be felt quickly, such as improved workout recovery or appetite regulation. In others, benefits develop gradually as the body adapts to the signaling changes.
Now, you might be wondering: If peptides are essentially just mini-proteins, couldn’t you just take a protein supplement and get the same effects as peptide therapy? The answer is no. Dietary protein and therapeutic peptides work in fundamentally different ways.
When you consume dietary protein, your body breaks it down into individual amino acids and small peptide fragments during digestion. These are then reassembled into new proteins as your body needs them, but they won’t specifically mimic the structure or function of therapeutic peptides. Peptide therapy delivers precise sequences of amino acids that are designed to send specific instructions to your cells.
So, while you should eat adequate amounts of protein (especially when using GLP‑1 peptides), dietary protein from food or supplements does not provide the targeted cellular signaling effects achieved with peptide therapy.
To learn more about peptide therapy, read “Peptide Therapy Explained: Boost Your Health with Cutting-Edge Treatments” and “The Science of Peptide Therapy: How It Works and Why It Matters.”
Popular Peptides Used in Peptide Therapy and the Health, Wellness, and Anti-Aging Goals They Support
Different peptides have different mechanisms of action. Therefore, peptide therapy protocols vary based on your goals, health history, and how your body responds to certain compounds. After your consultation and complete health evaluation, it might be determined that a single peptide is best, or several peptides could be combined.
There is no definitive count of all peptides in use for therapy. About 80 to 100 peptide-based drugs are approved by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies worldwide. That doesn’t include the many peptides currently in clinical trials or preclinical research, nor those compounded for specific patient protocols.
Below are a few of the most common peptides used in various forms of peptide therapy and the health, wellness, or anti-aging goals they’re believed to support. This is not a complete list. Some of these peptides might not be available at the clinic you visit, while others that are not listed may be available and suggested.
Collagen Peptides
The first time most people heard the word “peptide” was probably a decade or so ago, when collagen supplements surged in popularity. Collagen peptides are short chains of amino acids sourced primarily from animal collagen, often bovine, marine, or poultry.
There are now many topical peptides, skincare actives, and medical aesthetic services that can support collagen production. Collagen peptide supplements also remain popular for those seeking to support skin hydration, elasticity, joint health, and connective tissue structure.
Copper Peptides
Copper peptides are most associated with anti-aging and skin rejuvenation, due to their potential to stimulate collagen and elastin production, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, improve skin firmness and elasticity, and enhance overall skin appearance.
While you might see other variations of copper peptides, such as AHK-Cu (studied for hair growth and skin health), the most prominent and well-researched copper peptide for skin rejuvenation is GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine).
GHK-Cu is approved for topical use in cosmetics and skincare products and is often used in medical aesthetic treatments, such as microneedling, for its potential to improve skin firmness, texture, and tone.
Injectable GHK‑Cu has also been explored for wound healing and tissue repair. However, while preliminary studies show promising results, injectable GHK-Cu is not currently FDA-approved in the United States and is still considered a research peptide.
Incretin‑Based Peptides (GLP‑1, GIP, and Multi‑Agonists)
Incretin‑based peptides mimic or enhance the action of natural gut‑derived hormones that regulate blood sugar, appetite, and metabolism. This category includes GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and GIP/GLP‑1 dual agonists such as tirzepatide.
A newer peptide, Retatrutide, is also on the rise, which is a triple agonist that targets GLP‑1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. Retatrutide is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, with early study results showing significant weight-loss potential. In Phase 2 trials, participants averaged up to 24 percent weight loss over about one year.
FDA‑approved incretin-based peptide formulations are available by prescription for several conditions, including type 2 diabetes management, long‑term weight management in adults with obesity, and weight management in adults who are overweight with at least one weight‑related medical condition. Compounded versions of these peptides, prepared by licensed, accredited compounding pharmacies, are also commonly prescribed and used under medical supervision.
BPC‑157 (Body Protection Compound‑157)
Often called the “wolverine peptide” due to its reported effects on cellular regeneration, BPC‑157 is a synthetic peptide derived from a protein found in gastric juices. It is widely used in wellness settings to support tendon and ligament repair, wound healing, gut health, and inflammation reduction.
Currently, BPC‑157 is in early human and preclinical trials and remains unapproved for clinical use in the U.S., where it is classified as a research peptide.
CJC‑1295
CJC‑1295 is a synthetic growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that stimulates the pituitary gland to increase growth hormone and IGF‑1 production. It is often used in peptide therapy protocols to support muscle gain, fat reduction, recovery, and skin elasticity.
While CJC-1395 can be prescribed on its own, it is often paired with Ipamorelin for a synergistic effect on growth hormone release.
It is important to note that CJC‑1295 is not FDA-approved for any of these uses or for any medical condition. In the United States, it is currently classified as a research-use peptide.
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone–releasing peptide (GHRP) that stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone without significantly affecting cortisol or prolactin levels.
Ipamorelin is often used in peptide therapy protocols for its ability to promote lean muscle development, assist in fat loss, enhance recovery and sleep quality, and is frequently paired with CJC‑1295 for a more substantial effect. However, it is not FDA-approved for any of these uses or for any medical condition. In the United States, Ipamorelin is currently classified as a research-use peptide.
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is a synthetic peptide that acts as a growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, stimulating the pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy, a condition involving abnormal fat distribution, but it is not FDA-approved for any other conditions. However, it is sometimes prescribed off-label under medical supervision for purposes such as improving body composition, reducing visceral fat, and supporting metabolic health.
Several clinical studies in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults have shown that Tesamorelin can reduce abdominal fat and, in some cases, improve certain metabolic markers. Early research is also exploring its potential to aid muscle preservation, enhance recovery, and support aspects of cognitive function. However, these effects are not yet well established in large human trials.
Like other peptides that stimulate growth hormone release, Tesamorelin should be used with careful monitoring, as altering growth hormone levels can have systemic effects.
TB‑500 (Thymosin Beta‑4 fragment)
TB‑500 is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide involved in tissue repair. It is often used in peptide therapy protocols to help support recovery from musculoskeletal injuries, improve flexibility, and reduce inflammation.
TB‑500 is not FDA-approved for any of these uses or for any medical condition. In the United States, it is currently classified as a research-use peptide. It is being studied for its potential to promote cell migration, tissue regeneration, and healing.
PT‑141 (Bremelanotide)
If sexual health is an area of concern, PT‑141 is one of the most widely discussed peptides in this category. It is a melanocortin receptor agonist, and the only peptide currently FDA-approved for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women.
Because it acts via the nervous system rather than the vascular system, PT‑141 is also being studied for use in men with erectile dysfunction, though this application is not FDA-approved.
Thymosin Alpha‑1 (TA‑1)
TA‑1 is a synthetic peptide involved in immune modulation. Clinical and preclinical research suggests it may support immune response, infection recovery, and reduce inflammation. In the U.S., it is still considered a research-use peptide.
Melanotan
Melanotans are synthetic peptides that increase melanin production in the skin. Melanotan peptides, such as melanotan II, are used by those looking to enhance skin pigmentation or tanning. They have also been studied for potential effects on sexual function and are being investigated for potential roles in obesity and social behavior.
While studies are underway to explore these applications, it is important to note that melanotan peptides are not FDA-approved in the U.S. for these uses. The only FDA-approved melanotan product is Melanotan I (afamelanotide), marketed as Scenesse, for the prevention of phototoxicity in people with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic disorder affecting the skin and nervous system.
Bottom Line: While many peptides show promise for supporting wellness, anti-aging, longevity, and numerous health concerns, their benefit and effectiveness depend on choosing the right peptide for the right purpose under qualified medical supervision.
There are already many peptides available for peptide therapy, and it’s exciting to see where this field is heading. Considering the human body naturally produces thousands of peptides, and less than a thousand are currently either approved for clinical use or being studied in trials, there is still endless potential for more peptides to be developed and applied in medicine and wellness.
Benefits of Peptide Therapy
If you are looking for a natural way to support your body’s own repair, recovery, and performance processes, peptide therapy may offer a targeted approach to help you reach your health, wellness, and anti-aging goals.
There are many potential benefits of peptide therapy. Of course, the exact results depend on the peptide or combination of peptides used in treatment, as each one works through different pathways in the body.
While clinical trials support many of these potential benefits, research is more conclusive for some peptides than others. Several benefits are still being studied, but these are among the most common improvements reported by patients using peptide therapy under medical supervision.
- More energy and improved stamina
- Reduced fatigue
- Enhanced mental clarity, focus, and memory
- Support for healthy weight loss and body composition
- Increased muscle growth and preservation of lean mass
- Healthier skin, with improved elasticity, hydration, and tone
- Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Faster recovery from exercise, injury, or surgery
- Reduced inflammation and joint discomfort
- Improved mobility and flexibility
- Support for hormone balance
- Enhanced sexual wellness, desire, and performance
- Improved sleep quality and patterns
- Strengthened immune function and resilience
- Improved bone density and skeletal health
- Support for gut health and digestion
- Cardiovascular health support
- Neuroprotective support for brain health and cognitive longevity
Many wonder how long it takes to see or feel the benefits of peptide therapy. How quickly you may notice results depends on the specific peptide, your baseline health, and your treatment plan.
Some peptides, such as those that influence appetite or sleep, can have noticeable effects within days or weeks. Others, like those for skin health, muscle growth, or cognitive function, often require several weeks or months of consistent use to see full benefits.
In most cases, peptide therapy is used in cycles or as part of an ongoing maintenance plan tailored to your needs and goals. Your peptide provider will monitor your progress and adjust your protocol, including frequency and duration, to ensure benefits are sustained without unnecessary long-term use.
Who Benefits The Most From Peptide Therapy?
While you’ve probably seen people use peptides for weight loss or watched athletes and bodybuilders take them to increase strength and muscle growth, peptide therapy isn’t reserved only for those with aesthetic or performance goals.
Beyond those with body composition or performance goals, peptide therapy can help any adult who wants to enjoy:
- More energy and improved stamina
- Sharper focus, concentration, and memory
- Better mood and emotional well‑being
- Fewer visible signs of aging
- Healthier skin, hair, and nails
- Improved body composition
- Enhanced sexual wellness
- Faster recovery from workouts, injuries, or surgery
- Better sleep quality
- Stronger immune function
- Improved digestion and gut health
- Joint comfort and improved mobility
As you can see, you don’t have to be an athlete or bodybuilder to benefit from peptides. Peptide therapy has the potential to support a wide range of wellness and anti-aging goals that adults of all lifestyles seek to improve.
Conditions Treated with Peptides
Beyond preventive or aesthetic benefits, peptides are also being used to help manage a variety of health concerns. Some peptides are FDA‑approved for specific conditions, while others are prescribed off‑label or used in compounded form under medical supervision. These uses range from FDA‑approved medical treatments to promising applications still in clinical trials.
Because each peptide has a specific mechanism of action, the right therapy depends on your health history, goals, and the current evidence supporting its use. Peptide treatment plans should always be created and monitored by a qualified medical professional to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Peptide therapy may be considered for:
- Hormone imbalances: Certain peptides support healthy hormone function and may be used on their own, alongside hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to enhance results, or as an alternative when HRT is not an option.
To learn more, read “Optimize Your Weight Loss Journey: Balancing Hormones for Sustainable Results.” - Metabolic health concerns: Several peptides, such as GLP-1s, can help improve insulin sensitivity, support healthy blood sugar levels, and aid in sustainable weight management.
Even small doses of GLP-1s like semaglutide can be a valuable part of your ongoing weight-loss, wellness, and healthy aging strategy. - Chronic fatigue and low energy: Peptides work at the cellular level to improve mitochondrial efficiency and energy production. Many who suffer from persistent fatigue and low energy report substantial improvements in energy after consistent peptide therapy.
- Age-related changes in skin, muscle, and bone: The anti-aging benefits of peptides are becoming just as popular a reason to seek peptide therapy as weight loss. There are several peptides that can stimulate collagen synthesis, preserve lean muscle, and support bone density to counter visible and functional signs of aging.
- Cognitive decline and brain health: Several peptides are being used and studied to help improve memory, focus, and mental clarity, with some peptides being studied for neuroprotective benefits in age-related cognitive changes.
- Joint discomfort and mobility issues: Several peptides are shown to promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation to improve joint comfort and flexibility. Many people with joint pain and mobility issues are now choosing peptides over more traditional treatments.
- Immune system support: There are peptides used in peptide therapy that are shown to enhance resilience and recovery from illnesses or immune challenges. These therapies can be especially beneficial for people with conditions that compromise immunity.
- Sexual health concerns: Sexual health issues plague millions of men and women, especially with age. There are peptides that can increase sexual desire, performance, and satisfaction for both men and women.
- Digestive and gut health: One of the most promising benefits of peptides is their ability to support gut lining integrity, reduce inflammation, and promote overall digestive wellness.
Although not FDA-approved for common gut-related conditions, studies are underway, and many people with gastrointestinal conditions report finding relief after starting gut-focused peptide therapy protocols. - Recovery from injuries or surgery: Peptides can help accelerate healing and reduce downtime after procedures or injuries. This makes peptide therapy a beneficial treatment on its own, or in conjunction with traditional treatments, for those recovering from an injury or surgery.
- Cardiovascular and liver health: Clinical studies are underway for the use of specific peptides to treat several conditions that affect organs such as the heart and liver, showing potential benefits in heart health, vascular function, and liver metabolism.
These are some of the most common conditions where peptide therapy is being used or explored today. However, peptides are one of the most active areas of medical and wellness innovation, with new compounds and potential applications continuing to emerge.
As research advances, we expect to see even more targeted therapies and evidence‑based uses become available in the years ahead. At Relive Health, we stay informed on the latest clinical findings so our patients have access to the most up‑to‑date and effective options available.
How to Start Peptide Therapy
If you are curious about peptide therapy and whether it’s right for you, the first step is choosing a provider who is knowledgeable in peptides for wellness and anti‑aging, experienced in administering peptide therapy, and understands the treatment process from start to finish.
At Relive Health centers nationwide, our healthcare providers will guide you through every step of the process, starting with a consultation. At your initial visit, our licensed healthcare professionals will talk with you about your specific concerns and goals.
We then perform an in‑depth blood panel review to determine your current health status and identify any areas where peptides could help restore balance or optimize function. Unless you only want to use a peptide in one of our medical aesthetic services. In that case, a blood panel is not necessary.
From there, our team will create a custom peptide protocol designed specifically for you. In some cases, we may recommend other therapies that are better suited for your goals or a combined approach to address the underlying issues that are keeping you from looking and feeling your best.
Whether your goal is to shed excess fat, build lean muscle, heal faster from an injury, improve skin health, support healthy aging, or simply wake up with more energy and sleep more soundly at night, a custom longevity protocol that includes peptide therapy can help you achieve it.
Once treatment begins, you’ll receive ongoing support to help you stay on track. This may involve dosage adjustments, progress check‑ins, and updated lab testing to make sure your therapy continues to deliver the results you want.
Final Thoughts
Peptides are one of the most versatile and promising tools in modern wellness and longevity medicine. Whether you want to improve energy, support healthy aging, recover faster, or address specific health concerns, the right peptide protocol can help promote your body’s natural ability to repair, restore, and perform at its best.
Are you ready to see if peptide therapy is right for you?
The best way to find out is by speaking with a qualified Relive Health provider who can evaluate your goals and create a personalized plan. Visit our center locator to find a Relive Health near you and take the first step toward better health, wellness, and healthy aging.
