What Are Peptides?
To understand peptides & their function you must first understand the role of amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins. Peptides are short strains of amino acids that make up larger proteins, like collagen. While some peptides are naturally occurring, scientists have created certain peptides to enhance our bodies natural processes to help treat issues we may have. In short, peptides can often be the key to triggering responses in the body to improve both our health & our appearance.
Peptides are part of the essential building blocks of life. They are microscopic molecules entailing usually somewhere between 2-20 linked short chain amino acids. These chains combine together to build larger chains of amino acids called proteins. All processes are built on a foundation of amino acids. Some amino acids are produced within the body and some must be acquired by food and/or supplements.
Peptides Research
Peptides are vital for research in both the medical & pharmaceutical fields. With the growing demand in neuroscience; cancer therapies; immunology studies; drug delivery systems; tissue repair; and allowing the body to grow, digest food, build muscle, & strengthen the immune system, we have much more to learn about them.
Peptide development has made great progress over the past few years thanks to new production & modification with analytic technologies. These technologies have allowed for the changes using both chemical & biological methods, together with novel design & delivery strategies, which have helped to overcome the inherent drawbacks of peptides, have allowed the continued advancement of this field. The first therapeutic peptide identified & produced was insulin in 1921. Since then, there have been thousands of peptides identified, many of which have failed in production due to stability but many that have been brought to market.
Peptides commonly act as hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, ion channel ligands, or anti-infective agents. They bind to cell surface receptors & trigger intracellular effects with high affinity and specificity, with a similar mode of action to biologics, including therapeutic proteins & antibodies. This is a critical understanding as peptides do not replace what is lacking in the body, they facilitate the natural production from the body.
With peptides designed to facilitate the body’s production, it becomes critical to ensure the production of the peptide is controlled AND tested. The control of production & manufacturing of these peptides should be only done in pharmacies that are approved by agencies. These agencies include the FDA, State Boards, & independent organizations that ensure protocols, safety, sterility, & testing is in place. These inspections give assurance to patients that the medications are safe & the integrity are for use in humans.
Peptides made at controlled pharmacies are considered Medications & will be prescribed to you like any other medication. The peptides will come with approved labeling that includes such identifiers as pharmacy name, patient identification, medication name, dosage, & expiration date. This is all to be compliant with FDA regulations & to ensure the safety & effectiveness of the medications.
Following the publication of Tony Robbins book, Life Force, where a long list of peptides is provided, even some that are not allowed to be prescribed in the US any longer, some patients went online & started looking for places to purchase peptides. They found a few companies that were selling these peptides at a very cheap price but there were no recommendations on how to mix the products, dosing instructions, or any other information regarding the medications. We had several people calling asking how to mix them or what the dose is they should be administering. Unfortunately, for medicolegal reasons, we declined to give any information but offered them an appointment with our medical provider to go over all their questions & to order legit peptides from an approved pharmacy & explained we cannot give any directions or manage protocols for research chemicals that might be prohibited for human consumption.
If ordering online from a peptide website, “research companies” (not pharmacies), you will quickly realize on the vial labeling that there will be statements such as: “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”, “FOR LABORATORY USE ONLY”, ”RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY”, or “FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY” clearly written on the bottle. This designation is to ensure the substance, which is not manufactured in a regulated pharmacy, is NOT subject to the laws of medication. These peptides sole purpose is for scientific research purposes. They are often synthesized in laboratories to mimic specific biological processes or to study the effects of certain substances on cells or organisms, not in humans.
These laboratories are not set up for the rigorous testing and/or sterility of the substance that is labeled. In addition, there are no dosing instructions on how the substance should be administered, which is vital to understand how much you should be taking & the frequency of it. Research companies have no oversight of their supply chain and no oversight of their manufacturing facility. Their compounding operations are not contained in a clean room. Clean rooms are extremely expensive and require frequent maintenance. The board of pharmacy requires frequent validation studies to ensure the airflow is correct, it is inspected annually, and cleanings are done on a regular basis.
While some peptides may have performance-enhancing effects, using peptides for performance enhancement without proper medical supervision or authorization is illegal & can have serious health consequences. Peptides should only be used for their intended purposes in approved research settings.
It is important to note that research peptides are not intended for human consumption, while performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) aim to enhance performance & are subject to strict regulations due to health risks. Legal use requires medical supervision AND authorization. They are labeled “for research only” because their safety & efficacy in humans have not been thoroughly tested AND approved by regulatory authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, using research only peptides for any purpose other than for scientific research is considered illegal.
There are websites and clinics that will offer “prefilled” syringes of peptides and/or medications. This is typically a red flag as these medications are not patient specific AND should be labeled per the FDA requirements of pharmacy name, patients name, medication, dosing instructions, & expiration date, at a very minimum. Adherence to guidelines & regulations, including ethical approval, informed consent, record-keeping, safety protocols, licensing, & adverse event reporting, is crucial for legal compliance.
Research peptides themselves are not illegal, as they are essential tools in scientific research. However, their use outside of approved research settings, such as for personal consumption or performance enhancement, can be illegal & is subject to regulatory scrutiny. Research peptide legality varies globally, with countries like the United State regulating peptides under the Controlled Substances Act, the EU regulating through various directives, Australia through the Therapeutic Goods Administration, & Canada through Health Canada.
Leave it to the medical professionals at facility such as All U Health to ensure you are getting the best therapy, peptides, & medications from registered pharmacies, along with the proper follow-up care for optimal health. We will conduct a medical assessment prior to prescribing peptides or medications to any patient to ensure safety. Some peptides & medications may have side effects or interactions with other substances, while others may pose risks if used incorrectly or without proper medical supervision. It is important to consult with a healthcare provider before using any peptides or medications.
All U Health is an ambitious clinic leading the peptide and hormone industry while dedicated to helping our guest optimize themselves for peak performance & wellness. All U Health located in the Scottsdale/Phoenix AZ area & offer both in-person & virtual consultations to our guests. Our expansive knowledge & expertise on wellness & utilizing the latest science & biology helps our guests receive the best treatments for them. We prescribe based on individual needs in order to optimize everyone to their fullest potential. Our dedication & commitment is to provide top-notch services that enhance the overall well-being & vitality at any age.
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