Health
Thinking about peptides? Doctors reveal key dos and don’ts as ‘Wild West’ market grows
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The peptide boom is under scrutiny as the FDA weighs easing restrictions on several drugs in the category.
Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins, have gained popularity among wellness influencers and fitness gurus as a means of building muscle, healing injuries or appearing younger.
Similar to how GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists) suppress appetite and trigger weight loss, peptides can signal other functions, like the release of growth hormones.
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But unlike GLP-1 drugs — which were extensively studied and regulated — many peptides lack comparable evidence and oversight, said New York endocrinologist Dr. Philip Rabito, adding that some are “not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality before marketing.”
Peptides under FDA review, including BPC-157, are often marketed for tendon and gut healing, injury recovery and inflammation reduction, despite warnings about the risks of unapproved treatments.
Similar to how GLP-1s, such as Ozempic, suppress appetite and trigger weight loss, peptides can signal other functions, like the release of growth hormones. (iStock)
Even as regulators consider loosening restrictions, the market has been widely described as a “Wild West,” with various versions sold online without a prescription.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn, who prescribes peptides in her own New York practice, confirmed that interest has grown “significantly” across the U.S.
Peptides are popular because they “sit at the intersection of wellness optimization and medicine,” according to the doctor.
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“As a class, they are targeted biosimilar molecules that can influence specific pathways like inflammation, recovery and metabolism in a way that feels more biologically synergistic than traditional pharmaceuticals,” she said.
Most patients spend a few hundred to thousands of dollars on these drugs per month, according to Kahn. Costs can be high because peptides are often custom-made and must meet strict quality and sterility standards.
Peptides are popular because they “sit at the intersection of wellness optimization and medicine,” according to one doctor. (iStock)
“At the same time, patients today are far more proactive and invested in their health,” Kahn added. “They’re not waiting to get sick; they want to feel better, recover faster and age more intentionally.”
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Peptides have evolved rapidly from just a few years ago, when they were largely focused on weight loss, the expert said, with growing interest in energy, post-illness or injury recovery, muscle preservation and sleep quality.
But these drugs are not one-size-fits-all, experts warn, especially when not prescribed by a professional or cleared by a reputable pharmacy.
There is growing interest in peptides for more muscle preservation and sleep quality, an expert said. (iStock)
Peptides dos and don’ts
Experts shared the following guidance on using peptides.
Do use peptides within reason
Kahn recommends using peptides with “a clear, clinical rationale, not just because they’re trending.”
“Think of peptides as part of a broader health plan, not a standalone solution,” she advised.
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Kahn said patients often come into her practice focused on weight or appearance, but in-depth testing may uncover underlying issues such as inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance or recovery deficits.
“It’s both aesthetic and medical, but the trend in my internal medicine practice has always been toward specific health concerns,” she added.
Do work with a clinician
Dr. Kent Bradley, chief medical officer at 10X Health in California, recommends approaching peptides with “curiosity and rigor” and discussing the science with a physician.
“Work with a clinician who provides a baseline of biomarkers before you introduce peptides,” he recommended during an interview with Fox News Digital. “You will need to know where you’re starting in order to measure the impact.”
Experts recommend working with a physician to determine which peptides are right for you. (Getty Images)
Do find a credible source
Peptides should always be purchased from “reputable compounding pharmacies by prescription,” Kahn emphasized.
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“While they are powerful signaling molecules, when used appropriately, they can be very safe and effective,” she said. “When used incorrectly, [with] the wrong dose, wrong indication or poor sourcing, they can be dangerous or ineffective.”
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She added, “The key is clinical oversight, proper selection and individualized use.”
The current peptide ecosystem — including unlicensed providers and “gray market” access — is “more dangerous than the molecules themselves,” Kahn warned.
It’s important to use pharmacies that meet FDA 503A or 503B regulations to ensure consumer safety, the expert added.
Don’t stack peptides without a purpose
Multiple peptides should not be combined without understanding how they interact with each other, nor should they be injected as mixtures, Kahn warned.
Some products marketed as “natural” online may still have the capacity to cause complications, an expert warned. (iStock)
“Don’t treat them as risk-free supplements,” she said. “They are biologically active and should be used thoughtfully.”
“Peptides should be cycled, paused and re-assessed — don’t ‘set it and let it go.’”
Don’t self-prescribe
Dose-response and drug interactions require medical oversight, and peptides should be prescribed by a doctor, according to Bradley. Some products that are marketed as “natural” may still have the capacity to do harm to the body, he warned.
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Don’t use them as a shortcut or substitute
Fundamental pillars of health, like sleep, nutrition and exercise, should be addressed before using a peptide as a “shortcut” to fix health complications, Kahn said.
Bradley agreed, adding that “the same instinct that drives patients toward unnecessary surgery drives them toward complex peptide stacks when the real leverage is upstream and boring.”
Younger individuals most likely don’t need to take peptides for muscle building, according to a fitness expert. (iStock)
Kenny Santucci, a fitness expert and founder of Strong New York, shared with Fox News Digital that he takes peptides for muscle building himself – but noted that it’s not right for everyone.
Especially for younger individuals, whose bodies are “already working at optimal levels,” peptides may be unnecessary, he said.
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“If you take care of yourself — if you’re eating right, sleeping right, working out — you probably don’t need much,” he said.
“I think as you get older, these things start to help out a little bit, or if you suffer from an injury and you want to take something that will help repair the tissue quicker, that’s great.”
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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