Why Peptides Are Having A Moment

Peptides are stepping into the spotlight across the health and wellness space and it’s easy to see why. As essential building blocks in the body, they play a role in everything from cellular function and recovery to helping keep systems running smoothly. As interest grows in more targeted, science-backed approaches to wellbeing, peptides are gaining attention for their versatility and potential to support the body in a more precise, personalised way.

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are small molecules made of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. They are usually made of around two to 50 amino acids linked together by peptide bonds and in the body they act as messengers or signalling molecules that tell cells how to function. Peptides help regulate metabolism, cell growth, tissue repair and inflammation. Because peptides are small in size they are easily absorbed into the blood and can travel through the bloodstream quickly. Peptides have actually been around for a long time – most people are familiar with the peptide insulin, used as an injection to help people with diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Why Does It Seem Like Everyone Is Taking Peptides Right Now?

Laboratory-made peptides such as the prescription medicine GLP-1’s have revolutionised weight loss worldwide. These peptides have been shown to transform the body by reducing body fat. Because of other potential actions that peptides can have on the body there is a growing social media trend for using peptides for fitness, longevity and wellness.

What Are Peptides Being Used For?

Weight Loss: GLP-1 peptides help control feelings of hunger and regulate blood sugar. They have been shown to be a very effective way to lose body fat.

Muscle growth: Certain peptides can stimulate the body to produce its own growth hormone. Athletes use this as a way to bulk up without using anabolic steroids.

Injury recovery: Specific peptides can speed up the healing of injured tissues like muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Anti-aging: Peptides can be used to boost the production of collagen, decrease wrinkles and to increase energy.

What Are The Health And Safety Risks Of Using Peptides?

An unregulated “grey market” of unapproved peptides available for sale has exploded online. These peptides have never been proven safe or effective in humans and they have not been tested or approved for use in humans.

Unapproved peptides may:

• be of poor quality
• not contain the substance on the label or as advertised
• not be manufactured safely
• be contaminated or contain other harmful substances
• not be sterile.¹

What Is Happening In New Zealand?

Medsafe (the New Zealand regulator that assesses medicines and devices for safety, quality and efficacy) has issued a statement warning people about the use of unapproved peptides. They state that there are “significant health and legal risks associated with using unapproved peptide products imported and supplied in New Zealand”. Medsafe point out that peptides are often advertised with misleading information such as “for research purposes only”. This wording has no legal effect and does not permit the sale, supply or use of peptides in humans.

Under the Medicines Act 1981, it is illegal to import, supply, or possess peptides without a valid prescription written by an authorised New Zealand prescriber.²

Any unapproved peptide products intercepted by New Zealand Customs without a prescription are seized and destroyed.

The Sport Integrity Commission of New Zealand warns that the use of unregulated, experimental peptides can lead to severe bans in organized sports.³

What Peptides Have Been Approved For Human Use In New Zealand?

The following peptides and peptide-based medicines listed below have been approved by Medsafe for use in New Zealand. They are all prescription medicines that require a written prescription from a New Zealand-registered healthcare professional:

Insulin – used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to regulate blood sugar.

GLP-1 receptor agonists – mimic the body’s own hormone GLP-1 to stimulate insulin release and promote weight loss.

Dulaglutide – used for type 2 diabetes.

Liraglutide – can be used for weight management or type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide – approved for both weight management and type 2 diabetes.

Growth hormone – approved for specific growth hormone deficiencies and growth disorders.

What You Need To Consider:

• Some newer peptides have some studies that have been undertaken on animals. But these studies cannot be used to determine whether they will act the same way in humans.⁴
• There is minimum evidence on peptide side effects or the consequences of long-term frequent dosing.
• There are no clear guidelines as to know who is or isn’t a good candidate for peptide use. With insulin and GLP-1s, prescribers have well-established guidelines as to who can’t take these medicines as well as who would get most benefit from using them.
• There are risks associated with unknown dosing or unknown strengths.
• There are risks of infections, life-threatening allergies, serious side effects or drug interactions.