PEPTIDE RELATED THERAPIES

What are peptides and why are more people talking about this?

Peptides are short combinations of amino acids (similar to proteins) which act to modify and regulate cellular metabolism and repair, through various means. Often medications and supplements labelled as peptides are synthetically created, but can be derived from natural products. Peptides taken as a supplement or medication act upon specific receptors and stimulate changes within the cell. Some hormones are also peptides, like insulin, oxytocin, endorphins, and growth hormone.

Peptides as a medication or supplement are generally offered as injectable and/or oral supplements. Some peptides exist in the human body already, such as BPC-157 which is made in the stomach. Other peptides are derived from food sources or manufactured synthetically for purposes of improving the cellular metabolism, glucose and lipid balance, stimulate tissue repair, or acts a hormones in other ways.

BPC -157 has a long history of research showing its benefit on gut healing, injury healing, stimulating production of new blood vessels, supporting liver and cardiovascular repair, improving sleep and growth hormone, and much more. BPC-157 is a peptide that is naturally made in the stomach, demonstrating how much a healthy digestive tract can influence the rest of the body. BPC 157 is an example of how healing can begins in the gut. A common result from taking BPC 157 may be improved sleep by improving the gut-brain axis and increase in growth hormone.

GLP-1 related peptides: Other peptides are synthetic combinations of amino acids which mimic natural body processes, such as GLP-1/GIP agonists (eg. Ozempic aka Semaglutide, Monjauro aka Tirzepatide, and Victoza aka Liraglutide). GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and stimulate changes in insulin, which can be appropriate for patients with diabetes. As a result of taking these medications, often patients lose weight over time but may lose protein due to not eating enough.

There are numerous other peptides listed on this page. Additional related supplements are explained below as well. Here are the peptides discussed with some information on how to get them:

Peptide supplement sources:

Peptide SUPPLEMENTs covered below:

  • BPC-157

  • GHK-Cu

  • KPV

  • TB-500 (“TB-4 frag”) and TB-4 - 0.5mg

  • 5-Amino-1MQ

  • SLU-PP-332

  • PeptiSleep

  • PeptiStrong™

  • IMG-1® Polypeptide

  • Bonito peptide powder

  • Secrotropin

Peptide related SUPPLEMENTS INCLUDING:

  • Nicotinamide riboside (NR)

  • CDP CHOLINE

  • Dihexa

  • J-147

  • Noopept

Peptide HORMONES

  • GLP-1: Liraglutide, Tirzepatide, Semaglutide

  • Sermorelin

  • oxytocin

SUPPLEMENT SOURCES

Designs for Health Online Store

Nueva Life

https://bodynbeauty.com/drerikvose

“Nueva Body” peptide combination - dose 1/day

  • Increased metabolism and energy - Contains:

  • 5-Amino-1MQ (50mg) - this peptide stimulates cellular energy levels, see below for more information about this peptide.

  • SLU-PP-332 (1mg) - this peptide stimulates fat burning and increased metabolism to improve blood sugar control, see below for more information about this peptide.

“Nueva Beauty” peptide combination - dose 1/day

  • INCREASED GUT, BODY AND SKIN REPAIR - CONTAINS:

  • GHK-Cu (5mg) - This anti-aging skin healing peptide has been shown to stimulate production of collagen, cartilage, liver, and brain by stimulating the stem cells to make healthy proteins which normally decline with age. See below for more information about this peptide.

  • BPC-157 (0.5 mg = 500mcg) - “Body Protective Compound” is perhaps the most common peptide used in clinical practice, having been first discovered in 1993. BPC-157 increases nitric oxide, improves gut healing, tissue repair, increasing growth hormone, helping with liver and cardiovascular regeneration, and benefits for the nervous system. See below for more information about this peptide.

  • KPV (0.5 mg) - This three amino acid peptide made of Valine-Lysine-Proline works to reduce mucosal inflammation and improve repair of the digestive tract, sinus, urinary tract and airways to improve mucosal immune balance and repair. See below for more information about this peptide.

COMMON PEPTIDES

ADDITIONAL RELATED NEUROLOGICAL SUPPORT

  • Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) and NICOTINAMIDE MONONUCLEOTIDE (NMN)

    • NR and NMN are precursor molecules the body uses to create NAD+ (Nicotinamide dinucleotide). NAD+ is a powerful cellular energy molecule that increases mitochondria function and triggers creation of new mitochondria. NAD+ is also available as an injectable medication, being combined with weight loss injections sometimes, however NAD+ is not available by mouth as the digestive tract breaks it down. As a result, NR and NMN are effective ways to support the body in making more NAD+ and typically patients will notice changes after even a few days on the therapy. Benefits include improved nerve function, improved focus, memory, reducing pain, and numerous other issues related to the nervous system and cardiovascular system.

    • NAD+ is promoted widely as anti-aging with benefits explained here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7963035/

    • NAD+ can help with neurodegenerative diseases, highlighted here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6787556/

  • CDP Choline (citicholine, aka cytidine diphosphate-choline or cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine)

    • CDP choline is used for improving cellular membranes and crucially providing a steady-state of choline in the blood to enable the production of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter found throughout the autonomic nervous system, including both rest/digest mode and regulation of fight/flight.

    • Here is a study comparing choline supplementation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10025538/

    • Here is a study explaining CDP choline overall, and how it helps with memory: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10389840/

  • Nicotine patch (7mg “step 3” patch)

    • Cut in half and apply for 4-8 hours at a time, once daily to improve acetylcholine function including parasympathetic support for digestion. More information about using this for long-covid can be found here: https://covidinstitute.org/nicotine-patch-protocol/

  • Dihexa (aka N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide)

    • Dihexa is a peptide-like compound that mimics angiotensin IV, thereby modifying the neuropeptide system known as the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) to support balanced blood flow to the brain as well as reducing nerve inflammation. Dihexa has been show to act more potently than brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), both of which stimulate nerve repair.

    • It has been shown that sars-cov-2 virus which causes Covid syndrome affects the body by blocking ACE-2 receptor, which results in changing the balance of angiotensin from its anti-inflammatory pathway to produce a pro-inflammatory angiotensin II. Learn more about the RAS system as it relates to covid spike protein in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/L_IY8iINJUI?si=3eZbYaTvDWkbeYQt

    • How angiotensin IV works: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3829467/

    • Study showing how DIHEXA compound improves cognitive function: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8615599/

    • Study showing how DIHEXA can stimulate nerve repair/growth: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8524106/ and

  • J147 - COMPOUND Derived froM turmeric

  • Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester)

    • Noopept is a peptide-like compound that increases BDNF (see above) to reduce overstimulation of the nervous system, reduce nerve inflammation, and improve nerve growth/repair. It can improve memory, cognition, and reduce anxiety. One mechanism is noopept improves the cholinergic system (acetylcholine) which combines well with other cholinergic tools.

    • Study explaining Noopept: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708524005144

    • Study demonstrating how Noopept can improve neurodegenerative diseases and mitigates increased intracellular calcium from nerve damage: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4422191/

GLP-1 / GIP PEPTIDES

  • GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) peptides examples are becoming very popular for weight loss. While they do not work for everyone, some patients see significant weight loss after a few weeks when these peptides are offered alone. Naturopathic medicine offers many complementary and individualized treatment options to support GLP-1/GIP

  • GIP (Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide)

  • These peptides are commonly used in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and are being explored for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. These neurological diseases are examples of a phenomenon happening in the brain labelled as “Type 3 diabetes” or neurological diabetes. When nerves are chronically inflamed there is a shift in the nerve metabolism causing insulin resistance, resulting in glutamate excitotoxicity and low potassium levels in the nerves, as well as decreased mitochondria function.

  • Generic: Tirzepatide injection - GLP-1 / GIP + B12 - this link provides a source of injectable generic tirzepatide to be used according to MD specialist prescription, by visit consult. The consult included with the purchase below at Ellie MD here: https://elliemd.com/product/glp1-gip-b12?bp=drerikvose

  • COMPARISON OF GLP-1 agonists

    • Liraglutide 13 hr half-life, takes 8 hours to reach peak level

      • Taking this at night may the best way to test out GLP-1 and see how it affects you the following day, and you can time the subcutaneous injection to fit with your lifestyle the best for a shorter duration of action. More explained about Liraglutide here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK608007/

      • If you wish to try Liraglutide this will require a visit to get started with a new prescription made after a visit with Dr. Erik Vose, NMD, which also includes complementary and individualized treatment suggestions.

    • Tirzepatide - 5 day half-life takes 8-72 hrs to peak the dose

    • Semaglutide - 7 day half-life takes 24-48 hrs to peak the dose - this lasts long

HORMONE PEPTIDES

  • Sermorelin (Gonadotrophin releasing hormone aka GnRH)

    • This peptide stimulates production of reproductive hormones gently, while also improving growth hormone; and has been shown to improve the effects of oxidative stress from sleep apnea. Generally this peptide is not absorbed orally so much be offered as a sublingual method of delivery such as liquid suspension or troche (dissolvable tablet-like), or intranasal spray. Sermorelin is a prescription that requires a visit with Dr. Vose to get started on.

    • Study showing benefit cognitive problems from low oxygen at night due to obstructive sleep apnea - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3851434/

  • Oxytocin

    • This naturally produced neuropeptide is involved in maintaining social bonds and creating a physiological state of social engagement and safety. Generally this peptide is not absorbed orally so much be offered as a sublingual method of delivery such as liquid suspension or troche (dissolvable tablet-like), or intranasal spray. Oxytocin is a prescription that requires a visit with Dr. Vose to get started on.

    • Here is a review of its benefits in neuropsychiatric disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9318841/

If you are interested in getting started on these, please do not hesistate to contact Dr. Vose with your questions.

  • If you are a new patient please schedule a free introduction phone call (or video) to learn more or get started.

  • FOR NEW PATIENTS: SUBMIT A REQUEST to setup a free introduction (on the homepage of this website)

CONTACT - 3861 N 1st Ave, Tucson AZ 85719 - Phone: 520-276-8315 - Fax: 520-253-8689