Peptides are a chain of amino acid sequences connected by amide bonds. A very large sequence of amino acids is simply called a protein. Peptides may improve hormone imbalance and enhance energy, sleep quality, memory, sex drive and more by stimulation and release of hormones by the pituitary.
With age, our hormone levels fluctuate and often decline, interfering with overall quality of life. Imbalances can result in loss of energy,increased irritability, sleeplessness, memory problems, low sex drive, decreased immune system response, and poor healing. Utilizing peptide therapy separately or in conjunction with hormone replacement may restore optimal hormone levels.
How Do I Know if Peptides Could Help Me?
Many people continue to have symptoms of pain, inflammation, weight gain, and low energy despite trying hormone therapy and many other forms of therapy. Peptides may be an alternative or addition to hormones and other lifestyle changes and can help reduce the symptoms mentioned above.
Can Peptides Help Me Heal After A Regenerative Treatment?
Some peptides can boost the healing process through a variety of channels, such as, direct tissue healing, reducing inflammation, or simply helping you rest better. Following are a few particularly interesting peptides and their functions as they apply to increasing the healing response during or after regenerative treatments:
BPC-157
BPC-157 is a pentadecapeptide made up of 15 amino acids. It is a partial sequence of the body protection compound (BPC) derived from human gastric juice. Experiments have shown that it heightens the healing of many different types of tissues, including: tendon, muscle, nervous system, and is superior at healing damaged ligaments. Patients who suffer from discomfort due to sprains, tears, and tissue damage may benefit from treatment with this peptide as it can increase blood flow to the injured sites.
BPC-157 may protect organs, prevent stomach ulcers, and heal skin burns.
THE BOTTOM LINE: BPC-157 increases tissue healing.
DSIP
DSIP is a naturally occuring somnogenic nonapeptide with possible physiological functions impacting neuromodulation. DSIP is typically found in the brain and easily passes the blood-brain barrier. Studies indicate that DSIP and its analogues are best classified as peptide neuromodulators. DSIP has been shown to exhibit a pronounced stress protective action and demonstrated a decrease in stress-induced metabolic disorders in both human and animal models. It is believed that DSIP works by modulating activity of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and other neuronal systems.
THE BOTTOM LINE: DSIP helps you sleep, which helps you heal.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper complex that was first identified in human plasma, but has since been found in multiple locations such as saliva and urine. Copper peptides are small, naturally occurring protein fragments that have high affinity for copper ions, which evidence suggests are critical to normal body function. Clinical studies indicate that GHK-Cu has a variety of roles in the human body including, but not limited to, promoting activation of wound healing, attracting immune cells, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, stimulating collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in skin fibroblasts, and promoting blood vessel growth.
There has been some clinical evidence that has shown that GHK-Cu acts as a feedback signal generated after tissue injury and it may act as a potent protector of tissue and an anti-inflammatory agent possibly by reducing the oxidative damage that occurs post-tissue injury. Further, GHK-Cu has been found to be involved in signaling tissue remodeling by removing damaged/scarred tissue and generating healthy tissue. It has been shown in studies that GHK concentration decreases with age which may result in increased inflammation, cancerous activity, and tissue destruction.
BOTTOM LINE: GHK-Cu aids in building collagen and decreases inflammation.
Thymosin
Thymosin is a peptide originally isolated from thymic tissue and is a compound believed to be responsible for restoring immune function in thymectomized mice. Thymosin Alpha 1 has been shown to have a pleiotropic mechanism of action and activates multiple immune cell subsets that are involved in immune suppression. Studies have demonstrated improvements in immune system cell subsets and the potential of TA1 for the treatment of a range of diseases.
Thus, Thymosin Alpha 1, due to the immune stimulating effects exhibited by TA1, may have utility for the treatment of age or disease related immune suppression.
BOTTOM LINE: Thymosin increases immune system response overall, which improves healing.