Peptides — short chains of amino acids — have become huge online. The popularity of these molecules has skyrocketed and they are now the latest cure-all trend on social media. But what does the science say about their effectiveness? Animal research suggests that that some of these experimental peptides hold promise, but evidence they work in people is lacking. This is an audio version of our Feature: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audio long read: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype

Nature Podcast

This is an audio long read from Nature. In this episode, is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype. Written by Cassandra Williard and read by me, Benjamin Thompson. Peptides have become the latest cure-all trend on social media. A way to eliminate wrinkles, build lean muscle, boost metabolism, clear brain fog, heal torn ligaments and more.

Influencers rave about their peptide-fueled glow-ups on TikTok. Bodybuilders exchange information about their favourite combinations at the gym. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a proponent. I'm a big fan of peptides, he told US podcaster Joe Rogan in February. I've used them myself and used them with really good effect on a couple of injuries.

Peptides are made of the same building blocks as proteins, but are shorter. Typically less than 50 amino acids long. And they can be powerful medicines. The hugely successful GLP-1 diabetes and weight loss drugs, for example, are peptides, as is the hormone insulin. But when wellness gurus and fitness enthusiasts talk about peptides, they're often referring to an alphabet soup of chemicals.

BPC-157, MOTC and TB-500. These compounds come in vials labelled for research use only, because they are not approved for use in humans. It's a, quote, completely unregulated industry, end quote, says Vikas Patel, an emergency medicine physician at Elmhurst Hospital in Illinois. The popularity of peptides has skyrocketed over the past couple of years.

Google searches on the term worldwide rose from about 1.3 million each month in 2024 to around 8 million per month in 2026. The enthusiasm has been driven, in part, by social media. The influencer crowd has sort of created this perception that these are miracle drugs, says Matt Caberline, a longevity researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Audio long read: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Audio long read: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.