What are peptides and peptide parties? Here's why doctors are worried

A few days ago in Bengaluru, a 'peptide party' was cancelled after Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration served a notice to its organisers. The programme had events like 'peptide tastings' as part of it, alongside music, networking and food. This genre of parties is apparently common as a 'wellness subculture' in many cities. The people who gather allegedly try out oral peptides named 'peptide mocktails,' or even injectable versions. Meanwhile, what are peptides?

Effects of peptides
According to Harvard Health, peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Our body can also make many types of peptides, like insulin, endorphins, and human growth hormone. Peptides can also be made in labs and used in medications and supplements. They are used in some FDA-approved medicines as well, to treat obesity, diabetes and endocrine disorders.

Peptides can have many effects on our body, such as:
a) Repair tissues
b) Orchestrate hormone activity
c) Control inflammation
d) Help digestion
e) Improve immunity

Are all peptides safe?
The peptides used in approved medications are generally safe and released after large clinical trials. However, unregulated peptides can't be trusted in the same way. Recently, doctors have raised concerns about the growing popularity of injectable peptides for weight loss, muscle recovery, anti-ageing, and longevity, warning that the success of a few scientifically established peptide medicines should not be confused with the safety or efficacy of experimental compounds promoted online.

Dr Naval K Vikram, professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, Delhi and an expert in metabolic disorders, said the growing interest in peptides needed to be viewed with caution, particularly when consumers begin to equate all peptides with established drugs. He emphasised that they should not be used without medical supervision. "Peptides are not one homogeneous group of medicines. Some have undergone extensive clinical research and are routinely used in medicine, while others are still experimental. The fact that semaglutide or another peptide-based drug works does not mean that every peptide being sold for weight loss, muscle recovery or longevity will have the same safety and efficacy," Vikram said.

The right way to use peptides
The use of peptides should be guided by quality of evidence, regulatory status and the patient's individual medical condition rather than social media claims or anecdotal experiences. Aman Puri, founder of sports and wellness brand Steadfast Nutrition, said the growing influence of social media influencers, celebrities and the wellness industry has made consumers increasingly willing to experiment with injectable and unapproved peptides promising greater longevity, sharper cognition and better sleep. 

"The larger concern is when wellness trends start replacing evidence-based decision-making. Consumers need to understand what they are taking, why they are taking it and whether there is credible human evidence behind the claim," Puri said. He said the quality and source of a product were equally important, particularly for injectable preparations. Such products should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor and under medical supervision.
(With PTI inputs)