5 Peptides We Love: Sermorelin, NAD+, MOTS-c, GHK-Cu, and BPC-157 Explained

Peptides get lumped together in conversation like they're all the same thing. They're not. Some have decades of clinical use behind them, some are backed mostly by animal studies with a handful of small human trials, and their legal compounding status has genuinely shifted more than once in the past few years. Here are five peptides we work with often, what each one actually does, and what the evidence does and doesn't say.

Sermorelin

Sermorelin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog. Instead of injecting growth hormone directly, it signals your own pituitary gland to produce and release GH, which keeps your body's natural feedback loops intact.

The best-supported use is sleep and recovery. Growth hormone naturally peaks during deep, slow-wave sleep, and clinical research (including a notable 2013 study in older adults) shows sermorelin can reinforce that stage, with most people reporting noticeable changes in sleep onset and morning recovery within three to six weeks. Body composition claims are more mixed: GH-deficient patients show clear improvement in lean mass and fat distribution, but sermorelin-specific trials in otherwise healthy adults are limited, and at least one 16-week study found no significant change in body fat. We talk about it as a sleep and recovery tool first, with body composition as a possible secondary benefit rather than a guarantee.

NAD+

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme every cell in your body uses to convert food into usable energy and to support DNA repair through proteins called sirtuins. Levels decline with age, and that decline is tied to three of the recognized hallmarks of aging: mitochondrial dysfunction, genomic instability, and cellular senescence.

Clients typically report improved energy, mental clarity, and faster recovery after exercise. It's worth being honest about the evidence here: most human data on NAD+ IV therapy comes from case series and clinical observation rather than large randomized trials. We treat it as a well-reasoned, biologically plausible therapy rather than a proven anti-aging cure, and we'd rather tell you that upfront than oversell it. See our full guide to NAD+ for how we offer it, IV, a quick shot, or an at-home pen.

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a small peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA rather than the regular genome, which makes it unusual. It's been studied as an "exercise mimetic," meaning it activates some of the same cellular pathways (including AMPK) that exercise does, with research interest around insulin sensitivity and metabolic regulation.

This is the peptide on this list with the thinnest human evidence. Most of what we know comes from cell and animal studies, and it's still considered an emerging, investigational compound rather than an established therapy. We include people who are curious about it, but we're direct about where the science currently stands.

GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding peptide your body produces on its own, though levels drop significantly with age (from roughly 200 ng/mL in your twenties to about 80 ng/mL by 60). It's the most clinically studied peptide on this list, particularly for skin. Placebo-controlled trials, including one following 67 women over 12 weeks, found measurable improvements in skin firmness, clarity, and fine lines with topical application, and laboratory studies show it stimulates collagen production directly.

Topical use for skin has the strongest evidence base. Injectable, systemic use for broader tissue repair and recovery is used more often off-label, with less direct clinical evidence than the topical research, so we're clear with clients about which claims are well-supported and which are more exploratory.

BPC-157

BPC-157 gets the most questions, so it deserves the most transparency. It's derived from a protein found in gastric juice, and animal studies (particularly rodent tendon and gut healing research) show real, measurable effects: faster tendon repair, improved fibroblast migration, and reduced gut inflammation. Those findings are consistent enough across studies that they're worth taking seriously.

What we don't have yet is human clinical trial data. As of 2026, no peer-reviewed randomized controlled human trial on BPC-157 has been published, only a small number of pilot studies, and a 2015 Phase I trial that was cancelled before results were released. Its regulatory status has moved recently, too: the FDA classified it as a prohibited Category 2 compounding substance in 2023, then reversed that classification in April 2026, which means it's no longer explicitly banned from compounding, but it also hasn't been formally added to the approved list. It remains an unapproved, investigational compound in a genuine regulatory gray area. We think that's important for you to know before deciding whether it's right for you, not something to gloss over.

Why We Only Offer These Through Consultation

Every peptide on this list is prescribed individually after reviewing your health history and goals, not sold off a menu. Given how much the evidence quality and legal status varies peptide to peptide (and how quickly some of that status has changed in just the past year), that's not optional from where we sit. It's the difference between a therapy chosen for your specific situation and one you're guessing about alone.

Common sense safety notes apply across all of these: injectable peptides should come from a licensed compounding pharmacy, not an unregulated research-chemical vendor, and any new peptide should be introduced one at a time so you and your provider can actually tell what's working.

New Client Wellness Consultation: $199

Standard follow-up / weight-loss / peptide consultation: $50

If one of these caught your attention, book a consultation and we'll talk through whether it fits your goals and health history.