When the fountain of youth’s under construction, you may want to dip into peptides instead.
Chances are you’ve already heard of a number of different peptides, including insulin, morphine and even Ozempic and Mounjaro. (GLP-1 actually stands for “glucagon-like peptide-1.”)
According to longevity doctor Michael Aziz, author of “The Ageless Revolution,” a peptide is “basically a short chain of amino acids that are connected together.” And there are over 30 amino acids that the FDA considers peptides — plus many more that are not yet recognized by the FDA.
But increased demand for life-extending medicine has prompted biohackers to start digging into longevity-specific peptides, or pharmaceuticals that may help you live longer.
And while nothing is going to be a longevity silver bullet, these three peptides might have what it takes to set you up for long-term success.
1. Semaglutide
If you’re anything like Oprah, Rebel Wilson or Kathy Bates, you’re already on board the semaglutide train. Yep, that’s right: Ozempic and Wegovy are the brand names of semaglutide.
More than just helping you lose weight or manage diabetes, research shows that Ozempic can improve metabolic function and decrease risk of stroke and heart attack by about 20%, Aziz told The Post.
“If you use it correctly — and you’re eating correctly, you’re eating enough protein, you’re working out, you’re not losing muscle mass — Ozempic is a longevity peptide,” he said.
He points to new research investigating the benefits of taking “maintenance doses” of Ozempic, or the lowest available dose, to keep metabolic health in check. And he’s seeing an uptick in cardiologists recommending this regimen.
“A lot of patients are aware that those peptides have a longevity effect, and they just want to use it not for weight loss anymore, but more on a maintenance basis,” he said.
Patients with a family history of heart attack, stroke or diabetes, or patients who themselves have been diagnosed with prediabetes, might want to consider being on a small dose of semaglutide “to improve metabolic function and possibly for the anti-aging effects,” Aziz said.
Some medical professionals, though, are less eager to promote maintenance doses of semaglutide.
Dr. Katy Williams recently said that if major weight loss isn’t your goal, it may be more beneficial to make lifestyle changes first — like changes to diet and exercise habits — than to expose yourself to the potential side effects of GLP-1s, which range from nausea and dizziness to more severe cases like eating disorders, pancreatitis and thyroid cancer.
That being said, microdoses do have key differences from standard doses. For example, it’s likely they won’t lead to the same dramatic decrease in appetite. But ultimately, they need to be studied more.
“The intent here is to have some therapeutic effects,” Aziz said. Based on the information we have now, it’s possible that small doses could help address inflammation, what he calls “a hallmark of aging.”
2. Epitalon
Another hallmark of aging? Shortened telomeres.
“As the cells divide, your telomeres — the end caps of chromosomes — get shorter and shorter,” Aziz explained. “And eventually there is no more cell division, and there’s cell death. So longer telomeres mean longer life. Shorter telomeres means shorter life.”
He added that epitalon is a peptide that few doctors know about, but one that’s been developed to counteract this very process. By activating a specific enzyme, it lengthens telomeres, which is thought to delay cellular aging.
In one study on the effects of epitalon on rat cells, the peptide “induced the active proliferation of the cultured cells.” Another study, this time on human fetal tissue, found that epitalon-treated cells “demonstrated high telomere lengths,” which led the authors to believe that epitalon has some anti-aging capacities. The treated cells continued dividing long after the untreated cells stopped.
And while epitalon needs significantly more study on human subjects, Aziz insisted on its multitude of benefits. “It improves sleep, skin health and appearance as an antioxidant,” he said. “It heals injuries and prevents some age-related diseases like cancer, heart disease and dementia.”
3. GHK-Cu
Though the research on the longevity properties of this peptide are insufficient, existing research suggests that GHK-Cu — a property found in human saliva, urine and plasma and combined with a copper compound — can build collagen and facilitate DNA repair via injection, helping to recoup the stem cells we lose as we age.
“We have about 700 stem cells in our body when we’re born, and they go down as we age,” Aziz said. “By age 60, they’re all gone. And it’s believed that GHK-Cu helps keep the stem cells alive longer.”
For now, GHK-Cu has more aesthetic applications than medical, though Aziz does stress its antioxidant properties.
This peptide can be injected or applied topically as a face cream (there are GHK-Cu copper peptide serums marketed on Amazon as “skin perfecting.”) But because the injection is known to be especially painful, Aziz recommended topicals.
Where can I get these peptides?
Semaglutide prescriptions have spiked globally, and, in addition to your doctor, are now available through sites like Hers, Hims and Ro, though Aziz stressed the importance of receiving a prescription from a medical doctor.
Certain peptides aren’t FDA-approved and are therefore not available at regular pharmacies just yet, which has led to an increase in “gray market” sales, primarily from southeast Asia.
Thousands of buyers are injecting themselves with compounds they’ve purchased online for a fraction of the price they would pay from an above-board doctor. And they’re turning to sites like TikTok and Reddit for guidance on how to administer them.
“People have to know when they buy it online that these are for animal research, or for research studies, and they may not be getting the real thing,” Aziz warned.
Some “research chemical” websites market their products as lab use only, but consumers who can’t afford brand-name peptides aren’t deterred by the labels. “They may be getting a fake thing, or they’re not getting anything at all, and it’s not safe for injections.”
As The Post earlier this year, the price differences can be massive: A month of name-brand GLP-1s can cost $1,000, and telehealth companies sell compounded versions for $300 to $400. Gray-market suppliers, meanwhile, may offer a year’s worth for $100.
It might be more costly, but Aziz urges users to work with their medical providers to figure out a safe protocol that works for your budget and body.
