What Are Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur naturally in the body and are also found in high-protein foods. They act as the body’s cellular messengers, sending signals that tell cells how to function.

With trillions of cells working together, these signals help regulate hormones, support muscle growth, assist fat metabolism, aid in tissue repair, accelerate recovery, restore metabolic function and much much more.

Bioactive peptides have drawn scientific interest for their potential health applications. Two well-known examples are Semaglutide (Ozempic), commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and Tesamorelin, which is used in HIV-positive patients to reduce visceral fat around internal organs.

While these two peptides are FDA and SAHPRA approved, many others are not—not due to safety concerns, but because they were discovered decades ago and cannot be patented. The high cost of pharmaceutical clinical trials, often ranging from $50million plus per compound, further limits approval.

It’s worth noting that many widely used supplements are also regulated but not FDA or SAHPRA approved, including creatine, omega-3 fish oil, vitamin B12, probiotics, collagen, and multivitamins.

Please note that a wide range of peptides are banned for use by professional athletes by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They are banned due to the fact that they can enhance muscle growth, increase oxygen delivery and aid in recovery, offering an unfair performance advantage.

At Kynex Bioscience, we believe education and transparency empower better health decisions.