Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are much larger molecules made up of hundreds or thousands of amino acids, while peptides generally contain only 2-50 amino acids. Some key features of peptides:
- Peptides are shorter and simpler than proteins. This makes them easier to study and manipulate.
- Peptides play many important biological roles in the body. Some examples are hormones like insulin, neurotransmitters like endorphins, growth factors, and antibiotics.
- Many peptides derived from natural proteins have potent bioactivities. This makes them useful as medicines, like insulin for diabetes or glutathione for reducing inflammation.
- Peptides are more easily absorbed than proteins when taken as supplements. This is due to their smaller size and solubility.
Now you may ask, _how are peptides produced and used?_ Peptides can be derived from natural sources or produced synthetically in the lab. Here's a quick overview:
- Natural peptides are isolated by enzymatic cleavage or acid hydrolysis of larger proteins. Common sources are milk, eggs, meat, soy, or wheat.
- Synthetic peptides are chemically synthesized, often using solid-phase peptide synthesis. This allows production of novel peptides not found in nature.
- In the field of anti-aging medicine, certain peptides like Epithalon or Thymalin are used to modulate hormone levels, reduce inflammation, and improve immunity.
- Peptide supplements like collagen peptides and creatine peptides are popular with athletes and bodybuilders for building lean muscle mass, aiding recovery, and enhancing performance.
- Cosmeceutical peptides like copper, matrixyl, and argireline are common in anti-aging creams and serums for reducing wrinkles and improving skin tone.
So in summary, peptides are versatile and potent molecules that serve many roles in biology, medicine, and health/beauty supplementation. Here at Hormone Harmony Clinic, our expert physicians stay up-to-date on the latest peptide research to provide patients with cutting-edge anti-aging and hormone optimization therapies. We offer personalized care and treatment plans using proven bioidentical peptides, vitamins, and other modalities to help you look and feel your best. Contact us today to learn more about our peptide therapies and set up a consultation!