Peptides, which have become popular on the internet, can pose serious health threats despite the promises of muscle gain, anti-aging, and fat loss made in unregulated online sales.
Peptides, which have become popular on the internet, can pose serious health threats despite the promises of muscle gain, anti-aging, and fat loss made in unregulated online sales.
There is growing concern about the side effects of these substances, and evidence indicates that men and women are not affected in the same way. Women have one and a half to two times higher probability of experiencing an adverse drug reaction compared to men. This occurs partly because women use more prescription medications.
Furthermore, they tend to live longer and are more susceptible to chronic diseases requiring prolonged treatment, such as lupus, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, presenting more severe symptoms when affected. These factors increase the potential for drug interactions, combined with differences in drug metabolism and elimination, hormonal and immunological variations.
The female menstrual cycle depends on a complex communication system between the brain and the ovaries, which requires precise hormonal balance. When peptides that artificially raise hormone levels are introduced externally, the system is unprepared for this interference.
Examples such as ipamorelin and CJC-1295, used to promote muscle growth and anti-aging, increase the body's production of growth hormone and IGF-1, keeping levels high for days. This sustained increase can lead to swelling, fluid retention, hormonal imbalances, ovarian function problems, and a higher risk of miscarriage. The effects of these peptides on other vital organs, such as the liver, thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands, are still largely unknown.
Thymosin beta-4 is a natural peptide that aids in repairing damaged tissues. Its synthetic version, TB-500, is sold to aid in healing, reducing inflammation, and improving flexibility. However, this natural peptide has been detected in various types of cancer, including breast cancer cells and certain forms of lung cancer.
In 2021, lung cancer rates in American women under 65 surpassed those of men in the same age group, reversing a historical trend. Considering that women are often diagnosed at later stages, a peptide present in cancerous breast and lung cells should not be underestimated, regardless of gender history.
GHK-Cu, a copper tripeptide complex, gained popularity in anti-aging creams due to its potential to stimulate collagen and elasticity in laboratory studies. However, the risk increases significantly when it is injected. Since these injectable peptides lack human approval, administration carries specific risks.
The injectable dose can be much higher than that of a cream or tablet, as the substances bypass digestion and the skin barrier, reaching tissues at maximum concentration. Due to the lack of regulation, consumers are unaware of the product's actual concentration. For women of childbearing age, there is great concern about the possibility of these peptides crossing the placenta and reaching the fetus. Excess copper can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. During pregnancy, the risks are greater: every extra microgram of copper in maternal blood increases the risk of premature birth by 30% and shortens gestation by an average of 1.6 days, in addition to being linked to intrauterine growth restriction and neurological problems in the baby.
For women, the risk does not only depend on the peptide but also on the injection site. Fat distribution differs between genders; women tend to accumulate fat in the thighs, hips, and buttocks, resulting in less protective adipose tissue in the abdominal region, which makes injections in this area more dangerous.
Men, on the other hand, are generally more robust, have a larger body surface area, and more water in their bodies. Consequently, in a woman of similar weight and age, the same dose will have less space to disperse and dilute, intensifying its effects. In summary, consuming unregulated peptides is a risky gamble, and for women, the combination of biological, hormonal, and anatomical factors further aggravates this risk until such substances are adequately studied in human volunteers.