Various products in the market get advertised as peptide-containing. It becomes their selling point. Peptides are components that are added to medicines, supplements and skin care products. Peptides are short chains of amino acids and are linked together by a bond known as a peptide bond. Longer chains of peptides are called polypeptides. Sometimes, people believe peptides and proteins to be the same. Proteins are polypeptide chains with fifty or more amino acids.
Peptides can also be obtained from plants or other animals in the form of:
- Milk
- Meat
- Fish
- Oats
- Wheat
What is their role in our body?
They are naturally produced in our bodies to perform various functions. There are different classes of peptides where all have specific functions to perform. Peptide hormones are common in every cell of the body. They act as chemical messengers in our bodies. Transporting information from the source to another cell or group of cells. Some of their function include:
Vasopressin (Antidiuretic hormone) –
This hormone is secreted by the hypothalamus. It regulates the amount of water in the body.
Oxytocin –
Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland during childbirth. After birth, it facilitates lactation.
Usage in various industries
Peptides in medicine
Diabetes Insipidus –
The patients suffer from an imbalance of fluids in the body. They tend to urinate often as the antidiuretic hormone is produced in low quantities. Vasopressin is used to make medicines for this disease.
Anaemia –
Low haemoglobin concentration is called anaemia. Iron is a primary component of Haemoglobin. Therefore, hepcidin works as a cure. It controls the iron absorption in the body and could increase the haemoglobin concentration.
It can be inferred that medicines containing peptides are commonly used to counter peptide deficiency in the body.
Peptide in Supplements
Collagen – Collagen forms most of the bone, skin and cartilage. Thus:
- Anti-ageing – It tightens and hydrates the skin. These peptides improve the overall skin condition and delay the ageing process.
- There is no proof yet but it is believed that collagen accelerates the wound healing process. It might have antimicrobial properties.
- A few studies hint that collagen might be useful for increasing bone mass. This has not yet been tested for humans.
The effects of these supplements are not immediate. Wounds don’t heal instantaneously but the healing process is certainly sped up.
Peptide in skincare
Peptides are much sought after in the beauty business for their anti-ageing benefits. Peptides act as antioxidants and repair skin damage. Additionally, it improves the skin barrier providing better protection against dirt. You can find peptides in lotions, face creams and serums. Research on peptides is still going on and we can hope to discover more uses in the future.
Unless advised by doctors or related professionals, it is better to refrain from taking any peptide supplements. Pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding should avoid taking them at all. If you wish to increase the peptide concentration, you can try the natural products mentioned higher in the article.
If by any chance, you wish to start your own business involving peptides or start research. Conduct an online research to get the best peptides for sale.
