Are Peptides Safe for Older Adults?

In recent years, advances in molecular biology have helped researchers identify and develop other peptides that control everything from cardiovascular function to appetite.

Some have produced important medical breakthroughs. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, for example, have transformed the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Other FDA-approved peptides treat osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer and HIV.

Many popular peptides lack human trials

Experts say those rigorously tested medications are very different from the unproven products that influencers and clinics are promoting.

“People hear the word peptide and presume all peptides are safe and effective,” Gupta says, “when there are actually many different types.”

Many of the most popular products have little to no human research behind them, says Paul Knoepfler, a stem cell biologist at the University of California, Davis.

“Peptides are hawked claiming all kinds of benefits, including for aging-related conditions, but it is largely profit-driven hype,” he says. “These are unapproved drugs that have not gone through clinical trials.”

Sellers often point to anecdotal claims or early studies in animals or on cells grown in labs, Knoepfler says. But that kind of research isn’t enough to show a product is safe or effective for people, he says.

Gupta says more research — and more oversight — is badly needed, especially given how widely the products are being used outside the traditional medical system.

“We’re talking about unregulated products,” Gupta says. “They’re not being screened by the FDA like approved drugs. Patients are injecting them, in many cases with no examination, discussion or evaluation. Given the lack of evidence on safety and long-term use, that’s a real concern.”

Health officials consider loosening peptide regulations

In 2023, the FDA changed its classification of some of the most popular peptides — including BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin — citing safety concerns and a lack of evidence. The change effectively restricted pharmacies from compounding them.  

The FDA crackdown didn’t make the products disappear. Instead, unregulated online sellers stepped in. To sidestep FDA oversight, they market the products as research chemicals, with labels that say, “for research only” or “not for human consumption.” Now, federal health officials are considering reversing the 2023 change, according to news reports. That would allow pharmacies to compound certain peptides again, making some more widely available.

Experts urge caution on unapproved products

Even if compounding resumes, doctors say many of the same questions remain, because compounded drugs don’t go through the FDA’s review process for safety or effectiveness.

Research is still needed to determine whether each type of peptide is effective, what the appropriate dosage is and if it carries any dangerous side effects. There are also concerns about quality — including impurities and whether what’s in the vial matches what’s on the label.

In 2025, two women were hospitalized in Las Vegas after receiving peptide injections at an anti-aging conference, according to ProPublica. Their symptoms included swollen tongues, difficulty breathing and elevated heart rates, and one woman had to be put on a ventilator at the hospital.

Knoepfler says he worries about potential cancer risk with long-term use, as well as kidney, liver or other organ damage.

“There’s no recommended safe dose for these because they aren’t approved as drugs,” he says, “so I’m concerned what is commonly being used now could be toxic high doses and we’ll only realize that years down the road.”

For older adults, the risks may be higher. Many people ages 50-plus have chronic conditions and take multiple medications, increasing the chance of harmful interactions.

Given the lack of evidence and unanswered safety questions about unapproved peptides, many doctors say older adults are better off avoiding them for now.

“It may turn out that for one of these many, many peptides, we’ll see benefit,” Amdur says. “But I don’t want my patients to be the guinea pigs in an uncontrolled scientific experiment.”