Anti-aging peptide injections are the latest wellness trend—but do they work?
From “Wolverine Stacks” to “Vitality Protocols,” biohackers claim these peptide cocktails can heal injuries, boost energy, and reverse aging. Experts warn it may be riskier than it seems.
Once confined to anti-aging face creams, peptides—tiny chains of amino acids that act as the body’s chemical messengers—are now being injected by biohackers chasing everything from faster muscle growth to deeper sleep.
On TikTok, enthusiasts tout ‘peptide stacking’ blends with names like Wolverine Stack and Vitality Protocol, claiming they’ve been healed, energized, or even made to “feel 10 years younger.” Yet despite scant clinical trials, the global peptide market is booming, predicted to nearly triple from $4.1 billion in 2025 to $11.2 billion by 2035.
Social media may be flooded with stories of miracle recoveries and age reversal. But how much of the hype holds up under scientific scrutiny? Experts weigh in.
What are peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids—the building blocks of protein—that act as signaling molecules, telling cells how to function. “I think of them like little messengers,” says Jordan Glenn, head of science at SuppCo. “Some regulate hormones, others control immune activity, healing, or metabolism.” Naturally found in the human body, they can also be produced synthetically and have been used in medicine for more than a century.
The best-known example is insulin, first used to treat diabetes in 1921. Today’s blockbuster weight-loss drugs, such as semaglutide, are also synthetic peptides that mimic GLP-1, a hormone produced in the gut.
Because digestive enzymes quickly break them down in the stomach, they must be injected rather than swallowed. Most peptides are sold as freeze-dried powders, which consumers mix with a sterile solution to create their desired ‘stack’.
(Which castor oil benefits are backed by science?)
Part of their appeal is that they mimic chemical signals the body already produces. That makes them feel less like drugs and more like “bio-identical” reinforcements—an assumption that, experts warn, leads many to believe they’re inherently safe. But there’s a catch: many of the peptides sold online are labeled “for research use only.”
That designation means they aren’t FDA-approved for human use, a loophole that shields vendors from liability if products are contaminated, mislabeled, or harmful, says John Fetse, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Binghamton University. “If you buy a peptide that’s designated for research purposes only and you have issues, then you cannot hold the vendor liable.”
Is there any evidence that peptide stacking works?
While TikTok users may claim that peptide stacking can have transformative effects, there is very little clinical evidence, as no large-scale, peer-reviewed human trials have been conducted.
“At a very basic level, most of these peptides do have some sort of either cell culture or animal data supporting these uses, but not the use in humans,” says Glenn. “For example, there's a lot of rodent data and cell culture model data showing BPC-157 can help with tendon healing.” One of the few human trials on peptides found that CJC-1295 increased growth hormone production, which is correlated with fat loss, while a 2024 animal study found several peptides promoted collagen synthesis. A 2018 research review also suggested that topical application of GHK-Cu could reduce wrinkles and improve skin firmness.
(Sea moss has become a billion-dollar health trend. Is it worth the hype?)
There’s even less evidence when it comes to mixing and injecting peptides, Fetse says. “There haven’t been any clinical studies to validate these cocktails and also ascertain their therapeutic value.” Glenn adds that combining peptides is “very complicated when we think about the overlap in timing, the half-lives…and how different concentrations are happening in the body at any given time.”
Are there any health risks with peptide stacking?
With so little clinical research, Glenn says that injecting even one peptide without medical supervision is “incredibly risky.” Using syringes without adequate training can easily lead to contamination or infections and could have “unintended consequences in how it affects our metabolic or digestive systems,” he says.
Peptides have the potential to influence hormonal balance and could be dangerous, Fetse adds, because “these hormones are tightly regulated in our body and they have specific functions.” He also cautions against peptide stacking for gut health. “Natural gut microorganisms help to sustain a stable gut health, so bringing in agents that would influence the natural growth or behavior of these microorganisms could have a big impact on your health overall.”
(The secret to a healthy gut is simpler than you think.)
Responses can also vary widely from person to person. Differences in metabolism, sex hormones, and overall health mean that what feels like a miracle cure for one person could pose real dangers for another. Making matters worse, peptides purchased through what Glenn calls the “gray market” often aren’t what they claim to be. In one recent analysis, his team found that half of the NAD supplements they tested contained none of the labeled ingredients.
“Hype almost always tends to move faster than the science does,” Glenn says. “We need to study peptides individually, but clinical trials take a long time. We'll eventually get there but we're probably about a decade [away].”
Are there any safe alternatives to peptide stacks?
Rather than experimenting with unapproved injections, Fetse recommends “talk to a physician and have them give you proven options.” Glenn adds that many FDA-approved oral supplements can target the same pathways peptides are said to influence.
(How these two vitamin supplements could do more harm than good.)
For example, berberine—sometimes called “nature’s Ozempic”—can help regulate blood sugar, though less dramatically than prescription GLP-1 drugs. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has antioxidant effects, while caffeine is a well-studied energy booster. The key, Glenn emphasizes, is using “the right supplement for the right reason at the right time and the right dose.”
