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What are peptides, today they are asked not only by biochemistry students but also athletes, cosmetics users, and people looking for weight loss solutions. The term encompasses very different substances: from insulin and semaglutide to collagen peptides or ingredients in skin creams.
It is precisely because of this breadth that much confusion and marketing promises have accumulated around peptides. Some confuse them with steroids, others expect that an ingested peptide will go directly to the joint or skin. The reality is more complex because the effect and absorption of a peptide depend on its structure, properties, and method of use.
Next, we will clearly distinguish peptide drugs, dietary supplements, cosmetic peptides, and unapproved substances, about the risks of which the State Medicines Control Agency warns. We will also discuss what claims about the benefits of peptides EU law allows and what the latest absorption studies show.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Some of them are naturally produced in the human body and act as signaling molecules, transmitting information between cells and regulating various physiological processes, including hormone activity.
How many amino acids make up a peptide? Peptides are often assigned 2–50 amino acid chains (LRT.lt). Bioactive peptides of food origin often have a narrower, 2–20 amino acid limit (Sánchez and Vázquez, Food Quality and Safety, 2017). The limits differ because different categories of peptides are being discussed.
The difference from proteins is simple: amino acids join into chains by peptide bonds. Short chains are usually called peptides, and longer chains folded into complex spatial structures are proteins. You can find more about this in the article what are proteins.
LSU scientist Dr. Petras Minderis explains to LRT.lt that peptides regulate growth, tissue repair, immune function, appetite control, energy metabolism, and hormone activity. Therefore, peptides are not just cosmetic ingredients: insulin, glucagon, oxytocin, and leptin are peptide hormones that regulate important body processes.
In the context of cosmetics and science, several types of peptides are distinguished:
This diversity explains why peptides can be found in drugs, dietary supplements, and skin care products.
Peptides are not steroids. Anabolic androgenic steroids are a group of testosterone and its synthetic derivatives that act on androgen receptors, while some peptides act as signaling molecules regulating various cellular processes. The legal status also differs: the status of both steroids and peptide substances depends on the specific substance and its purpose.
Pharmacist Dr. Eglė Pavydė, quoted by LRT.lt, divides sold peptides into four groups:
This classification is important because one "peptides" term includes both a doctor-prescribed drug and an unapproved product distributed online.
What about Botox? Argireline in cosmetics is called a Botox alternative because it can reduce the expressiveness of facial wrinkles. However, the comparison is not direct: botulinum toxin is an injectable drug acting at the nerve-muscle junction, while argireline is usually used topically, but its ability to penetrate to the nerve-muscle junction is limited and unclear.
Family doctor S. V. Alšauskė reminds of an essential fact: insulin, botulinum toxin, and many poisons are also peptides. The word "natural" does not mean "safe" – everything depends on the dose and context of use.
A peptide can be a drug, a cosmetic ingredient, or a poison component. Its properties and effects depend on the specific peptide.
We get peptides from protein-rich food, and in concentrated form, they can be found in dietary supplements and cosmetic products. During digestion, proteins are broken down into peptides and amino acids, so protein-rich food can be a source of food-derived peptides. Their sources are eggs, fish, dairy products, meat, and legumes.
This is an important scientific boundary. According to the review by Miner-Williams et al. (Nutrition Research Reviews, 2014), di- and tripeptides, that is, fragments of 2–3 amino acids, can be transported into intestinal cells via the PepT1 transporter, and some of them may enter unchanged beyond the intestinal wall. Larger peptides are generally broken down, and there is little reliable evidence that they enter the bloodstream unchanged in physiologically significant amounts. Therefore, the marketing claim that "the peptide travels directly to the joint" is not sufficiently scientifically justified.
For this reason, supplements use hydrolyzed collagen – a protein broken down into smaller peptide fragments, which can be more easily digested than intact collagen. Such collagen peptides are sold in powder or capsule form.
Do oral peptides even reach the blood? A 2024 pilot study in Frontiers in Nutrition shows that some can: after consuming 10 g of collagen hydrolysate, Pro-Hyp was the most abundantly detected peptide in the blood among those tested. In previous studies, Pro-Hyp concentration peaked after 60–120 minutes, and the results of this study were consistent with that. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, as only 6 volunteers participated, and the study was funded by the collagen manufacturer "Rousselot BV."
Peptides act differently in cosmetics. Serums and creams with Matrixyl, argireline, or copper peptides GHK-Cu are used locally: depending on the specific peptide, they can affect different skin processes, such as collagen synthesis. Oral peptides travel through the digestive system, while cosmetic peptides are used topically on the skin. These are two different routes of administration and action that should not be confused when choosing a product.
Collagen peptides and protein hydrolysates can contribute to recovery after exercise, but their effect depends on the specific protein source. Health claims permitted under EU law apply to proteins, not peptides as a separate category.
The legal boundary here is clear. The list of permitted claims in Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 does not include a separate claim about peptides. Proteins are allowed claims such as "help maintain muscle growth" and "help preserve muscle mass," while vitamin C is allowed claims about normal collagen formation.
The science on joints is also cautious. EFSA in 2011 gave a negative opinion on collagen hydrolysate and joint health: in a study with 147 physically active student athletes, after adjusting the statistical significance level for multiple comparisons, no significant differences between groups were found, so a causal relationship between collagen hydrolysate consumption and joint condition maintenance remained unconfirmed. Realistic expectations are always better than marketing promises.
A separate and more serious problem is "sports" peptides such as BPC-157, TB-500, or CJC-1295. VVKT points out that most peptides sold online are not registered medicines: the buyer does not know the actual composition or concentration, and the product may contain impurities and bacterial endotoxins. The label "for research use only" means the product is not necessarily manufactured according to GMP standards. Such preparations can cause heart rhythm disturbances, pancreas and liver damage.
And weight loss? GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, are prescription drugs. Ozempic is intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and the semaglutide preparation Wegovy is for weight control under specified indications. They cannot be legally purchased without a prescription. These are not dietary supplements.
For athletes, regulated products with a clear composition can be chosen:
These products are dietary supplements subject to food production and safety requirements, not experimental substances from the internet.
The risk depends on the peptide category. Cosmetic peptides are generally well tolerated, although local adverse reactions may occur. Collagen peptide supplements are well tolerated by most people, although digestive discomfort may occur; we write more about this in the review on collagen side effects.
A more serious danger may be posed by unapproved injectable peptides from the internet. VVKT warns that such products can cause heart rhythm disturbances, pancreas and liver damage, and their quality and safety are not properly assessed or controlled.
Before purchasing a peptide preparation, its registration can be checked in the EMA or VVKT drug registers.
Yes. The active ingredient of Ozempic, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a peptide drug that works similarly to the natural GLP-1 hormone produced in the intestine. Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
It is a prescription drug used under medical supervision. Semaglutide is neither a cosmetic nor a dietary supplement, and it cannot be legally purchased without a prescription.
Collagen peptides are collagen protein broken down into shorter fragments by hydrolysis. Due to their lower molecular weight, they dissolve more easily in water. We explained what this protein is in general in the article about collagen.
In supplements, collagen peptides are used to support skin, hair, and joints. We discuss the timing and dosage in the guide when to take collagen.
Do not confuse them with cosmetic peptides. Oral collagen peptides travel through the digestive system and break down into smaller fragments, whereas cosmetic peptides in creams and serums are used locally on the skin.
A peptide bond is a chemical bond between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid. This bond connects individual amino acids into peptide and protein chains.
The name of the molecule depends on the number of linked amino acids: short chains are usually called peptides, and longer chains folded into a three-dimensional structure are called proteins. Therefore, the peptide bond is the basis of protein structure.
Peptides are a broad field, but in everyday practice, collagen peptides and protein hydrolysates may be particularly relevant for those who exercise. When choosing supplements, it is worth selecting reliable, legally distributed products rather than questionable substances from the internet.
In the Papildupasaulis.lt assortment, you will find collagen peptides, proteins, and amino acids. Visit our store in Vilnius or order online – delivery in Lithuania usually takes 1–2 working days.
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