Peptides by goal: marketing vs. evidence
People shop by goal; the hype sells redundant stacks. For most goals, little is actually proven.
Each letter is the compound's evidence grade (A–F); how proven the use is, not a recommendation.
Fat loss / weight PROVEN CORE EXISTS
Only the prescribed GLP-1 drugs are proven; the other compounds sold alongside them are padding.
the evidence
The incretin agents (GLP-1 / GIP / glucagon) are the only proven fat-loss compounds on the list, and they're FDA-approved and prescribable. CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide) is the one studied combination. Everything else marketed alongside them (AOD-9604, 5-Amino-1MQ, MOTS-c, Tesofensine, Adipotide) is preliminary (C) or unproven (D).
what actually works
A prescribed GLP-1 (semaglutide / tirzepatide) through a doctor: proven, Tier-A, legal. The lever underneath it: a caloric deficit + protein + resistance training. The drug makes adherence easier; it does not replace the deficit.
Recovery / healing / “Wolverine” NOTHING PROVEN HERE
Nothing here is proven in humans; the real levers are rehab, sleep, and time.
the evidence
None of it. BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV: not one has a completed human efficacy trial for tissue recovery; the entire aisle is Tier-D animal data and anecdote. The GLOW / KLOW / Wolverine blends bundle several Tier-D compounds and sell the bundle as synergy with zero combination evidence.
what actually works
There is no proven peptide for recovery. The real levers are unglamorous and they work: progressive loading, physiotherapy, sleep, protein, and time. For an actual injury: a doctor or PT, not a vial.
Overall health / longevity / anti-aging NOTHING PROVEN HERE
No proven longevity peptide exists; the evidence-backed levers aren't in a vial.
the evidence
The least-evidenced category. Epitalon and the Khavinson “bioregulators” are mostly Russian-only data (ungradeable to a Western standard); NAD+ and MOTS-c are preliminary (C); Humanin and Klotho are Tier-D. SS-31 (B) has data only for specific mitochondrial disease, not general “longevity.” Nothing here is proven to extend healthspan in humans.
what actually works
No proven longevity peptide exists. The evidence-backed longevity levers are not peptides: exercise, sleep, diet, not smoking, metabolic health. (Notably, the GLP-1s carry real cardiovascular-outcome data, the closest thing to a “longevity” signal on the whole board, and it's a metabolic drug.)
Muscle / GH / performance MECHANISM REAL, DATA THIN
They raise growth hormone, but the muscle payoff is thin in healthy adults; the gym is the proven stack.
the evidence
These raise GH / IGF-1 (a real mechanism), but human outcome data for muscle or performance is thin; mostly B/C, and the IGF variants are Tier-D. MK-677 (B) is the most-studied. Critically, stacking five of them is the 401k overlap: CJC + Ipamorelin (GHRH + ghrelin) is the one complementary pairing; everything past that is the same one or two receptors again.
what actually works
For muscle, the proven levers are training + adequate protein + sleep, and (if medically indicated) TRT through a doctor. GH secretagogues are not approved for muscle-building, and the effect size in healthy adults is modest at best.
Sexual health / libido ONE APPROVED OPTION
One approved option (PT-141); and for ED, the proven drugs aren't peptides at all.
the evidence
PT-141 (Bremelanotide / Vyleesi) is FDA-approved for HSDD in premenopausal women, the one approved peptide option (the other approved HSDD drug, Addyi / flibanserin, isn't a peptide). Melanotan II (B) does affect libido but is gray-market only and carries melanoma / cardiovascular concerns. Kisspeptin (B) is investigational.
what actually works
PT-141 / Vyleesi through a doctor (approved). For men's ED specifically, the proven route is the boring, well-studied PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil / tadalafil) and addressing the cause (cardiovascular, hormonal); not a melanocortin stack.
Cognition / mood / nootropic NOTHING PROVEN HERE
No proven nootropic peptide for healthy minds; mostly Russian-data and animal compounds.
the evidence
Cerebrolysin (B) has data, but for stroke / dementia in specific clinical contexts (and it's foreign-approved, porcine-derived). Semax and Selank (C) are largely Russian data. Dihexa and P21 are Tier-D. For cognitive enhancement in healthy people, there is essentially no good human evidence for any of them.
what actually works
No proven nootropic peptide for healthy cognition. The levers are sleep, exercise, and treating the actual problem (a doctor for genuine cognitive or mood disorders).