Wiki · 4 primers · 45 terms
Learn the meta
Short primers that explain how peptides work, how we rank evidence, and how to read the research yourself. No hype, no dosing, no sourcing.
01
Primers
- 01 Peptides 101 What peptides are, how they differ from proteins and small-molecule drugs, and how they get studied.
- 02 How evidence tiers work Our methodology: exactly what S, A, B, C and D mean, how tiers change, and what they never mean.
- 03 Reading a study Study types, animal versus human data, sample size, controls, conflicts of interest and preprints.
- 04 Regulation, plainly FDA approval versus compounding versus “research use only”, and how WADA’s Prohibited List treats peptides.
02
Glossary
45 terms, from agonist to WADA: one or two plain sentences each.
Open glossary →- Agonist
- A molecule that binds a receptor and activates it, producing a response similar to the body’s own signalling molecule.
- Compounding
- Preparation of a customised medication by a licensed pharmacist or physician for an individual patient. In the US, compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality before use.
- GLP-1
- Glucagon-like peptide-1: an incretin hormone made in the gut that increases glucose-dependent insulin release, suppresses glucagon, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. Natural GLP-1 lasts only minutes in the blood.
- Incretin
- A gut hormone released after eating that amplifies insulin secretion. GLP-1 and GIP are the two main incretins.
- Nitric oxide
- A gas made by cells that acts as a short-lived signal, notably relaxing blood vessels to increase blood flow.
- Preclinical
- Research done before testing in humans, including cell (in vitro) and animal (in vivo) studies. Most compounds that look promising preclinically never succeed in people.