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Ranked by human evidence

Best Peptides by Goal, Ranked by Human Evidence

The best-studied peptide differs by goal. For 6 of the 9 goals below, it is an approved medicine or a supplement rather than a research peptide.

Each card names the compounds at the top of that goal's ranking, says what their evidence measured, and links to the full ranking with each compound's US legal status.

Best peptides for each goal

  • Best Peptides for Recovery and Healing, Ranked by Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Limited human data

    • Research peptidesBPC-157· Research use only
    • Research peptidesHGH 191AA· Research use only

    BPC-157 ranks first for recovery and healing, and its human evidence is small: 5 studies in about 80 people, with no significant benefit in the one placebo-controlled trial. I found no published human trial of TB-500, and FDA found no human study of KPV by any route.

    All 7 ranked for recovery and healing

  • Best Peptides for Muscle Growth, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    • Prescription / GLP-1Tesamorelin· FDA-approved · prescription only

    Tesamorelin has the strongest human evidence of the peptides sold for muscle growth, but its 26 randomised trials measured belly fat in people with HIV, not muscle in healthy adults. The popular options have far less: small hormone studies for CJC-1295 and ipamorelin, child growth trials for sermorelin, and MK-677 trials that measured fat-free mass but not strength.

    All 15 ranked for muscle growth

  • Best Peptides for Skin, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Moderate human evidence

    Oral collagen peptides have the strongest human evidence for skin: 2 meta-analyses of 19 randomised trials each, showing small effects. The topical peptides have less: GHK-Cu's randomised trials are old and in wounded skin, Argireline and Matrixyl rest on small cosmetic studies, and I found no independent trial of SNAP-8.

    All 7 ranked for skin

  • Best Peptides for Anti-Aging, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    • Prescription / GLP-1Teriparatide· FDA-approved · prescription only
    • Prescription / GLP-1Abaloparatide· FDA-approved · prescription only

    Teriparatide and abaloparatide have the strongest human evidence, but their trials measured fractures and bone density in osteoporosis, not aging itself. I found no controlled human trial of the popular longevity peptides, such as epitalon, MOTS-c and FOXO4-DRI, and NAD+ injections have only clearance and tolerability studies.

    All 25 ranked for anti-aging

  • Best Peptides for Weight Loss, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    • Prescription / GLP-1Semaglutide· FDA-approved · prescription only
    • Prescription / GLP-1Tirzepatide· FDA-approved · prescription only
    • Prescription / GLP-1Liraglutide· FDA-approved · prescription only
    • Prescription / GLP-1Orforglipron· FDA-approved · prescription only

    Semaglutide and tirzepatide have the strongest human evidence for weight and fat loss, from randomised trials reviewed by FDA, and both are prescription medicines. Of the unapproved options, retatrutide has published trial results but no FDA review, and AOD-9604's developer reported its obesity trial failed. I found no published human trial of HGH Fragment 176-191.

    All 17 ranked for weight loss

  • Best Peptides for Energy, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    • Prescription / GLP-1L-Carnitine· FDA-approved · prescription only

    L-carnitine injection has the strongest human evidence for energy, but for its approved use in diagnosed carnitine deficiency, not for energy in healthy people. SS-31 has 16 randomised trials, all in people with diagnosed diseases, and for NAD+ injections, MOTS-c and the growth-hormone peptides I found no trial that measured energy.

    All 10 ranked for energy

  • Best Peptides for Brain and Focus, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Limited human data

    • Research peptidesPinealon· Research use only
    • Research peptidesSelank· Research use only
    • Research peptidesSemax· Research use only
    • Research peptidesCerebrolysin· Unapproved drug

    The best-evidenced brain peptides are rated limited, and 4 tie at that level: Pinealon, Selank, Semax and Cerebrolysin. Cerebrolysin has the largest trial record, with mixed results in stroke and dementia, and I found no published human trial of Dihexa or PE-22-28.

    All 8 ranked for brain and focus

  • Best Peptides for Libido, Ranked by Human Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    PT-141 (bremelanotide) has the strongest human evidence for libido: 2 Phase 3 trials led to its FDA approval for low sexual desire in premenopausal women. hCG and hMG also rate strong, but for fertility. I found no trial of oxytocin nasal spray in sexual function, and kisspeptin's sexual findings come from single-dose studies in healthy volunteers.

    All 7 ranked for libido

  • Best Peptides for Immune Support, Ranked by Evidence

    Strongest human evidence: Strong human evidence

    Thymosin alpha-1 has the strongest human evidence for immune support: 64 randomised trials in patients with sepsis, pancreatitis and hepatitis, though the largest found no clear survival benefit. The popular inflammation peptides have far less. LL-37 has a few small ulcer trials, I could verify no VIP trial for immune use, and FDA found no human study of KPV.

    All 10 ranked for immune support

More rankings by use

Common questions

What are the best peptides?

It depends on the goal. Ranked by strength of human evidence, first place in each goal's ranking goes to: recovery and healing, BPC-157; muscle growth, Tesamorelin; skin, Collagen peptides; anti-aging, Teriparatide; weight loss, Semaglutide; energy, L-Carnitine; brain and focus, Pinealon; libido, PT-141; immune support, Thymosin alpha-1. A higher rank means more and better human studies, not that a compound works, and each ranking says what its studies measured.

Are the best-studied peptides research peptides?

Mostly not. For 6 of the 9 goals on this page, the compound with the strongest human evidence is an approved medicine or a supplement rather than a research chemical. Research peptides are sold labelled for laboratory use only and are not approved for human use.