What peptides do
Peptides are small proteins. They signal like hormones, bind receptors, and influence downstream gene expression. Because they target one or two pathways at a time, their effect profile tends to be narrower than small-molecule drugs — which is an advantage when you want precision and a disadvantage when you need oral dosing (most peptides are digested in the gut and require injection).
Categories of peptide therapy
The peptides most often discussed in research and clinical contexts fall into a handful of categories. Every category page below lists the peptides on this site that belong to it, with mechanisms, dose ranges used in published research, and regulatory status.
- Anti inflammatory — 4 peptides
- Cognitive — 18 peptides
- Growth hormone — 15 peptides
- Gut health — 4 peptides
- Hormonal health — 9 peptides
- Immune support — 7 peptides
- Longevity — 13 peptides
- Mitochondrial — 5 peptides
- Pain — 2 peptides
- Performance — 11 peptides
- Skin and hair — 21 peptides
- Sleep and recovery — 3 peptides
- Tissue repair — 21 peptides
- Weight loss — 22 peptides
Regulatory status matters
A peptide can be FDA-approved for one use (e.g. semaglutide for type 2 diabetes), repurposed off-label for another (weight loss), available only through a compounding pharmacy, or sold as a research chemical with no human-use approval. The badge on every peptide profile reflects this. WADA-banned peptides are flagged for athletes; research-only peptides are flagged for everyone else.
Stacks and comparisons
Researchers frequently combine peptides to hit complementary pathways — a practice called stacking. Before committing to a stack, it helps to see how two peptides differ on a single outcome (e.g. GH release or fat loss). The comparison pages take this head-to-head view.
Where to start
- Browse the full peptide registry (90+ entries).
- Read the beginner's guide to peptides.
- Check the side-effects and risks overview before researching dosing.
- Use the reconstitution calculator to convert a vial size + water volume into exact insulin-syringe units.
- Read our editorial methodology to see how we cite and update this content.
Disclaimer
PeptideStack is informational only. It is not medical advice. Many peptides listed on this site are research compounds not approved for human use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any compound.