Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance

Mendias CL, Awan TM · Sports Medicine

Places GHK-Cu among unapproved peptides sold direct to patients: favourable tissue-repair and metabolic outcomes in animal models, scarce rigorous human safety data, and real potential for harm. The review names the gray market and the placebo effect, amplified by social media, as mediators of perceived efficacy.

Population

Narrative review of approved and gray-market peptides marketed for musculoskeletal injury and athletic performance

Intervention

n/a

Comparator

n/a

Limitations

Narrative review without a systematic search; one author declares consulting fees from Arthrex on unrelated topics.