Experimental compounds promoted for muscle growth and fat loss, including ACE-031, SLU-PP-332 and 5-Amino-1MQ: what animal and human research shows and their legal status.
Small-molecule estrogen-related receptor (ERR) agonist; not a peptide
A small synthetic molecule, not a peptide, that switches on exercise-related genes. It boosted endurance and fat burning in mice, but it has never been tested in people.
Read more5-amino-1-methylquinolinium · 5A1MQ · 5-AMQ · NNMTi · 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium iodide
Small-molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) inhibitor (methylquinolinium); not a peptide
A small-molecule NNMT inhibitor, not a peptide, that reduced fat and improved aged muscle in mice. It has never been tested in a published human study.
Read moreAcadesine · AICA riboside · AICAr · 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside · ARA-100 · GP-1-110
Purine nucleoside analog and AMPK activator; not a peptide
A nucleoside that switches on the energy sensor AMPK. It made sedentary mice run farther, but as the drug acadesine it failed in heart surgery trials and is not approved.
Read moreCarnitor · Carnitor SF · Levocarnitine · Carnitine · L-carnitine · L-carnitine L-tartrate
Amino acid derivative (quaternary ammonium compound); not a peptide
An amino acid derivative, not a peptide, approved as Carnitor for carnitine deficiency and dialysis. Supplements trim about 1 kg of body weight; injections for fat loss lack trials.
Read moreFTPP (fat-targeted proapoptotic peptide) · Prohibitin-TP01 · Prohibitin-targeting peptide 1 · CKGGRAKDC-GG-D(KLAKLAK)2
Vascular-targeted proapoptotic peptidomimetic
An experimental peptide that destroys the blood supply of fat tissue. Obese monkeys lost weight but had kidney changes, and the only human trial was stopped without results.
Read moreBAM15 · (2-fluorophenyl){6-[(2-fluorophenyl)amino](1,2,5-oxadiazolo[3,4-e]pyrazin-5-yl)}amine
Small-molecule mitochondrial protonophore (uncoupler); not a peptide
A small-molecule mitochondrial uncoupler, not a peptide, that makes cells burn more fuel. It cut fat in obese mice, but it has never been tested in people.
Read moreRamatercept · ActRIIB-IgG1 · ActRIIB-Fc
Soluble activin receptor type IIB fusion protein (ActRIIB-Fc); a large protein, not a short peptide
A large lab-made protein that blocks myostatin and related muscle brakes. It built muscle in early trials, but development stopped in 2013 after nosebleeds and small blood vessel changes.
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Myostatin inhibitors finally reached approval in 2026 with apitegromab for SMA. What bimagrumab, follistatin gene therapy and gray-market products show.
The best peptides for men, ranked by evidence: approved GLP-1, hCG and bone-building peptides vs unproven BPC-157 and GH secretagogues, by age group.
Peptides vs SARMs: SARMs mimic testosterone and have human trials plus liver injury reports; most muscle peptides have less data. Risks and law compared.
Peptides for bodybuilding, examined: CJC-1295, ipamorelin, MK-677 and IGF-1 LR3 lack trials in trained lifters, are banned by WADA and often mislabeled.
Peptides and intermittent fasting: what's known about pairing GLP-1 drugs or growth hormone peptides with fasting, the risks, and a practical safety checklist.
Peptide hormones and exercise: workouts boost growth hormone, shift appetite hormones by 9-17% and raise MOTS-c and irisin. What it means, and doping limits.
Peptides vs prohormones: prohormones are steroid precursors that failed trials and are now controlled; peptides act on other hormones. Evidence and risks.
The best peptides for muscle growth, ranked by evidence: collagen with training, GH secretagogues, IGF-1 LR3 and follistatin, plus WADA bans and real risks.
Peptides and exercise: why strength training matters on GLP-1 drugs, what trials show about lean mass and weight regain, and the weak case for muscle peptides.
IGF-1 LR3 vs MGF: two IGF-1-related peptides sold for muscle growth, neither tested in humans. How they differ, the cell and animal data, risks and law.
Peptides vs TRT: testosterone therapy has large trials and 2026 label updates; hCG, gonadorelin and kisspeptin work differently. Evidence, risks, law.
Fragment 176-191 vs AOD-9604: two near-identical hGH fragments sold for fat loss. AOD-9604 failed a 502-person trial; Frag 176-191 has no human trials.
The best peptides for athletes, by evidence: collagen with loading for tendons is legal, while GH peptides, BPC-157 and TB-500 are WADA-banned and unproven.
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