“Anti-aging” covers a lot of different wishes. Some people mean skin, some mean strength, and some mean slowing aging itself.
Peptides are sold for all three. The evidence is very different for each, so it helps to ask which change you actually want.
Here is what human studies show, sorted by the part of aging you are trying to address.
| Aging concern | Peptide | Best human evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Skin hydration and elasticity | Oral collagen peptides | Meta-analysis of 26 randomized trials |
| Fine lines | Topical signal peptides, GHK-Cu | Small cosmetic trials |
| Growth hormone decline | GHRH(1-29) and analogs | Small trials in older adults, weeks to months |
| NAD+ decline | NAD+ and its precursors | Precursor trials that raise NAD+; outcomes unproven |
| Telomeres | Epitalon | Cell studies; research-only |
Skin: the most tested use
Oral collagen peptides are a supplement, not a drug. They are also the anti-aging peptide with the most trials.
A 2023 meta-analysis pooled 26 randomized trials with 1,721 people [1]. Hydrolyzed collagen improved skin hydration and elasticity compared with placebo.
The authors flagged several biases in the included trials. They called for larger ones before the finding is treated as settled.
Topical peptides have smaller trials. In one 12-week split-face study, 93 women aged 35 to 55 used a moisturizer with or without a signal peptide called pal-KTTKS [2].
The peptide side showed fewer wrinkles and fine lines, by image analysis and expert graders. GHK-Cu, a copper peptide, is covered in GHK-Cu benefits, and the wider list in peptides for skin.
Growth hormone: raised, with mixed results
Growth hormone and IGF-1 fall with age [3]. GHRH peptides signal the pituitary to release more of its own growth hormone.
In one trial (n = 19), adults aged 55 to 71 injected a GHRH(1-29) analog nightly for 16 weeks [3]. Growth hormone rose, and IGF-1 rose within 2 weeks before drifting back toward baseline by week 16.
Skin got thicker in both sexes, and lean body mass rose in men only. Weight, bone density and other body measures did not change.
A second trial gave 11 men aged 64 to 76 nightly GHRH(1-29), the sequence in sermorelin, for 6 weeks [4]. Nightly growth hormone release rose, but IGF-1 did not.
Two of six strength measures improved. Muscle and fat did not change on body scans.
These trials were small and short, and neither measured aging outcomes. The full sermorelin record is in does sermorelin work.
NAD+: levels rise, outcomes unproven
NAD+ is a coenzyme cells need for energy metabolism. It is sold as an injection, an IV and a nasal spray.
Most human data come from precursors taken by mouth. In a 2-by-6-week crossover trial, nicotinamide riboside was well tolerated in healthy middle-aged and older adults [5].
It raised NAD+ metabolism, but gave only initial insight into physical effects. The authors suggested future trials look at blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
How precursors compare with NAD+ itself is in NMN vs NAD. Pairing NAD+ with glutathione is covered in NAD+ and glutathione.
What you can get prescribed
NAD+, glutathione and GHK-Cu, except injected GHK-Cu, are in Category 1 of the FDA’s 503A list [7]. That means bulk substances under evaluation, not approved drugs.
None of the peptides on this page is FDA approved for aging. Energy claims are covered separately in peptides for energy.
To match a goal to options, try the goal finder or the longevity peptide rankings.