Peptide supplements and their therapeutic applications in sports medicine and orthopaedics.

PRISMA-guided scoping review of 6 peptides marketed for musculoskeletal recovery: BPC-157, thymosin beta-4 (TB-500), CJC-1295, MK-677, ipamorelin and GHK-Cu. 67% of retrieved publications used preclinical animal models, mostly rats. Human clinical studies were limited to a handful of investigations, most without robust controls. Human effect sizes were modest at best, seen only in metabolic bone health and degenerative knee pain. Dosing and routes were highly heterogeneous; no pooled effect estimate was reported. Documented class-level risks include cardiovascular complications and metabolic dysfunction including insulin resistance. The authors state these peptides should not be recommended as an adjunct to orthopaedic standard of care.

The peptides should not be recommended as an adjunct to orthopaedic standard of care.