Peptide Therapy and Nutrition: Why the Basics Still Matter

People who start peptide therapy sometimes expect the prescription alone to produce all of the changes they want. When the changes they hoped for are slow or hard to notice, nutrition is one of the first things worth reviewing with a provider. This article explains why nutrition matters alongside peptide therapy. It does not claim that any food or supplement makes a peptide work better, because no published study has shown that.

How peptides and nutrition differ

Many peptides used in medicine act as signaling molecules that change the activity of cells. Sermorelin is one example. It is a shortened form of the hormone that prompts the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. A brand-name version was once approved in the United States, and that product is no longer marketed. The sermorelin dispensed today is compounded and not FDA approved. Long-term safety data in healthy adults are limited.

Peptide signaling does not provide amino acids or micronutrients. The body uses amino acids to form and maintain muscle, tendon, skin and other connective tissues. Dietary protein provides those amino acids. The enzymes that assemble these tissues also depend on vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, for example, is required by the enzymes that stabilize newly made collagen. These requirements exist whether or not a person takes any medication.

Protein comes first

Low protein intake is a common gap, particularly when appetite is reduced or meals are irregular. An expert group of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism concluded that older adults generally need more dietary protein than younger adults to maintain muscle, and that older adults with acute or chronic illness may need more still. The right amount for you depends on your body size, age, kidney function and medical history. A provider or registered dietitian can help you set a target that fits your situation.

Whole foods such as eggs, dairy, fish, poultry, meat and legumes supply protein. A protein supplement can help when food alone does not meet the target, but it does not replace a varied diet.

Vitamins and minerals

A diet that is low in fruit, vegetables or variety can leave gaps in the vitamins and minerals that the body uses to maintain tissue. Some of these gaps can be measured. Low vitamin D, for example, is common and is identified with a blood test. A provider can review your results and decide whether a supplement is reasonable for you.

Questions to ask before concluding that a peptide is not working

Before you and your provider decide that a therapy has failed, it is worth reviewing a few practical questions.

• Has my protein intake been consistent from day to day, or has it fallen when my appetite or schedule changed?
• Am I sleeping well? Growth hormone is released mostly during deep sleep, so poor sleep is relevant to any therapy that acts on that system.
• Are my expectations based on evidence? Studies of sermorelin in healthy adults are small, and individual responses vary widely.
• Has my provider reviewed my labs? A provider prescribing sermorelin may check IGF-1, a blood marker of growth hormone activity, before and during treatment.

Any change to a prescription is a decision for you and your prescribing provider. It is not something to adjust on your own.

Where Truthe fits

Truthe Nutrition makes dietary supplements designed to support dietary protein and micronutrient intake. Truthe Nutrition Blend is a whey protein shake made from grass-fed New Zealand whey. MyoStim, which is included in Truthe Complete Nutrition, contains 5 g of collagen peptides and 3 g of creatine monohydrate in each stick pack, along with HMB, leucine, vitamin D and calcium. Truthe Daily Support is a daily multivitamin with a methylated B-complex, vitamin D3, vitamin C and chelated minerals. Each product page shows the full supplement facts label.

Truthe Rx offers sermorelin to adults through the VITAL program when an independent licensed provider decides that it is appropriate. Truthe does not prescribe, and surgeons do not prescribe through Truthe. An independent licensed provider reviews your evaluation and decides whether a prescription is appropriate for you.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any medication or supplement. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sources

1. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866. PMID 28805671. doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866
2. Deutz NE, et al. Protein intake and exercise for optimal muscle function with aging: recommendations from the ESPEN Expert Group. Clin Nutr. 2014;33(6):929-936. PMID 24814383. doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2014.04.007