Fears for safety as influencers push synthetic peptides

Scrolling through social media, it is easy to come across people claiming a product, diet or workout is a quick fix for weight loss, clear skin or banishing wrinkles.

One trend that takes cutting corners to another level is the use of experimental synthetic peptides.

Despite not being approved by Medsafe, synthetic peptides are being promoted and sold online labelled "for research purposes".

The trend has raised concerns from experts and drug safety advocates that social media is driving a dangerous search for the perfect body.

Peptides are types of amino acids that people have naturally, such as insulin and oxytocin.

Synthetic peptides are drugs made in a laboratory that mimic some of these - semaglutide, for example, is found in weight-loss prescription drug Wegovy.

Many are also being promoted by social media influencers.

One said, "You'll be tanner than you've ever been tan, there's a peptide you take, it's a growth hormone."

Another said, "It's going to take care of wrinkles, acne scars, eye bags, eye circles, it's going to give you tight glowing smooth skin."

The influencers who Checkpoint found on Instagram and TikTok were mainly based in the United States and Australia but there were also some Kiwis pushing peptides to their followers.

In all three countries, it is illegal to promote or sell unapproved drugs as medicine.

In an effort to get around these laws, social media influencers say in their videos that they have created the posts for research and information purposes only.

But Medsafe said using disclaimers still did not make any sales lawful.

Parcels caught by Customs at the border containing suspected peptides or SARMS, drugs similar to anabolic steroids, increased from 15 in 2022 to 370 last year. So far this year, 200 parcels have been caught.

Ministry of Health clinical chief advisor Dr Anna Skinner said peptides had not been through human trials so people could not be sure they were safe.

She warned they also could be contaminated with mould, heavy metals and bacteria.

"The Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia's seen significant numbers of adverse events, such as severe allergic reactions and severe systemic inflammatory response, insomnia, to flu-like illnesses and muscular skeletal injuries."

'Big exposure risk to the public'

New Zealand Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm said that over the last year there had been a big increase in peptides being brought into the organisation's drug-checking clinics.

Often peptides brought online weren't what they were marketed as.

"We really need a good investment into a communications campaign to help to counter that mis- and disinformation that might be out there.

"I think there's a big exposure risk to the public not realising what they are, thinking they're buying something potentially that is legitimate."

Calls for accountability

University of Otago Emeritus Professor David Gerrard said despite what people might hear on an Instagram reel or a TikTok video, most influencers did not have any medical training.

"These people should be brought to heel and to be accountable for peddling substances which are unregulated and unapproved."

Dr Gerrard said events such as the Enhanced Games, [a multi-sport event allowing the use of steroids https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/lifestyle/athletes-competing-on-drugs-the-enhanced-games-is-here], are normalising the use of unsafe drugs.

"This trivialises the medical risks and normalises the use of unnatural substances which are being promoted as enhancing muscle bulk and anti-ageing."

In December, Medsafe classified some peptides as prescription medicines. Despite this, Sarah Helm said a complete ban on such drugs was not going to work.

"I can see why people would think that would be the answer. Unfortunately, we know with the illicit market banning things doesn't really work on its own. The illicit producers just produce new versions of the thing and skirt around the law, and you still have a new unknown product."

Medsafe said anyone thinking about using an unapproved medicine should speak to their doctor about alternatives and to understand the risks.

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