What are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur naturally in the body and are the building block of proteins. Peptides can be manufactured and sold as supplements. Many people take peptides as a supplement for health benefits. Many different types of peptides serve specific purposes in the body. Some peptides act as a hormone, communicating information to varying tissues through the blood.
Potential benefits of peptides include the following:
Anti-aging benefits for the skin Helping the body fight infection and heal Boosting muscle growth and repair Helping with weight loss.
Due to their significant beneficial properties (antioxidants, antimicrobial, and antithrombotic), peptides have emerged as effective medical treatments. The peptides contained in medicine may be naturally occurring or synthetic.
Some examples of peptides designed for medicinal use include:
Vasopressin1 is a peptide that can manage diabetes and help with antidiuretic hormone deficiencies. Carnosine is a type of dipeptide that might be useful in treating conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, autism, down syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease. Chromofungin2 is a peptide that might help treat inflammatory bowel disease.
How Peptides can Help with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Peptides have become a promising new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Multiple studies have looked at the effects of peptides on IBD. [1][2][3][4] Research is ongoing to determine the safety of treating IBD with peptides in humans, but the studies have shown promising results in reducing inflammation.
Reducing Inflammation
One study found that peptides could mimic good cholesterol, which helped to treat the underlying inflammation associated with IBD in mice. The results of this study prompt further research using similar methods in humans.
Another study3 reviewed the current literature to point to using peptides as a treatment for IBD. This study concluded that vedolizumab is one of the most promising peptides against IBD.
Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The cause of IBD is unknown. Diet and stress may exacerbate this condition but are not necessarily the cause of IBD. Immune system malfunction may be a potential cause of IBD. Gene mutations can also contribute to IBD, meaning you are more likely to develop IBD if someone in your family has it.
Other risk factors of IBD include:
Age: the average age of diagnosis for IBD is 30 years old, but many cases have occurred later in life. Smoking: Cigarettes can increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease and its severity if you already have it. Taking NSAIDs: NSAIDs or Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can increase the risk of getting diagnosed with IBD.
IBD Treatment
There is no definitive cure for IBD, but medications and surgeries are available to treat and manage this disease. Medications to help relieve painful symptoms and prevent them from worsening are prevalent. However, in many cases, drugs are ineffective, and surgery is required to remove the affected section of the digestive tract.