Are peptides the fountain of youth? Doctors warn hype may outpace science

Peptide therapy has gained popularity as a potential health and longevity booster, but experts are warning of cautions and limitations.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as messengers involved in processes like metabolism, growth and immune function, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Some peptides have shown potential in helping with skin health, metabolism, muscle recovery and immunity, although research is limited, experts say.

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"'Peptides' is a broad umbrella that includes everything from well-studied, FDA-approved therapies to experimental compounds marketed for anti-aging with limited human data," Dr. Brad Younggren, a board-certified physician and CEO and co-founder of Circulate Health in Seattle, Washington, told Fox News Digital.

Injectable GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drugs are a common form of peptides, he noted.

"Most people now more widely understand the positive impact this peptide can have on human healthspan," Younggren said. "Peptides have broad targets across human physiology, and each one must be explored independently."

Other common types of peptides help with growth hormone production, healing and tissue repair, skin and hair health, immune regulation, and cardiovascular and blood pressure regulation.

Despite some claims of peptides extending lifespan, Younggren cautioned that no longevity therapy or treatment should be considered a "fountain of youth."

"The science is promising in specific areas, but the category as a whole is not a single, proven longevity solution," he said. "Peptides may be useful tools in select clinical contexts, but claims of universal rejuvenation are ahead of the evidence."

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Ben Perez, the biomedical technology specialist at Pure Tested Peptides in Pennsylvania, noted that some people have seen benefits in recovery, immunity and tissue repair, while others have reported positive outcomes related to sleep, lean body mass and recovery time.

However, while peptides show promise, he said some suggested results may be "overly optimistic."

"Some are anti-aging related and assist with cellular repair, release of growth hormones and metabolic functions," Perez, who oversees quality control of research peptides, told Fox News Digital. "However, the results can be inconsistent, and the assertions are usually greater than the supportive research."

Each type of peptide can be associated with its own potential side effects, experts say.

Growth hormone–related therapies, particularly those that act on the growth hormone (GH)–IGF-1 axis, can affect multiple hormone pathways and carry risks such as fluid retention, insulin resistance, headaches and joint symptoms, as well as changes in blood pressure or lipid levels, according to Dr. Anant Vinjamoori, M.D., a Harvard-trained physician and chief longevity officer at Superpower.

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"The pathways in the study of peptides are complex and can lead to imbalances in the hormones of the body," Perez said. "Other negative outcomes can be localized inflammation at the injection site and other reactions."

"Endocrine disorders, autoimmune disorders and history of cancer are further reasons to be more careful."

The most reliable way to receive peptide therapy is through injection, according to Vinjamoori, as some oral forms can be "under-absorbed" or may rely on added ingredients that can cause side effects.

"'Safe' is less about the route and more about the molecule, dose, purity and monitoring," he told Fox News Digital.

"Most peptides have an extremely strong track safety record based on the data we do have — but there is still much that we do not know."

Some peptides are FDA-approved for specific conditions, including GLP-1s and growth-hormone stimulators. These may be prescribed off-label in some contexts, although risks and benefits vary and evidence may be limited, according to experts.

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There are also some peptides that are not FDA-approved. "Many ‘fitness’ peptides discussed online are in early clinical phases or used only in research settings," Vinjamoori noted.

Perez warned that peptides have little to no regulation in many countries, which means online vendors may sell fake, poor-quality or dangerous products. 

"Selling unproven, miracle-promising or supplement-peddling products with little accountability or third-party testing is a dangerous red flag," he said.

For those considering peptides, Vinjamoori recommends watching out for the following red flags.

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"The most effective longevity care is proactive, personalized, and grounded in biomarkers and scientific evidence," Younggren added. "It should be approached as a combination of lifestyle measures that contribute to better healthspan."

Perez emphasized the importance of starting conservatively. "Understand the science, know the source and get medical guidance," he advised. "Peptide therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s nuanced and still evolving."

While peptides may address issues that fall outside the reach of conventional medicine, Perez said, the supporting clinical data is still being developed.

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"Excessive use can lead to a decrease in their therapeutic effects and may cause adverse reactions, so more is not necessarily better," he cautioned.

Anyone interested in peptides should consult with a physician to ensure that they receive a safe product and that it is used appropriately.

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Melissa Joan Hart dropped 20 pounds by cutting two things in her ‘longevity journey’

Cutting two simple things from her diet helped Melissa Joan Hart shed nearly 20 pounds, she revealed in a recent interview.

The actress, best known for her roles in "Clarissa Explains It All" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," lost about 18 pounds after cutting sugar and alcohol as part of what she described as a "longevity journey," she told People earlier this month.

"I just wanted to feel better. It had nothing to do with losing weight," Hart, 49, said at Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's Grammy viewing party on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles. 

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"I really didn't think I could lose weight anymore, being in midlife and perimenopause," she added.

Weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is common, according to the Mayo Clinic, as hormonal changes, aging and lifestyle factors slow metabolism and shift fat toward the belly. But staying active, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting added sugars and alcohol and prioritizing sleep can help minimize weight gain in midlife, experts say.

Hart said her main focus was on improving how she felt, and it has worked.

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"I actually feel stronger and better than I have in a really long time," she said.

Hart said it began by working out more intensely and paying closer attention to her lifestyle. In the process, she discovered intermittent fasting and decided to eliminate sugar and alcohol.

She added that giving up alcohol was an easy decision.

"I just don't even enjoy drinking. So why bother?" Hart said. "So I cut these things out of my life, and I started to feel better. And in doing that, I lost a lot of weight and kind of feel great."

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Cutting back on added sugar and alcohol can reduce excess calorie intake and lower the risk of weight gain, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver damage and certain cancers, while supporting better overall metabolic health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hart also shared that staying hydrated has been a challenge for her over the years, joking that her husband, musician Mark Wilkerson, notices her dislike for drinking water.

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"My husband says when I drink a glass of water, I make a face like it's the most disgusting thing on earth," she said. "I'm sipping on it, like, 'Eww.'"

Instead, the mom of three said she often reaches for club soda with lime or tea. "I'll do hot tea, cold tea, green tea, peppermint tea — any kind of tea," she said.

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Hart, who turns 50 in April, joins other celebrities who have recently credited cutting alcohol and other lifestyle changes for improved health and weight loss, according to reports.

Last year, Russell Crowe said cutting back on alcohol played a major role in his 57-pound transformation, and "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness has also spoken out about cutting down on booze and focusing on overall health.

Country singer Jelly Roll has credited long-term wellness and mental health support for his dramatic weight loss, while Matt Damon recently said cutting certain foods, including gluten, helped him slim down for film roles.

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Researchers make stunning medical discovery in mass grave

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of what may be the world’s first surgery: a Viking-age human skull with a portion removed.

The remains, belonging to a man between 17 and 24 years old, feature an oval hole roughly 3 centimeters in diameter. Experts believe the man lived during the ninth century, according to reporting by SWNS.

The man likely underwent trepanation, an ancient surgical procedure where a hole is bored into a living person’s skull to treat conditions like migraines or seizures. 

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University of Cambridge students discovered the remains last year during a training dig at the Wandlebury Iron Age hill fort.

The discovery is notable not just for the surgery, but for the man’s physical stature. Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, he towered over the average male of the era, who typically stood 5 feet, 6 inches, per SWNS.

"The individual may have had a tumor that affected their pituitary gland and caused an excess of growth hormones," said Dr. Trish Biers, curator of the Duckworth Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, in the report.

"We can see this in the unique characteristics in the long shafts of their limb bones and elsewhere on the skeleton."

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Biers noted that such a condition would have increased intracranial pressure and caused severe headaches. The trepanation was likely an attempt to alleviate that pain, a goal that is "not uncommon with head trauma today."

The burial site itself presented a grim mystery. The mass grave contained a mix of complete and dismembered bodies, including a cluster of skulls and what researchers described as a "stack of legs."

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Four complete skeletons were unearthed, some in positions suggesting that they had been tied up. 

Most appeared to be young men thrown into the pit without care, leading archaeologists to suspect that the site marks the aftermath of a skirmish, battle or mass execution.

"Those buried could have been recipients of corporal punishment, and that may be connected to Wandlebury as a sacred or well-known meeting place," Oscar Aldred of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit told SWNS.

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"It may be that some of the disarticulated body parts had previously been displayed as trophies and were then gathered up and interred with the executed or otherwise slaughtered individuals."

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Hidden signs your bones may be weaker than you think, according to doctor

When people think about protecting their health, bone health often takes a back seat to more prominent concerns like cancer or heart disease.

But for women, bone density can become a real issue with age, as osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OBGYN, certified menopause specialist, and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, talked to Fox News Digital about the severity of this threat.

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"About 50% of women can expect to have an osteoporotic fracture before they die," she said. "That is triple the rate of men."

Osteoporosis is defined as a "bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes," according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

The condition can cause the bones to become so weak and brittle that a fall or even mild stress, like coughing, can cause a break.

Haver — who is also founder of The 'Pause Life, a health and wellness platform focused on supporting women through midlife changes — noted that the "downfall" after these fractures can be "pretty devastating."

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Fractures can lead to disability, death and high medical costs, according to a blog post by Haver on The ‘Pause Life's website.

Haver emphasized that osteoporosis is a "largely preventable" disease.

"Paying attention to the lifestyle, the behaviors, possibly the medications that can prevent osteoporosis earlier in life, will really help stave off some of the loss of independence that women are suffering from as they age," she told Fox News Digital.

The condition is more likely to occur in those who have hormone imbalances, have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, have low calcium intake or experience disordered eating, according to Haver and Mayo Clinic. Those with a family history of osteoporosis may also face a higher risk.

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People who have taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions like seizures, gastric reflux, cancer and transplant rejection are more susceptible, as are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Although osteoporosis is sometimes referred to as a "silent disease," which can progress without symptoms until a fracture occurs, there are a few subtle clues that may indicate "lower than normal" bone density, Haver said.

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These include loss of height, back pain, receding gums, and weak or brittle nails.

Osteoporosis can also be caused by certain unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol and using tobacco.

Mayo Clinic reported, "People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do those who are more active."

Haver agreed that staying physically active, while getting enough calcium and vitamin D through a healthy diet or supplementation. can help maintain healthy bone density.

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"Engage in weight-bearing exercise and resistance training, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and talk to a doctor about any medications that may affect bone health," she wrote in her blog post.

"Regular bone density testing may also be recommended for some individuals to monitor their bone health and identify any potential issues early on."

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Measles outbreak poses risk of 'irreversible' brain damage, health officials warn

South Carolina health officials are warning of "irreversible" neurological damage in children as measles-related hospitalizations climb in the state.

Of the 876 confirmed cases in the state’s upstate outbreak, at least 19 patients have been admitted with serious complications.

"Some of these complications include measles encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in children and pneumonia," state epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a Feb. 4 briefing.

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Bell emphasized that the complication is particularly dangerous for young patients.

"Any time you have inflammation of the brain ... there can be long-term consequences, things like developmental delays and impacts on the neurologic system that can be irreversible," the expert warned.

While the state does not systematically track every medical complication, pneumonia is the leading cause of measles-related death among young children, affecting approximately one in every 20 infected minors, according to CDC data.

A total of 147 students are quarantined across 10 K-12 schools, Bell noted.

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The outbreak also poses a risk to expectant mothers. Because the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine cannot be administered during pregnancy, several exposed women recently required emergency treatment with immune globulin to provide "passive immunity."

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Bell noted that this is critical to "protect them against the high risk of complications during pregnancy and to protect their newborn babies."

The measles virus is notoriously contagious, capable of lingering in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room, experts say.

South Carolina saw a historic surge in vaccinations in January. In particular, Spartanburg County saw a 162% increase in MMR vaccinations compared to the previous year.

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"I’m hoping that what we can attribute [the vaccine surge] to is a wider recognition of the threat of this disease circulating in our communities and the desire for people to be protected against the complications," Bell said in the briefing.

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Health officials continue to urge the public to seek vaccinations, especially as a new case in the Pee Dee region suggests the virus may be spreading beyond the initial upstate clusters through "unrecognized community transmission."

As far as the encephalitis and pneumonia fears, "these are complications we hope to prevent," Bell added.

"Increasing vaccination coverage protects those who cannot be vaccinated, like young infants, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems."

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Archaeologists uncover evidence of early brain surgery on 9th-century man

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of what may be the world’s first surgery: a Viking-age human skull with a portion removed.

The remains, belonging to a man between 17 and 24 years old, feature an oval hole roughly 3 centimeters in diameter. Experts believe the man lived during the ninth century, according to reporting by SWNS.

The man likely underwent trepanation, an ancient surgical procedure where a hole is bored into a living person’s skull to treat conditions like migraines or seizures. 

DAREDEVIL CLIMBER'S BRAIN SHOWS NO FEAR DURING EXTREME STUNTS: EXPERTS REVEAL WHY

University of Cambridge students discovered the remains last year during a training dig at the Wandlebury Iron Age hill fort.

The discovery is notable not just for the surgery, but for the man’s physical stature. Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, he towered over the average male of the era, who typically stood 5 feet, 6 inches, per SWNS.

"The individual may have had a tumor that affected their pituitary gland and caused an excess of growth hormones," said Dr. Trish Biers, curator of the Duckworth Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, in the report.

"We can see this in the unique characteristics in the long shafts of their limb bones and elsewhere on the skeleton."

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Biers noted that such a condition would have increased intracranial pressure and caused severe headaches. The trepanation was likely an attempt to alleviate that pain, a goal that is "not uncommon with head trauma today."

The burial site itself presented a grim mystery. The mass grave contained a mix of complete and dismembered bodies, including a cluster of skulls and what researchers described as a "stack of legs."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Four complete skeletons were unearthed, some in positions suggesting that they had been tied up. 

Most appeared to be young men thrown into the pit without care, leading archaeologists to suspect that the site marks the aftermath of a skirmish, battle or mass execution.

"Those buried could have been recipients of corporal punishment, and that may be connected to Wandlebury as a sacred or well-known meeting place," Oscar Aldred of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit told SWNS.

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"It may be that some of the disarticulated body parts had previously been displayed as trophies and were then gathered up and interred with the executed or otherwise slaughtered individuals."

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Cancer survivors eating certain food types could face sharply higher risk of death

Cancer survivors consuming high amounts of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) may face a significantly higher risk of death, even if the cause is unrelated to the disease itself.

A new study from the American Association for Cancer Research linked increased consumption of these largely ready-to-eat, high-sugar, high-salt and high-additive foods to an increased risk of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.

"What people eat after a cancer diagnosis may influence survival, but most research in this population has focused only on nutrients, not how processed the food is," said lead author Marialaura Bonaccio, Ph.D., of the Research Unit of Epidemiology and Prevention at IRCCS Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy, in a press release.

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UPFs are often low in essential nutrients and contain additives, artificial flavorings, preservatives, and high levels of added sugars and unhealthy fats that the body may not process well, according to nutritionists.

"The substances involved in the industrial processing of foods can interfere with metabolic processes, disrupt gut microbiota and promote inflammation," Bonaccio said. 

"As a result, even when an ultraprocessed food has a similar calorie content and nutritional composition on paper compared to a minimally processed or ‘natural’ food, it could still have a more harmful effect on the body."

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In the study, researchers followed more than 24,000 individuals from 2005 to 2022. Among this group, 802 cancer survivors provided dietary information via a questionnaire from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), according to the press release.

All participants were 35 or older and lived in the Southern Italian region of Molise.

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UPFs were defined using the NOVA classification system, a widely used framework that classifies foods based on the extent of industrial processing. 

The team examined seven specific categories of ultraprocessed items, including processed meats, salty snacks, sugary sweets and dairy products containing additives.

To measure intake, the researchers used two metrics: weight ratio (total weight of UPFs compared to all food consumed daily) and energy ratio (percentage of daily calories derived from UPFs).

During a median follow-up of 14.6 years, survivors in the highest third of UPF consumption by weight had a 48% higher rate of death from any cause and a 57% higher rate of death from cancer than those in the lowest third, the researchers found.

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The study also revealed that increased inflammation and elevated resting heart rates accounted for approximately 37% of the link between UPFs and mortality.

The risk remained even after researchers accounted for how closely people followed a healthy Mediterranean-style diet.

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While some categories showed stronger links to mortality than others, Bonaccio cautioned against fixating on a single "bad" food. Instead, he stressed that the real problem is eating a diet largely made up of heavily processed, industrial foods.

"The negative health effects are not explained solely by poor nutrient profiles," Bonaccio said. "The level and nature of industrial food processing itself plays an independent role."

Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that cancer survivors carefully check labels, as foods containing more than five ingredients or any industrial additives are likely considered ultraprocessed.

"Focusing on the diet as a whole and shifting consumption toward fresh, minimally processed, home-cooked foods is the most meaningful approach," Bonaccio advised.

The study, which was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged. 

Because the study was observational, it could not prove causality. It also relied on people reporting their own diets, which might not be perfectly accurate. 

Because diets were measured about eight years after diagnosis, the results may mostly reflect people who survived long enough to be included, which could skew the findings. As the study cohort was Italian, it may not apply to wider populations.

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