What are some famous peptides used for anti-aging?

Famous Peptides for Anti-Aging

The most clinically relevant peptides for anti-aging are topical neuropeptides and signal peptides for skin applications, while systemically, spermidine and urolithin A show the strongest evidence for cellular health and longevity through autophagy modulation.

Systemic Anti-Aging Peptides and Compounds

Spermidine

• Spermidine is a polyamine that declines with age and demonstrates robust anti-aging properties through mTOR inhibition and autophagy enhancement 1
• Spermidine administration increases lifespan and healthspan in multicellular model organisms, with blockage of autophagy removing most positive effects 1
• Tissue levels are unusually high in healthy nonagenarians and centenarians, suggesting a protective role 1
• The mechanism involves TORC1 inhibition and enhancement of autophagy pathways 1

Urolithin A

• Urolithin A, a gut microbiota metabolite, induces mitophagy and prevents age-related muscle impairment 1, 2
• In healthy sedentary elderly individuals, urolithin A produces changes in muscle mitochondrial gene expression suggestive of improved mitochondrial and cellular health 1, 2
• This compound increases longevity in nematodes and demonstrates cellular protective effects through mitochondrial quality control 1, 2
• For patients seeking systemic anti-aging interventions, urolithin A supplementation represents the most evidence-based peptide-related approach, though it should not replace standard medical care 2

Topical Peptides for Skin Anti-Aging

Neuropeptides and Signal Peptides

• Topical facial serums containing proprietary blends of neuropeptides, proteins, and amino acids significantly improve aged skin parameters 3
• These formulations reduce skin surface microfolds, decrease roughness, and increase epidermal thickness compared to untreated controls and commercial products 3
• Clinical improvements include enhanced skin smoothness, reduced wrinkle severity, decreased fine line visibility, and lifting/tightening effects at crow's feet, forehead, and upper lip 3

Classification of Anti-Aging Peptides

• Peptides for topical skin applications are categorized into four functional groups: signal peptides, enzyme-inhibitor peptides, neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides, and carrier peptides 4
• Signal peptides stimulate collagen and elastin production 5, 4
• Enzyme-inhibitor peptides prevent breakdown of structural proteins 4
• Neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides reduce muscle contraction (similar mechanism to botulinum toxin) 4
• Carrier peptides deliver trace elements necessary for wound healing and enzymatic processes 4

Supporting Anti-Aging Strategies

Polyphenol-Rich Compounds with Anti-AGE Activity

• Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, prevent AGE formation and reduce inflammatory pathways 1, 6
• EGCG traps reactive dicarbonyl species (MGO and GO) and attenuates LDL oxidation under high glucose conditions 1, 6
• Coffee polyphenols, including chlorogenic acid, act as anti-AGE agents through metal chelation, with ≥3 cups daily associated with reduced oxidative stress 6
• Ferulic acid and kaempferol modulate AGE accumulation and RAGE expression, suppressing NF-κB activation 1, 6

Clinical Implementation Algorithm

1. For skin anti-aging: Prioritize topical neuropeptide-containing serums with documented clinical efficacy 3
2. For systemic cellular health: Consider urolithin A supplementation in healthy elderly individuals seeking mitochondrial support 2
3. For AGE reduction: Implement daily consumption of green tea (3+ cups) and coffee (3+ cups) as recommended by the American Heart Association 6
4. Dietary modification: Prioritize fresh vegetables and fruits while avoiding high-temperature cooking methods 6

Important Caveats

Critical limitation: Most peptide bioregulation studies showing 20-40% lifespan extension were conducted in rodents over 6-12 years of observation 7. Human clinical data remains limited to specific endpoints like skin quality and muscle mitochondrial gene expression 3, 2.

Delivery challenges: Anti-aging peptides and proteins face significant barriers in dermal delivery, requiring advanced formulation strategies to achieve adequate skin penetration 5. Systemic absorption of topical peptides remains questionable.

Specificity concern: Peptide-based interventions should complement, not replace, established preventive strategies including cardiovascular risk reduction, cancer screening, and guideline-directed medical therapy 2.