Peptides: The Science, Uses & Safety | Dr. Abud Bakri

Andrew Huberman

Jun 1, 2026

Episode description

Dr. Abud Bakri, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician and expert in the science and clinical use of peptides. We discuss the history, uses, sourcing and safety of BPC-157, GHK-Cu, pinealon, epithalon, GLP-1s, retatrutide, melanotan and growth hormone-promoting peptides. We discuss the gap that exists between animal and human data and meaningful differences in the sources for different peptides. For those interested in peptides, Dr. Bakri provides a grounded look at the science, risks and uncertainties shaping the field today.

Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/LKUoSIM

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Dr. Abud Bakri
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Timestamps
00:00:00 Abud Bakri
00:03:33 What are Peptides?, Receptors
00:06:26 BPC-157, Discovery, Animal Proteins
00:11:19 BPC-157, Animal Data, Regeneration
00:12:27 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Lingo
00:14:51 BPC-157, Regeneration & Healing, Neurological Effects
00:19:27 Adverse Events, Clinical Trials & Legality of BPC-157
00:29:41 GLPs & Compounding Pharmacy; Peptides & Gray Market
00:35:25 Manufacturing, Compounding Pharmacies, Gray Market, Black Market
00:41:32 Peptides & Tumor Growth?; Angiogenesis
00:45:17 Sponsor: AG1
00:47:01 Pharmaceutical Patents, Clinical Trials for BPC-157, Potential Outcomes
00:54:19 BPC-157 Healing, Patient Experiences
01:01:22 Physician Counsel, FDA Legality, Malpractice
01:07:25 Pinealon, Epithalon, Discovery; Sleep & Cognitive Performance, Risks
01:18:17 Sponsor: Function
01:19:55 Pineal Age Deterioration, Epithalon, Eye Health
01:29:38 Thymus, Age Shrinkage; Thymosin Alpha-1, Immune Function
01:38:13 TB-500; Pet Health; Thymic Peptide Doses, Thymulin, Zinc
01:49:13 Sponsor: LMNT
01:50:33 GHK-Cu (Copper GHK), Collagen
01:55:32 Illness Recovery, Thymic Score, Tool: Blood Test & Immune Cell Counts
02:04:01 Growth Hormone Secretagogues, Age Decline, Cancer Risk, Insulin
02:15:36 GHK-Cu, Topical Cream, Red Light Therapy
02:20:25 GLPs, Discovery, Physical & Cognitive Long-Term Effects, Fertility
02:33:53 Retatrutide; Drug Patents & Nomenclature
02:39:03 Peptides: Women Reproductive Disorders; TBI, Neurologic Effect; Safe Sources
02:45:34 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#hubermanlab #science #health #peptides

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Preserve thymus gland during heart surgery to reduce cancer risk

A recent study found that removing the residual thymus gland during heart surgery is linked to a higher risk of death from cancer and autoimmune disease within five years.

#cancer

Investigate BPC-157's neurological effects on stimulants

BPC-157's most interesting effects may be neurological, as it appears to blunt the effects of stimulants like Adderall and can cause anhedonia in some users.

#neurology

#supplement

Utilize lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio as immune health marker

The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, available on a standard $3 blood test, is a powerful but often ignored marker for immune health and overall disease risk.

#blood-test

#immune-system

Recognize BPC-157's unique mechanism without a known receptor

Despite its wide-ranging healing effects, the popular repair peptide BPC-157 does not have a clearly identified receptor in the body, unlike drugs such as GLP-1s.

#peptides

Use Pinelon to combat brain fog and enhance cognition

The Russian peptide Pinelon, taken in the morning, is used anecdotally to reduce brain fog and improve cognitive performance, with one CEO putting all his employees on it.

#cognition

#peptides

Utilize celebrity trinity stack for rapid body transformation

High-profile individuals are reportedly using a "trinity stack" of GLP-1s, growth hormone secretagogues, and androgen therapy for rapid body transformations.

#GLP1

#growth-hormone

Increase BPC-157 dosage for significant healing effects

Based on personal experience healing a severe injury, the expert suggests that commonly recommended microgram doses of BPC-157 may be too low for a significant effect.

#dosage

#healing

Recognize BPC-157 under Pentadecapeptide Arginate to navigate regulations

To circumvent regulations, some compounding pharmacies sell BPC-157 under the name Pentadecapeptide Arginate (PDA), even though it's the same active compound.

#compounding

Source all peptides from China for pharmaceutical integrity

The raw active pharmaceutical ingredients for nearly all peptides, regardless of whether they are from a research site or compounding pharmacy, are synthesized in and sourced from China.