PeptidesInfo

Evidence system

How we grade the evidence

Two independent labels appear on every analysis and profile: an evidence level that describes how strong the human research is for a specific claim, and a regulatory status that describes what the FDA has actually decided. One never implies the other.

Evidence levels

The grade applies to a specific claim, population and outcome — never to a molecule in general. A peptide can be established for one indication and preclinical for another. When we can’t verify a claim from a primary source we grade it unsupported rather than guessing.

Established evidence
Supported by regulatory approval or multiple strong human trials for the specific indication.
Typically: FDA approval for the indication, or ≥2 adequately powered randomized trials with consistent results.
Promising evidence
Meaningful human evidence exists, but conclusions remain limited.
Typically: at least one randomized controlled trial or a consistent body of controlled human studies, with meaningful limitations in size, duration or generalisability.
Preliminary evidence
Small, uncontrolled, or early-stage human evidence.
Typically: small pilot studies, uncontrolled or open-label trials, or case series in humans.
Preclinical evidence
Cell or animal research only. No adequate human evidence.
Typically: rodent, other animal or in-vitro studies. Human relevance unknown.
Unsupported evidence
Claims exceed the available evidence.
Typically: marketing claims with no human data, or claims that contradict the available data.
Conflicting evidence
Credible studies reach different conclusions.
Typically: well-designed studies with opposite or inconsistent findings that cannot yet be reconciled.

Regulatory status

Regulatory status is a fact about a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not a judgement about evidence. We source it from FDA labels, approval databases and safety communications, and we mark it as requires verification when we cannot confirm it from those sources.

FDA-approved for this use
The FDA has approved this peptide for the indication discussed.
FDA-approved for a different use
The FDA has approved this peptide for another indication; the use discussed is off-label.
Investigational
Under study in registered clinical trials; not approved for marketing.
Not FDA-approved
No FDA approval for any indication.
Withdrawn or discontinued
Previously available or in development, later withdrawn or discontinued.
Status requires verification
The regulatory status could not be verified from primary sources at review time.

Where each peptide sits today

The matrix plots each profiled peptide by overall evidence level (rows) and U.S. regulatory status (columns) for its most-discussed use. Notice how often the two axes disagree.

Peptides plotted by evidence level and regulatory status
Evidence ↓ / Regulatory →FDA-approved for this useNot FDA-approved
Established
    Promising
      Preliminary
        Preclinical

          Analyses by evidence level

          Established evidence
          Promising evidence
          Preliminary evidence
          Preclinical evidence
          Conflicting evidence