Ground Truth

The honest read · evidence-graded · sells nothing

The honest read on every peptide.

What the science actually says, what real people report, and whether it's even worth it, across 42 compounds. We've been burned by this ourselves, so we did the homework, weighed the real-world record, and graded all of it. None of it's for sale.

Every source is public and clickable, so you can check our work yourself. No login, no annual fee, no paywall to find out whether you're being sold a story.

Then build your own protocol and see what it should cost.

Build your own protocol →

Free to build. Pick compounds, see the honest price range, print it, and budget it however you choose to source. No account.

Build your own protocol

Pick a goal. See what actually works and what a fair month should cost. Print your protocol. No account.

  • C

    BPC-157 / TB-500 Blend 10mg/10mg

    ~$75/vial

  • C

    BPC-157

    ~$42/vial

  • C

    BPC-157 / TB-500 Blend 5mg/5mg

    ~$44/vial

Tap + Add to start your protocol and see the month build.

Already know your dose?

Skip the planning and get the exact syringe units for a single vial. Or open the full reconstitution tool →

Reconstitution calculator

How many units do I draw?

Pick your peptide and vial size, then set how much water you add and how much you want to take — type a number or tap −/+. We do the insulin-syringe math.

Vial amountmg in vial
Water you addmL
Dose you takemcg

For 250 mcg, draw

10 units

on a U-100 insulin syringe (0.10 mL)


Concentration

2500 mcg/mL

Each unit

25.0 mcg

U-100 syringe: 100 units = 1 mL. Presets are typical reported starting points, not recommended doses. Confirm your actual vial size before you draw.

If you remember nothing else

The key things to keep in mind.

01

Take control of your own health.

Nobody is coming to optimize you. The whole point is to make your own calls with your eyes open, not to hand them to a vendor.

02

The science is mostly thin.

For most of these, the honest answer is we don't really know yet. That's not a knock, it's just the state of the evidence.

03

Measure, don't guess.

Bloodwork, body composition, and a certificate of analysis on every vial. The people who get burned are the ones guessing.

04

Follow the money.

Before you believe a claim, ask who profits from you believing it. We flag the conflict on every expert and seller we cite.

05

It might be placebo. So what?

If you genuinely feel better, that's real to you. Just know that might be what you're paying peptide prices for, and price it accordingly.

06

Go slow. One thing at a time.

Change one variable, then measure. Stacking four compounds at once is exactly how people end up with no idea what did what.

Why is the science so thin? Follow the money →

The watch desk

What just happened, and what's next.

Jul 24, 2026FDA advisory panel backs six of seven peptides for compounding, against its own agency's scientistsThe Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted to recommend adding BPC-157 (8-6, one abstention), KPV (8-6), TB-500 (8-6) and MOTS-c (7-5, two abstentions) on July 23, then Semax (8-5) and Epitalon (7-5, one abstention) on July 24. Emideltide (DSIP) was the lone rejection, on evidence the committee called especially weak: one case report for narcolepsy, two small uncontrolled studies for opioid withdrawal, and human data collected intravenously for a product proposed as a subcutaneous injection. Four things to hold onto, because most coverage dropped at least one. First, this changes nothing about what is legal today. The vote is advisory, and FDA now has to run notice-and-comment rulemaking that can take a year, and it can still say no. Second, FDA's own briefing documents recommended against all seven, citing poor characterization, little or no human efficacy evidence for the proposed routes, and unassessed immunogenicity; the panel overrode them. Third, this panel is not a neutral referee: 8 of its 14 members are recent appointees and six of those work at or operate clinics that sell peptide treatments, which is exactly the kind of conflict this site flags on everyone else. Fourth, and most important for anyone reading a grade here: a compounding-eligibility vote is not evidence that a compound works, so not one grade on this site moves because of it. The margins are the story. Six votes against on the flagship compound, from a committee reconstituted in favor, is not a mandate.regulatory · FDA — PCAC meeting, July 23-24 2026Jul 21, 2026Thymulin, not thymosin alpha-1, links the aging thymus to inflammation in Nature CommunicationsUSC's Ito lab reports that thymulin, a zinc-dependent thymic nonapeptide, falls with age while inflammatory cytokines rise. Using heterochronic parabiosis in aged mice plus human blood analysis, restoring thymulin improved survival and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy response. Worth being precise about two things. This is mouse data with no human trial, so it does not move a grade. And thymulin is a different molecule from thymosin alpha-1 (Zadaxin/thymalfasin), the thymic peptide people actually buy. The two are routinely conflated because both come from the thymus. Nothing here validates thymosin alpha-1.trial · Keck School of Medicine of USCJul 7, 2026A viral thread reintroduces the Koniver Huberman episode, and gets his name wrongA 78K-view 'Peptide Daily' thread recapping Dr. Craig Koniver's Oct 2024 Huberman episode calls him 'Craig Conover' and the 'pioneer' of NAD infusion therapy. Both are wrong: the guest is Dr. Craig Koniver, and clinical IV NAD dates to 1961 (O'Hollaren), not to him. The substance mostly holds up, PDA as the BPC-157 successor and GLP-1 microdosing to spare muscle, so we added his full, evidence-graded track record to the authorities page.culture · Peptide Daily (X)Jun 15, 2026FDA sends a third 2026 wave of warning letters over compounded GLP-1 marketingThe FDA issued 25 warning letters to telehealth companies over allegedly misleading claims about compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, after ~80 letters in Sept 2025 and 30 in March 2026.regulatory · National Law ReviewJun 8, 2026Survodutide cuts liver fat 63% in Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-MASLDBoehringer Ingelheim's glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist reduced liver fat by 63% vs placebo in adults with obesity and MASLD, presented at ADA 2026 and published in Nature Medicine.trial · Boehringer IngelheimMay 21, 2026Retatrutide delivers up to 28.3% weight loss at 80 weeks (TRIUMPH-1)Eli Lilly's GIP/GLP-1/glucagon triple agonist averaged 28.3% (70.3 lb) weight loss on the 12 mg dose over 80 weeks, rising to 30.3% at 104 weeks in higher-BMI participants.trial · Eli LillyApr 30, 2026FDA proposes removing semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the 503B bulks listCiting resolved shortages and the end of clinical need, the FDA proposed pulling the major GLP-1s from 503B outsourcing-facility compounding, narrowing the legal path for compounded GLP-1s.regulatory · PolsinelliApr 15, 2026FDA moves to remove 12 peptides from the Category 2 'do not compound' listVia a Federal Register notice, the FDA will remove 12 peptide bulk substances, including BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, Semax, Epitalon and injectable GHK-Cu, from 503A Category 2, following HHS Secretary RFK Jr.'s Feb 2026 push for broader peptide access.regulatory · Frier LevittApr 15, 2026FDA schedules a July 23–24 PCAC meeting to weigh 7 peptides for 503A compoundingThe Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee will consider whether BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, DSIP, Semax and Epitalon should be eligible for 503A compounding, a non-binding step that still needs formal rulemaking.regulatory · FDA Law BlogFeb 5, 2026UK MHRA updates semaglutide information over rare NAION vision-loss riskThe MHRA revised semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus) information to reflect very rare reports of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, sudden vision loss, advising urgent referral if suspected.safety · MHRA Drug Safety Update
See everything we track →

What this is

  • Everything we figured out, graded honestly on evidence and safety, with real labs as exhibit A.
  • The verification standard we wish we'd used before buying anything.
  • The free tools we actually use, with the honest layer on top.
  • The Health Vault we built to track real experiments. And it's yours to copy.

What it isn't

  • Not a store. We're not selling you anything, ever.
  • Not a clinic, not an MLM, not a brand. Just people who got obsessed.
  • Not hype. If we can't back it up, we say so, with a citation.
  • Not anti-peptide. We're on them. We just won't call animal data human proof.

The method

Four questions. Never one number.

One rating hides the only thing that matters: proven for what?So every compound answers four plain questions instead. Does the science back it? Do real people feel it? Is it safe? And could it just be placebo? Two of them carry letter grades, and here's how those work.

Then we try to prove our own grade wrong before it ships, hunting for the disconfirming study, the failed trial, the conflict of interest. The grade you see is the one that survived.

Read our full method. Biases and all →
CricketsMixedBuzzLoudNothingAnimalEarlyHumanProvenDoes the science back it? →Do real people feel it? →BPC-157. Science C, real-world Moderate, safety C.TB-500. Science D, real-world Mixed, safety D.GHK-Cu. Science C, real-world Mixed, safety B.MOTS-c. Science D, real-world Faint, safety D.Tesamorelin. Science A, real-world Moderate, safety B.KPV (Lysine-Proline-Valine). Science D, real-world Faint, safety C.Pentadeca Arginate (PDA). Science D, real-world Mixed, safety D.ARA-290 (Cibinetide). Science B, real-world Faint, safety B.LL-37 (cathelicidin). Science C, real-world Faint, safety E.Thymosin Alpha-1. Science A, real-world Moderate, safety B.VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide). Science B, real-world Mixed, safety C.Cartalax (AED, Ala-Glu-Asp cartilage peptide bioregulator). Science D, real-world Faint, safety D.Ipamorelin. Science B, real-world Moderate, safety C.CJC-1295 (no-DAC / Modified GRF 1-29). Science D, real-world Moderate, safety C.Sermorelin. Science B, real-world Moderate, safety B.Epitalon (Epithalon). Science D, real-world Faint, safety C.Semax (N-Acetyl Semax). Science C, real-world Moderate, safety C.Selank (N-Acetyl Selank). Science B, real-world Moderate, safety B.PT-141 (Bremelanotide). Science A, real-world Moderate, safety C.DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide). Science B, real-world Mixed, safety C.Melanotan II. Science C, real-world Strong, safety E.AOD-9604. Science B, real-world Faint, safety B.5-Amino-1MQ. Science D, real-world Mixed, safety D.NAD+ (injectable). Science C, real-world Moderate, safety C.Cagrilintide. Science B, real-world Moderate, safety B.Semaglutide. Science A, real-world Strong, safety C.Tirzepatide. Science A, real-world Strong, safety B.Retatrutide. Science B, real-world Strong, safety C.Survodutide. Science B, real-world Faint, safety B.Melanotan I (afamelanotide). Science A, real-world Mixed, safety B.SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3). Science D, real-world Mixed, safety B.AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3). Science E, real-world Faint, safety B.Cerebrolysin. Science B, real-world Moderate, safety C.Dihexa. Science E, real-world Faint, safety E.GHRP-2. Science C, real-world Moderate, safety C.GHRP-6. Science C, real-world Moderate, safety C.Hexarelin. Science C, real-world Mixed, safety D.Kisspeptin. Science B, real-world Mixed, safety C.MK-677 (Ibutamoren). Science B, real-world Strong, safety E.Pinealon. Science D, real-world Faint, safety C.SS-31 (Elamipretide). Science B, real-world Mixed, safety B.Thymulin. Science D, real-world Faint, safety C.

Every compound we cover, mapped: science across the bottom, real-world buzz up the side, dot color is safety. Almost all of it sits in the low-science corner. Click a dot for its profile.

What I'd actually bet on

Top 10, most effective.

Ranked by how much real effect I'd bet on: science first, real-world signal next, knocked down for placebo. The proven stuff wins. Most peptides don't.

  1. 01SemaglutideA
  2. 02TirzepatideA
  3. 03TesamorelinA
  4. 04Thymosin Alpha-1A
  5. 05RetatrutideB
  6. 06Melanotan I (afamelanotide)A
  7. 07MK-677 (Ibutamoren)B
  8. 08PT-141 (Bremelanotide)A
  9. 09CagrilintideB
  10. 10IpamorelinB

Evidence

The highest level of human evidence reached. Strong animal data does not move it.

AProven in humans

Multiple human randomized controlled trials, or FDA-approved.

BHuman-trial signal

At least one human randomized controlled trial.

CEarly human data

Human pilot or observational studies only, no RCT.

DAnimal only

Promising in animals; no meaningful human evidence.

ETheoretical

In vitro, mechanistic, or anecdote. No controlled data.

Safety

A composite roll-up. Not an absence of bad news.

AWell-tolerated

Extensive human safety data; benign, well-mapped profile.

BCharacterized

Well-studied; real but manageable risks under monitoring.

CThinly characterized

No red flags observed, but human exposure is small.

DUncharacterized

Little or no human safety data exists either way.

EFlagged

Documented serious risks or major theoretical red flags.

FHarmful

Known to cause serious harm.

What rolls up into a safety grade

Volume of human safety dataSeverity of known adverse eventsTheoretical mechanistic riskAvailability of long-term dataRegulatory signalWidth of the therapeutic window

Reading the two together

A / AProven and well-characterizedinsulin, semaglutide
C / CPromising in small human pilotsBPC-157
D / DStriking in animals, unproven in peopleMOTS-c
E / FNo meaningful human data either waymuch of the gray market

Why there's nothing to buy

We're not selling you anything.

This is just us showing you what we found. It will never sell you a peptide. If we ever do anything commercial, it lives somewhere else, walled off from this. The whole point is that we've got nothing to sell you, so we've got no reason to shade the truth.

A gradedcitedindependent

Bring it back to your own body

Track it on yourself.

The Truth Tracker is a free, private place to keep your bloodwork and DEXA results and chart every marker over time, so the data, not the vibes, tells you whether a compound actually did anything. Ask Ground Truth can even read your answers against your own numbers.

Open the Truth Tracker →

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