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

Sponsor read endorsing Eight Sleep's temperature-regulating mattress cover with sleep tracking and AI autopilot features.

Sponsor read for Lingo continuous glucose monitor to track metabolic responses to food, activity, and stress.

Sponsor read for AG1 foundational nutrition drink covering vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, and adaptogens.

Huberman endorses AGZ, AG1's sleep supplement which he helped design, claiming it dramatically improved his slow wave and REM sleep.

Bakri uses oral BPC-157 while traveling to avoid travelers' diarrhea and gut distress from exotic foods.

Bakri injected BPC-157 locally (with other peptides) after a grade 2 tricep tear and reports recovery in 3-4 weeks vs typical 3 months.

Huberman injected ~200 mcg BPC-157 into a strained upper trap and reported complete resolution within two days.

Sponsor read for Function Health offering 160+ lab tests with doctor recommendations.

Huberman started nattokinase to naturally lower his LDL cholesterol after a Function test and confirmed improvement on follow-up.

Huberman uses a small dose of Pinealon during a mid-sleep waking to dramatically increase REM in the final hours; takes roughly 3x/month.

Epitalon (from pineal extracts) is discussed as restoring melatonin synthesis in aged subjects and was used in Khavinson's 15-year longevity nursing home study with reduced mortality.

Huberman emphasizes targeting high morning and low nighttime cortisol as a foundational anchor of health.

Bakri suggests taking Pinealon in the morning for cognitive performance and reduced brain fog; people report better thinking and HIIT performance.

Bakri questions whether people getting limited effects from morning sunlight may need more darkness to regenerate melanopsin.

Bakri uses Thymosin Alpha-1 prophylactically while traveling and during hospital wards rotations to avoid getting sick; reports no infections this year.

Sponsor read for Element electrolyte drink with sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Huberman uses NMN for morning energy but explicitly states he has never called NAD/NMN a longevity drug.

Whole body imaging like Prenuvo can detect early disease and Huberman thinks it's useful for those who can afford it.

Bakri recommends checking the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio from a standard CBC with diff as a cheap proxy for immune/thymic health.

Bakri discusses upregulating endogenous thymulin via adequate zinc status rather than direct administration due to short half-life.

Adequate zinc is needed to produce thymulin; thymulin tanks before serum/RBC zinc decreases.

Tesamorelin is discussed as an FDA-approved GHRH analog used to raise GH/IGF-1; potentially useful in cyclical protocols for somatopause and thymus regeneration.

Combine red light therapy with topical GHK-Cu for synergistic effects on skin.

Topical GHK-Cu in a well-formulated skincare product can support collagen synthesis and may help with photo-aging, especially when combined with red light therapy.

Full-spectrum sunlight is the best source of balanced red, near-infrared and blue light needed for biological effects.

Huberman has used Bon Charge bulbs that switch between full spectrum, yellow, and red modes.

Bakri endorses GLP-1 medications as transformative for obesity/diabetes; recommends starting at lowest effective dose with lifestyle modifications as 'training wheels.'

Huberman endorses Raw Optics bulbs that shift across the day (full spectrum morning to candlelight evening) without flicker, with no affiliation.

Bakri recommends obtaining peptides only via a physician with monitoring, including IGF-1 testing when on growth hormone secretagogues.

Sponsor read for Prolon five-day fasting mimicking diet for fat loss while preserving lean mass.