Bone Health Research Peptides

11 research peptides demonstrate bone health properties. This collection covers their mechanisms, evidence base, and research applications.

FDA Approved | Metabolic / Bone Health

Calcitonin (salmon) is a synthetic 32-amino-acid peptide hormone (MW ~3431.9 g/mol) identical to calcitonin produced by the ultimobranchial glands of salmon.

Mechanism: Calcitonin binds to specific calcitonin receptors (CTR, a class B GPCR) on osteoclasts, rapidly inhibiting bone resorption through disruption of the osteoclast ruffled border and reduction of...

FDA Approved | Hormone

Human growth hormone (hGH, somatotropin) is a 191-amino acid protein produced by the anterior pituitary gland. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH, somatropin) is FDA-approved for numerous indications including pediatric and adult growth hormone...

Mechanism: Growth hormone binds to the GH receptor (GHR), a type I cytokine receptor, activating the JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway.

FDA Approved | Growth Factor

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) is a 70-amino acid protein structurally similar to insulin. It is primarily produced by the liver in response to growth hormone stimulation and mediates many of GH's growth-promoting effects.

Mechanism: IGF-1 binds to the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a receptor tyrosine kinase that activates the PI3K/Akt pathway (promoting cell survival and protein synthesis) and the MAPK/ERK pathway (promoting cell...

No Regulatory Activity | Healing & Recovery

Collagen peptides (hydrolyzed collagen) are a mixture of small peptides (typically 2-5 kDa) produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen from animal sources (bovine, porcine, marine).

Mechanism: After oral ingestion, collagen peptides are partially digested into dipeptides and tripeptides (particularly hydroxyproline-containing peptides like Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly) that are absorbed intact into...

FDA Approved | Bone / PTH Analog

Abaloparatide is a 34-amino-acid synthetic peptide analog of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) (MW ~3960.6 g/mol), FDA-approved in April 2017 for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture.

Mechanism: Abaloparatide is a PTHrP(1-34) analog that binds to the PTH type 1 receptor (PTH1R) with a preference for the RG conformation (guanine nucleotide-free state), which is associated with transient cAMP...

FDA Approved | Bone / PTH Analog

Teriparatide is the recombinant form of the first 34 amino acids of human parathyroid hormone (PTH(1-34), MW ~4117.8 g/mol), FDA-approved in November 2002 as the first anabolic agent for osteoporosis treatment.

Mechanism: Teriparatide activates the PTH type 1 receptor (PTH1R) on osteoblasts and osteocytes. When administered intermittently (once daily), it produces a transient spike in PTH signaling that preferentially...

FDA Approved | Bone / Calcitonin

Calcitonin salmon (also known as salcatonin) is a synthetic 32-amino-acid peptide (MW ~3431.9 g/mol) identical to calcitonin produced by the ultimobranchial glands of salmon.

Mechanism: Calcitonin salmon binds to the calcitonin receptor (CTR), a G-protein-coupled receptor on osteoclasts, rapidly inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

FDA Approved | Bone / PTH Analog

PTH (parathyroid hormone) is the full-length 84-amino-acid recombinant human parathyroid hormone (MW ~9425 g/mol) marketed as Natpara.

Mechanism: Recombinant PTH(1-84) binds to the PTH1 receptor (PTH1R), a G protein-coupled receptor expressed on osteoblasts, renal tubular cells, and other tissues.

FDA Approved | Growth Hormone

HGH 191AA refers to recombinant human growth hormone (somatropin) — a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide (MW ~22,124 g/mol) identical in sequence to endogenous pituitary growth hormone.

Mechanism: HGH 191AA binds to the growth hormone receptor (GHR) on target cells, triggering JAK2-STAT5 signaling, which drives transcription of IGF-1 and other growth factors.

Early Human or Mixed Evidence | Muscle Growth / Research

ACE-031 is a soluble form of the activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) fused to a human IgG1 Fc domain (MW ~90,000 g/mol). It functions as a ligand trap, sequestering myostatin, activin, GDF-11, and other TGF-beta superfamily members that signal...

Mechanism: ACE-031 is a decoy receptor — it mimics the natural ActRIIB receptor and binds myostatin, activin A/B, GDF-11, and BMP-9/10 before they can engage cell-surface receptors.

Limited Evidence | Bioregulator / Research

Cartalax is a synthetic tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp) developed by Vladimir Khavinson as part of the bioregulatory peptide series. It is designed to normalize cartilage and connective tissue function through epigenetic gene regulation.

Mechanism: Cartalax regulates gene expression in chondrocytes through chromatin remodeling at tissue-specific promoters. It promotes cartilage ECM synthesis and provides anti-inflammatory modulation in joints.