Glossary
The words in the sheets and in the Academy, in one sentence.
A word to start with
5-Amino-1MQ
Molecule studied for slowing down the NNMT enzyme, which slows the body's use of fat.
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5-Amino-1MQ
Molecule studied for slowing down the NNMT enzyme, which slows the body's use of fat.
A
Accelerated approval
Conditional authorization granted to a drug for a serious disease, based on preliminary results.
Accelerated authorization
Conditional authorization of a medication for a serious disease, based on preliminary results.
VIP lesson "From the laboratory to humans: the stages of evidence"
ACTH
A pituitary hormone that commands cortisol production; Semax is derived from it without keeping its hormonal effect.
Actin
A protein that forms the fibres of the cell's internal skeleton and enables its movement.
Aggregation
Peptide chains sticking to one another (heat, shaking), which makes the solution cloudy and inactive.
VIP lesson "The chain of trust: COA, storage and anti-doping"
Agonist
A molecule that activates a receptor, like a key that opens a lock.
Retatrutide sheetVIP lesson "Receptors and signalling: the lock and the cascade"
Alarm sign
Symptom that requires stopping the product and consulting without delay: intense abdominal pain, allergic reaction, fainting, site infection.
VIP lesson "Reading your signals: the journal, the thresholds and stopping"
Albumin
The most abundant protein in the blood; it transports hormones, medications, and fatty acids.
CJC-1295 (with DAC) sheetVIP lesson "Half-life, window of action and DAC"
Allosteric modulation
Action on a receptor through a secondary site, which adjusts its sensitivity without activating it directly.
Alpha-MSH
A melanotropic hormone: it regulates pigmentation, appetite, and inflammation through melanocortin receptors.
Amino acid
Small basic building block which, assembled into a chain, forms a peptide and then a protein.
AMPK
AMP-activated protein kinase: the sensor that detects an energy shortfall and restarts its production.
MOTS-c sheetVIP lesson "Metabolism, mitochondria and adipose tissue"
Anabolic steroid
Substance that imitates testosterone and dictates its orders to the hormonal system instead of sending it a signal.
Analogue
Slightly modified version of a natural molecule, reworked to last longer in the body.
VIP lesson "Receptors and signalling: the lock and the cascade"
Authorized medication
Product authorized by a health authority to treat a specific disease, which Peptiva peptides are not.
B
Baseline
Set of measurements taken before any change, which will serve as the point of comparison.
VIP lesson "The baseline: measure before you change anything"
Batch
Set of products manufactured together: the certificate must carry the number of the batch you hold.
BDNF
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: the protein that maintains neurons and their connections.
Benzodiazepines
A family of classic anxiolytics (lorazepam, diazepam) that are effective but sedating and carry a risk of dependence.
Bioavailability
Share of the administered product that actually manages to act in the body.
VIP lesson "Half-life and frequency: why timing is not a detail"VIP lesson "Routes of administration and bioavailability"
Blend
Combination of several peptides in a single product, chosen when several concerns overlap.
BPC-157
Peptide fragment studied for its role in tissue repair and local circulation.
Brain plasticity
The brain's ability to create and strengthen connections throughout life.
Break
Period of stopping that lets sensitivity recover and that also serves as an observation window.
Bremelanotide
The generic name for PT-141, approved as a drug in the United States in 2019.
C
Cardiolipin
A lipid specific to the mitochondrial inner membrane that organizes the respiratory chain.
SS-31 sheetVIP lesson "Metabolism, mitochondria and adipose tissue"
Certificate of analysis (COA)
Laboratory document that attests to the identity and purity of a batch of product.
Chronic cortisol
Cortisol kept high by stress, associated with abdominal storage and fragmented sleep.
Chronic inflammation
A low-grade inflammatory response that persists and wears tissue down instead of repairing it.
Circadian rhythm
A roughly 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep, hormones, and body temperature.
Clean stop
Deliberate interruption during which you keep noting your markers, in order to observe what persists.
VIP lesson "Reading your data and deciding: continue, adjust, stop"
Cold chain
Keeping the temperature low and uninterrupted right up to use, to protect a fragile molecule.
Collagen
The most abundant structural protein in the body: it gives tissues their strength.
Combined effect
The effect of two molecules taken together, compared with the sum of their separate effects.
Complete protocol
A formula that brings several complementary peptides together in a single pen.
Consolidation
Period of stabilization at the new level reached, before introducing anything else.
VIP lesson "Reading your data and deciding: continue, adjust, stop"
Contraindication
Situation in which a product must not be used, whatever the hoped-for benefit.
Cortisol
The hormone that gets you going, naturally high in the morning and meant to come back down in the evening.
Creatine monohydrate
One of the best-documented supplements, used to support strength and muscle mass.
Cyclic AMP
An intracellular messenger that carries a receptor's signal inside the cell.
Cyclic peptide
A peptide whose chain is closed back on itself, which makes it more stable.
Cytokines
Chemical messengers of the immune system, some of which sustain inflammation.
D
DAC
Drug affinity complex: a chemical anchor that binds a molecule to albumin to extend its action over several days.
Deep sleep
Phase of the night when tissue repair and the release of growth hormone are at their strongest.
Desensitization
Gradual loss of responsiveness in a receptor that is called on too often.
VIP lesson "Tolerance, desensitization and breaks"VIP lesson "Desensitization, feedback and the art of the break"
Double blind
Situation in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who received what, to neutralize expectations.
VIP lesson "The evidence pyramid"VIP lesson "Chance, placebo and sample size"
Downregulation
Reduction in the number of receptors on a cell's surface in response to continuous stimulation.
VIP lesson "Desensitization, feedback and the art of the break"
DPP-4
An enzyme that rapidly breaks down several hormonal peptides, including GHRH and GLP-1.
DSIP
Peptide whose name means "delta sleep inducer," studied for promoting deep sleep.
E
Effect size
The actual magnitude of the measured difference, in concrete units.
Elastin
A protein that lets skin and blood vessels spring back into shape after stretching.
Endotoxins
Bacterial residues that can cause fever and an inflammatory reaction; their absence is checked by the LAL test.
VIP lesson "The chain of trust: COA, storage and anti-doping"
Enkephalins
Small peptides produced by the brain, involved in calm and pain modulation.
Exercise mimetic
A substance that triggers some of the adaptations exercise brings about.
Experimental model
Whole organism used in preclinical research, whose metabolism differs markedly from that of humans.
F
Fatty liver disease
A buildup of fat in the liver, linked to excess weight and insulin resistance.
Feedback
Mechanism by which the body reduces a signal once its effect is reached; breaks give it time to reset.
VIP lesson "Reading your signals: the journal, the thresholds and stopping"
Feedback control
The mechanism by which the body reins in a hormone once its effect (here, IGF-1) has been achieved.
Fibroblast
A connective-tissue cell that manufactures collagen and repairs tissue.
Folate cycle
A series of reactions that recycles the chemical groups needed for DNA and methylation.
Fragment
Piece of a natural molecule that keeps part of its activity, like KPV, derived from alpha-MSH.
VIP lesson "Receptors and signalling: the lock and the cascade"
Free radicals
Unstable molecules produced by metabolism, which damage cellular structures in excess.
Freeze-drying
Cold drying under vacuum that turns the solution into a stable powder, to be reconstituted before use.
VIP lesson "The chain of trust: COA, storage and anti-doping"
G
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
Large family of receptors that set off a cascade of internal messengers when a signal binds to them.
VIP lesson "Receptors and signalling: the lock and the cascade"
GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid: the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, the brain's “brake.”
GHK-Cu
Copper peptide naturally present in the body, studied for collagen and skin firmness.
Ghrelin
The hunger hormone produced by the stomach, which also stimulates the release of growth hormone.
GHRH
Growth hormone-releasing hormone, produced by the hypothalamus.
GHS-R1a
Ghrelin receptor on the pituitary, the target of Ipamorelin.
VIP lesson "The growth hormone axis: three signals and one pulse"
GLP-1
Satiety signalling pathway, heavily called on by weight-management peptides.
GLP-1 and GIP
Two intestinal hormones released after a meal that stimulate insulin and signal fullness.
GLP-1 family
Group of peptides that act on satiety, with which nausea at the start of use is common.
Glutathione
Main antioxidant made by the body, involved in liver detoxification and cell protection.
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Measure of average blood sugar over the past two to three months.
VIP lesson "Reading your signals: the journal, the thresholds and stopping"
Glycosaminoglycans
Large molecules (including hyaluronic acid) that hold water in tissues.
Growth hormone (GH)
Hormone released in waves, mostly during deep sleep, involved in repair and body composition.
H
Half-life
The time it takes for half the product to clear from the blood.
HbA1c
Glycated hemoglobin: a reflection of average blood sugar over the past three months.
Hindsight bias
The brain's tendency to reconstruct, after the fact, an explanation that suits it.
Hives
Outbreak of itchy red patches, the sign of a reaction to be taken seriously.
HPLC
Laboratory technique that separates a molecule from its impurities in order to measure its purity.
Lesson "Safety, quality and certificates of analysis"VIP lesson "The chain of trust: COA, storage and anti-doping"
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
A persistent decline in desire that causes distress, without a medical or relational cause that explains it.
Hypoglycemia
Blood sugar too low; trembling, sweating, confusion. A risk of GLP-1 and insulin combinations.
Hypothalamus
A brain region that regulates appetite, temperature, hormones, and part of sexual behaviour.
I
Identity
Verification that the mass recorded in the laboratory matches the theoretical mass of the stated molecule.
IGF-1
A growth factor produced by the liver under the effect of GH; it's the one that acts on muscles and tissues.
In vitro
Experiment carried out on cells in a laboratory: useful for understanding a mechanism, silent about the whole body.
VIP lesson "The evidence pyramid"VIP lesson "From the laboratory to humans: the stages of evidence"
Incretin
Intestinal hormone released at mealtime (GLP-1, GIP) that prepares the body to handle sugar and signals satiety.
Insulin sensitivity
The cells' ability to respond to insulin and take up glucose; when it declines, it's called resistance.
Internalization
Withdrawal of some of the receptors from the cell surface, which reduces the response to the signal.
Intestinal barrier
A layer of tightly joined cells that separates the contents of the gut from the rest of the body.
Intranasal route
Administration through the lining of the nose, which can reach the brain by way of the olfactory nerve.
K
KPV
Fragment of alpha-MSH studied for its calming action on inflammatory reactions.
L
Laboratory research
The stage of research conducted in cells and experimental models, before clinical trials.
Ligand
Molecule that binds to a receptor: a natural hormone, or a peptide that imitates it.
VIP lesson "Receptors: affinity, selectivity, and why it changes everything"
Lipodystrophy
An abnormal distribution of body fat, lost in some places and built up in others.
Liquid sugar
Juices and sweetened drinks, which bring calories without providing satiety.
Local reaction
Redness or a small bump at the injection site, which usually goes away on its own within a few hours.
M
MC4R
A brain melanocortin receptor involved in appetite and sexual response.
Mechanotransduction
The ability of cells to turn a mechanical stress into a biological signal; the basis of progressive loading.
Melanin
Pigment produced by the skin, responsible for tanning and for its shade.
Melanocortin receptors (MC1R through MC5R)
A family of alpha-MSH receptors, found in the skin, the brain, and immune cells.
Melanocortins
Family of hormones derived from the same precursor (including alpha-MSH) acting on pigmentation, appetite, desire and inflammation.
Melatonin
Evening hormone that prepares you for falling asleep, held back by light.
Metabolic flexibility
The body's ability to switch easily from sugar to fat as fuel, and back.
Metalloproteinases
Enzymes that cut up old collagen to allow remodelling.
Methylation
The addition of a small chemical group that regulates the activity of genes and proteins.
Microbiome
All the micro-organisms in the gut, one of the factors that make the individual response vary.
Mitochondria
The cell's energy powerhouse; it has its own DNA, inherited from the mother.
MOTS-c
Peptide of mitochondrial origin associated with cellular energy and insulin sensitivity.
Muscle stem cells
Satellite cells that repair and regenerate muscle after exertion or an injury.
N
N-acetylcysteine
A glutathione precursor, used as a supplement and as a hospital antidote.
NAD+
Cofactor essential to energy production in the cell, whose level declines with age.
Needle tip
Single-use point attached to the pen: it dulls and becomes contaminated from the very first use.
NF-kB
A “switch” protein that triggers the inflammatory response inside the cell.
Nitric oxide (NO)
A messenger molecule that dilates blood vessels and takes part in repair.
NK cells
The immune system's “natural killer” cells, the first line of defence against abnormal cells.
NNMT
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase: a fat-cell enzyme that consumes SAM and the NAD+ precursor.
5-Amino-1MQ sheetVIP lesson "Metabolism, mitochondria and adipose tissue"
Noise
Normal variation in a measurement from one day to the next, unrelated to any real effect.
VIP lesson "The baseline: measure before you change anything"
O
Objective marker
Data measured under constant conditions: weight, waist measurement or repeatable performance.
VIP lesson "The baseline: measure before you change anything"
Outcome
The result measured in a study: what changed, and by how much.
VIP lesson "Reading an abstract in five minutes: the Peptiva method"
Oxidative stress
An imbalance between free-radical production and the body's ability to neutralize them.
P
P-value
Probability of observing such a difference if the product did nothing; under 5%, the result is called significant.
Partial agonist
Molecule that activates a receptor, but never fully, whatever the quantity.
VIP lesson "Receptors: affinity, selectivity, and why it changes everything"
PepT1
A transporter that brings small peptides into cells, abundant in the gut.
Peptiva Centre
Educational area of the site where each topic is explained in depth, with sources to back it up.
Peptiva injector pen
Device that already contains the peptide as a powder; you empty the included, pre-measured water syringe into it once, then set the dose on the dial.
Pharmacodynamics
What the product does to the body; two pharmacodynamically similar products add up their effects.
Pharmacokinetics
What the body does to the product: absorption, distribution, elimination.
Phase 2
Medium-sized clinical trial that looks for the efficacy signal and the right range.
VIP lesson "From the laboratory to humans: the stages of evidence"
Phase 3
The last stage of clinical trials before approval, involving a large number of participants.
Phase II detoxification
The stage where the liver makes toxins soluble so they can be eliminated, notably by binding them to glutathione.
PICO
Reading grid: population, intervention, comparator, outcome (the result).
VIP lesson "Reading an abstract in five minutes: the Peptiva method"
Pineal gland
A small gland at the centre of the brain that produces melatonin and regulates the internal clock.
Pituitary gland
A small gland at the base of the brain that controls most of the body's other hormone glands.
Plate model
Visual guide that replaces counting: half vegetables, a quarter protein, a quarter quality carbohydrates.
Plateau
Stable concentration in the blood, reached when intake offsets elimination.
Primary source
The study itself, as opposed to the article that cites another article that summarizes it.
Protein
The priority nutrient during weight loss, because it protects muscle mass.
PubMed
Public, free database that gives access to scientific publications.
Pulsatile
Released in brief waves rather than continuously; this is growth hormone's natural rhythm.
Pulsatile release
Way of working in which the body sends a signal in waves and then goes quiet, as with growth hormone.
VIP lesson "Half-life and frequency: why timing is not a detail"
Pulsatility
Release in waves rather than continuously; the natural rhythm of growth hormone.
Purity
Proportion of the contents that actually corresponds to the stated molecule, the rest being impurities.
R
Randomized controlled trial
Study in which participants are divided at random between the product and a placebo, in order to compare the two groups.
Receptor
Docking point on the surface of a cell that recognizes a specific signal, the way a lock recognizes its key.
Receptor density
Number of docking points available on cells, which varies from one person to another.
Reconstitution
Operation that consists of putting a powder back into solution before use: with the Peptiva pen, a single step, since the water is already measured.
Lesson "Formats, storage and handling"VIP lesson "Routes of administration and bioavailability"
Red flag
Warning signal in a sales pitch, which betrays an inflated promise rather than verifiable information.
Regulatory peptide
A short peptide that interacts with DNA to modulate the expression of certain genes.
Replication
Reproduction of a result by another team, in another study.
Responder and non-responder
People who react strongly, or not at all, to the same signal, depending on their biological ground.
Retatrutide
Peptide studied for its combined action on the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors.
Review
Moment set in advance when you compare the measurements with the baseline in order to decide.
VIP lesson "Reading your data and deciding: continue, adjust, stop"
Rigid container
Thick-walled, resealable receptacle reserved for used needle tips, to prevent any injury.
S
SAM
S-adenosylmethionine: the universal donor of methyl groups, essential to hundreds of reactions.
Scheduled hydration
Drinking at planned times rather than when thirsty, since thirst decreases along with appetite.
Secretagogue
A substance that triggers the secretion of a hormone by the gland that produces it.
Signal transduction
Cascade of reactions inside the cell, set off by the activation of a receptor.
VIP lesson "Receptors: affinity, selectivity, and why it changes everything"
Sirtuins
A family of enzymes that regulate metabolism, inflammation, and aging, and that consume NAD+.
Site rotation
Changing the injection spot with each use to avoid repeated irritation in the same place.
Situated result
A result presented with its stage, its population, its duration and its limits.
VIP lesson "Reading an abstract in five minutes: the Peptiva method"
Skin fold
Small fold formed between two fingers to lift the skin and guide the needle into the fat.
Slow breathing
Technique in which the exhale lasts longer than the inhale, to activate the rest response.
Somatostatin
The hormone that puts the brakes on growth hormone release; the “red light.”
CJC-1295 (No DAC) + Ipamorelin sheetVIP lesson "Desensitization, feedback and the art of the break"
Spread
Gap between the individual responses hiding behind a single average result.
Stack
Piling up of several products, which only makes sense if the molecules speak to different systems.
Strength training
Training against resistance that preserves muscle mass, the engine of metabolism.
Stress axis (ACTH-cortisol)
The hormonal chain that governs the stress response, from the brain to the adrenal glands.
"Studied for"
Wording chosen for the Peptiva product pages: the research exists, it is promising, and it remains incomplete.
Subcutaneous route
Administration into the layer of fat located just under the skin, rather than into the muscle.
Lesson "Subcutaneous injection, demystified"VIP lesson "Half-life and frequency: why timing is not a detail"
Subjective marker
Feeling noted every evening on a simple scale, such as energy or sleep quality.
VIP lesson "The baseline: measure before you change anything"
Success criterion
Expected result, written down before starting, which will serve as the judge at review time.
Support for natural mechanisms
Supporting a function the body already performs, such as recovery or sleep, without claiming to heal.
Surrogate endpoint
Intermediate measure (marker, image) taken in place of the result that matters to the person.
Systematic review
Methodical synthesis of all the studies on a question, including the negative ones.
T
TB-500
Fragment of thymosin beta-4 associated with the movement of repair cells toward the area concerned.
Telomerase
An enzyme capable of lengthening telomeres, active mainly in stem cells.
Epithalon sheetVIP lesson "Sleep, growth hormone and longevity"
Time frame
Reasonable delay before judging a marker, specific to each system of the body.
Tracking journal
Log in My account where you note the date, the product used and the effects you felt.
Tuftsin
A natural antibody fragment that stimulates certain immune cells; Selank is derived from it.
V
Variable
Element you deliberately modify, and the only one to which a change can be attributed.
VEGF
Vascular endothelial growth factor: the main signal that drives blood vessel growth.
Visceral fat
Deep belly fat, packed around the organs, distinct from the fat under the skin.
W
Weekly average
Value calculated over seven days, which smooths out daily variations and brings out the trend.
VIP lesson "Reading your data and deciding: continue, adjust, stop"