Peptology® is the study and clinical application of a powerful set of trademarked peptide protocols by Dr Heather Smith-Fernandez. Dr. Heather, Founder of Peptology®, graduated in the first ever class of physicians trained and certified in peptide medicine, and has conducted leading research in the field of peptides for her patients. Dr Heather utilizes Peptides in all areas of her practice as Medical Director of the Regenerative Institute of Medicine in Naples, FL, and has taught dozens of physicians around the world her field-tested, trademarked Peptology® protocols through her in-person workshops, and online certification training courses.
A "peptide" is a specific chain of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), typically 100 amino acids or less, that has one or more biologic functions in the body. While some peptides exist in nature as only the amino acids that make them up (such as Glutathione), many peptides are specific pieces of larger protein molecules.
One peptide many people are familiar with is insulin. Insulin is a 51 amino acid peptide, and was the first peptide to ever be sequenced successfully outside the body.
Many proteins are very large and composed of hundreds and hundreds of amino acids. Often, these proteins will have specific areas (specific sequences of amino acids) that fit in a receptor and cause one specific action. For example, Growth Hormone is a large protein (191 amino acids) but different parts of that protein have different functions.
For example, one part of it will bind in muscle and tendon to repair, and another part (the lipolytic fragment) is responsible for reducing body fat. Therefore, one large protein molecule may have very different actions in different tissues, and multiple active and different peptide segments.
Presently, special compounding pharmacies that have the capability to sequence these amino acids can make peptides outside the body. When a protein's "active area" (the region that actually binds to a receptor on a cell) is discovered and sequenced, that peptide can, theoretically, be made (sequenced) outside the body.
It is NOT as simple as it sounds, there is A LOT that goes in to making a peptide, (and then testing it for stability and purity and consistency) before it can be used clinically.
The majority of peptides, like insulin, are injected into a patient’s body with very tiny needles. But some are used as nasal sprays, topical creams and foams, and capsules.
Peptology® is very cutting edge technology, and peptides are now being used safely and effectively to help people in many different ways. Dr. Heather utilizes peptides in all areas of her practice for her patients.
Some examples of areas Dr Heather uses peptides are:
The only way to truly know if Dr Heather’s field-tested Peptology® protocols can help you, is to have a trained & certified Peptology® Provider evaluate you.