Fat Loss & Metabolism

Appetite, belly fat, blood sugar and the scale.

20 peptides · 57 linked sources

Fat Loss & Metabolism: 20 peptides and related compounds in this index have at least one researched benefit that sources link to fat loss & metabolism. Those with approved or trial-backed evidence: L-carnitine, Semaglutide, HGH (Somatropin), Tesamorelin, Tirzepatide, AOD9604, Cagrilintide, Retatrutide.

Peptides discussed for fat loss & metabolism, at a glance
PeptideEvidence labelWhat sources discuss for this goal
L-carnitineApproved (specific use)Modest weight loss
SemaglutideApproved (specific use)About 15% weight loss
HGH (Somatropin)Approved (specific use)Leaner body composition; Less visceral fat, better lipids
TesamorelinApproved (specific use)Less deep belly fat
TirzepatideApproved (specific use)Major weight loss; Blood sugar and heart risk
AOD9604Trial-backedFat loss, failed in trials
CagrilintideTrial-backedWeight loss; Bigger results with semaglutide; Quieter food noise
RetatrutideTrial-backedLarge weight loss; Blood sugar control
5-Amino-1MQPreclinicalFat loss, mice; Metabolic health, mice
MOTS-cPreclinicalInsulin sensitivity, animal
Lipo-CUnstudiedFat burning, unproven
Lemon BottleUnstudiedSpot fat reduction, unproven
MICUnstudiedFat metabolism, unproven; Insulin sensitivity, inositol data
CJC-1295 with DACEarly humanVisceral fat, trial halted; Sleep, muscle and fat, unproven claims
ARA-290Early humanLess neuropathic pain
Tesamorelin + IpamorelinUnstudiedBelly fat, via tesamorelin
Melanotan IIEarly humanAppetite suppression, animal
CJC-1295 without DACPreclinicalBody composition, anecdotal
IpamorelinPreclinicalSleep and body composition, anecdotal
CJC-1295 + IpamorelinUnstudiedBody recomposition, anecdotal

Listed when one of a peptide's three researched benefits relates to fat loss & metabolism. Strongest evidence first. Inclusion is not a recommendation, and some listed effects are unproven or failed in trials.

Approved (specific use)

Approved by the FDA (or a major regulator) for at least one specific use. Approval covers that use only, not the other benefits listed.

  1. L-carnitine

    Modest weight loss, Exercise recovery, Treats carnitine deficiency

    01 Modest weight loss

    • Modest weight loss: meta-analysis of 37 RCTs (2,292 people) found ~1.2 kg more weight loss, BMI -0.24, fat mass -2.08 kg vs control; earlier 9-RCT meta-analysis ~1.3 kghuman RCT meta-analyses12
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  2. Semaglutide

    About 15% weight loss, Fewer heart attacks and strokes, Kidney and liver protection

    01 About 15% weight loss

    • Weight loss: STEP 1 (68 wk) mean 14.9% vs 2.4% placebo with 2.4 mg weeklyhuman phase 3 RCT34
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  3. HGH (Somatropin)

    Leaner body composition, Treats growth failure in children, Less visceral fat, better lipids

    01 Leaner body composition

    • Improves body composition: in GH-deficient adults increases lean mass (~1.4-2.6 kg) and reduces fat mass (~2.2-2.6 kg) vs placebometa-analyses of human RCTs567

    03 Less visceral fat, better lipids

    • Reduces visceral fat and improves lipids (total/LDL cholesterol) in obese adults without GHD, but no net weight lossmeta-analysis of RCTs
    • Long-term (5-15 yr) replacement in GHD adults linked to sustained quality-of-life gains (mostly uncontrolled studies)

    Sources for this benefit 8910

    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  4. Tesamorelin

    Less deep belly fat, Less liver fat in HIV, Cognition in older adults, one trial

    01 Less deep belly fat

    • Reduces visceral adipose tissue (deep belly fat) with little change in subcutaneous fatFDA label; pooled phase 3 RCTs in HIV111213
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  5. Tirzepatide

    Major weight loss, Blood sugar and heart risk, Less sleep apnea

    01 Major weight loss

    • Weight loss: 20.9% mean at 72 weeks on 15 mg vs 3.1% placeboSURMOUNT-1 phase 3 RCT1415

    02 Blood sugar and heart risk

    • Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular event reduction in high-risk adultsFDA label, SURPASS program1617
    Side effects, quotes and full profile

Trial-backed

Larger randomized human trials exist, positive or negative, but no US approval for the uses discussed.

  1. AOD9604

    Fat loss, failed in trials, Cartilage repair, animal, Well tolerated in trials

    01 Fat loss, failed in trials

    • Fat loss (intended): early trials suggested modest weight/abdominal fat loss, but the definitive 536-person 24-week Phase IIb trial showed no significant weight loss vs placebo and obesity development was terminatedhuman RCT, negative181920
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  2. Cagrilintide

    Weight loss, Bigger results with semaglutide, Quieter food noise

    01 Weight loss

    • Weight loss: phase 2 (n=706, 26 wk) dose-dependent loss of 6.0-10.8% vs 3.0% placebo; 4.5 mg (10.8%) beat liraglutide 3.0 mg (9.0%)human RCT2122

    02 Bigger results with semaglutide

    • With semaglutide (CagriSema): REDEFINE 1 phase 3 (n=3,417, 68 wk) mean weight loss 20.4% vs 3.0% placebo; 34.7% lost >=25%; mostly fat mass losthuman phase 3 RCT2324

    03 Quieter food noise

    • Reduced 'food noise' and appetite (CagriSema EASD 2026 data; Reddit users describe strong appetite suppression at varying doses)human trial + anecdotal2526
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  3. Retatrutide

    Large weight loss, Blood sugar control, Less liver fat

    01 Large weight loss

    • Large weight loss: 24.2% mean at 48 weeks on 12 mg vs 2.1% placebo (phase 2 RCT); 25.0% at 80 weeks on 12 mg vs 3.9% placebo in phase 3 TRIUMPH-1272829

    02 Blood sugar control

    • Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: HbA1c -1.3% to -2.0% at 24 weeks with up to ~17% weight loss at 36 weeksphase 2 RCT3031
    Side effects, quotes and full profile

Early human

Small, short, old, unblinded or single-group human studies.

  1. CJC-1295 with DAC

    Days-long GH and IGF-1 rise, Visceral fat, trial halted, Sleep, muscle and fat, unproven claims

    02 Visceral fat, trial halted

    • Was tested for reducing visceral fat in HIV lipodystrophy (phase 2, n=192), but trial halted, no efficacy publishedhuman trial, stopped4647

    03 Sleep, muscle and fat, unproven claims

    • Claimed sleep, muscle and abdominal fat-loss benefits are extrapolated from GH/IGF-1 elevation and GHRH research; no dedicated CJC-1295 outcome studiespractitioner/vendor review48
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  2. ARA-290

    Small-fiber neuropathy, Less neuropathic pain, Numbness and tingling, anecdotal

    02 Less neuropathic pain

    • Improved neuropathic pain (PainDetect) and modestly lowered HbA1c in type 2 diabetics with painful neuropathyphase 2 human RCT, n=424950
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  3. Melanotan II

    Tanning without UV, small trials, Erections in psychogenic ED, Appetite suppression, animal

    03 Appetite suppression, animal

    • Appetite suppression via central melanocortin receptorsanimal studies; user reports of reduced appetite5253
    Side effects, quotes and full profile

Preclinical

Mostly cell and animal studies. Human effects unknown.

  1. 5-Amino-1MQ

    Fat loss, mice, Aged muscle regeneration, mice, Metabolic health, mice

    01 Fat loss, mice

    • Fat loss: in diet-induced obese mice, 11 days of injections cut body weight ~5.1% (controls gained 1.4%), reduced white fat mass ~35% and adipocyte size, and lowered cholesterol ~30% without changing food intakeanimal32

    03 Metabolic health, mice

    • Obesity-related metabolic dysfunction improved with NNMT inhibition in miceanimal, 202433
    • Users report modest fat loss, less hunger or alertness; others nothinganecdotal/Reddit3435
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  2. MOTS-c

    Insulin sensitivity, animal, Exercise capacity, animal, Endurance, anecdotal

    01 Insulin sensitivity, animal

    • Improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and prevented diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in miceanimal study3637
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  3. CJC-1295 without DAC

    Natural-pattern GH pulses, theoretical, Deeper sleep, anecdotal, Body composition, anecdotal

    03 Body composition, anecdotal

    • Body composition/recovery changes reported by users after ~8-12 weeks, usually stacked with ipamorelinanecdotal/Reddit54
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  4. Ipamorelin

    Selective GH release, animal, Gut motility, negative trial, Sleep and body composition, anecdotal

    03 Sleep and body composition, anecdotal

    • Sleep quality and body composition: users frequently report deeper sleep and, after 8-12 weeks, recompositionanecdotal/Reddit5556
    Side effects, quotes and full profile

Unstudied

No direct studies of this product or blend. Anecdote and component data only.

  1. Lipo-C

    Fat burning, unproven, Liver fat handling, nutrient data only, Energy from B12, unproven

    01 Fat burning, unproven

    • Marketed for fat loss/'fat burning', but no randomized trials of the MIC combination show weight loss beyond diet/exercise; FDA has sent warning letters over unsubstantiated weight-loss claimspractitioner/pharmacy review; no RCTs3839
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  2. Lemon Bottle

    Spot fat reduction, unproven

    01 Spot fat reduction, unproven

    • Marketed for spot fat reduction/body contouring; no published clinical trials found supporting efficacyregulator/professional warnings; no data4041
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  3. MIC

    Fat metabolism, unproven, Liver fat export, choline data, Insulin sensitivity, inositol data

    01 Fat metabolism, unproven

    • Marketed to boost fat metabolism and weight loss, but no meaningful added weight loss shown beyond diet in controlled studiesreview/clinic blogs394243

    03 Insulin sensitivity, inositol data

    • Inositol (myo-inositol) may lower fasting insulin/HOMA-IR in PCOSmeta-analyses of RCTs, heterogeneous evidence; oral doses, not MIC shots4445
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  4. Tesamorelin + Ipamorelin

    Synergistic GH release, theoretical, Belly fat, via tesamorelin, Deeper sleep, anecdotal

    02 Belly fat, via tesamorelin

    • See Tesamorelin: visceral fat reduction (FDA-approved in HIV), liver fat and cognition datahuman RCTs1251
    Side effects, quotes and full profile
  5. CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

    Amplified GH pulses, theoretical, Better sleep, anecdotal, Body recomposition, anecdotal

    03 Body recomposition, anecdotal

    • Body composition/recovery changes reported around 8-12 weeks, sometimes with lab IGF-1 data posted by usersanecdotal5457
    Side effects, quotes and full profile

Questions about fat loss & metabolism

Which peptides are discussed for fat loss & metabolism?

L-carnitine, Semaglutide, HGH (Somatropin), Tesamorelin, Tirzepatide, AOD9604, Cagrilintide, Retatrutide, 5-Amino-1MQ, MOTS-c, Lipo-C, Lemon Bottle, MIC, CJC-1295 with DAC, ARA-290, Tesamorelin + Ipamorelin, Melanotan II, CJC-1295 without DAC, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin.

Which have the strongest evidence for fat loss & metabolism?

Labelled approved or trial-backed: L-carnitine, Semaglutide, HGH (Somatropin), Tesamorelin, Tirzepatide, AOD9604, Cagrilintide, Retatrutide. Approval covers specific uses only.

Is any of this a recommendation?

No. humanpeptides.fyi makes no claims of its own. Each entry reports what cited sources say, with links. Talk to a licensed clinician.

Before you go in

humanpeptides.fyi is an educational index for adults. It summarizes and links to what others have published and reported about peptides and related compounds studied or used in humans. It is not medical advice and gives no dosing guidance. Many listed compounds are not approved for human use, and listing one is not a recommendation. Anecdotes are unverified. Images are AI-generated. By continuing, you agree to the Disclaimer and Terms of Use and the Privacy Notice.

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