How We Rate the Evidence
Not all peptide research is created equal. Every peptide on Peptide Vault carries an evidence rating so you can see, at a glance, how much science actually backs it — and how much is hype.
Most peptide content online blurs the line between "studied in mice" and "proven in humans." We don't. We sort the evidence behind every claim into three plain-English tiers — and we'd rather tell you something is unproven than oversell it.
The three tiers
Backed by human data
Supported by human clinical studies, or approved by a regulator for a related use. The effect is reasonably well established — though rarely "settled science." This is the highest rating most peptides ever reach.
Some research, mostly preliminary
There's published research, but it's mostly small, early-stage, or animal studies with little direct human data. The mechanism may be sound and the results promising — but it isn't proven in people. Proceed informed.
Early-stage or anecdotal
Primarily animal studies, lab/mechanistic work, case reports, or community experience. Interesting, but essentially unproven. Treat anything here as experimental and read the safety notes carefully.
We rate evidence per use case, not per peptide. The same compound can sit in different tiers depending on what it's used for — BPC-157 might be Limited for tendon healing but Emerging for gut health. That granularity is the whole point.
How we decide a rating
- Human clinical trials first — especially randomized, controlled, and replicated ones.
- Then quality & consistency — sample size, study design, and whether findings repeat.
- Animal & mechanistic data — useful signal, but never enough on its own.
- Independence — we discount industry-funded or low-quality sources.
Ratings are reviewed regularly and updated as new studies publish — so a peptide's tier can change over time. Every rating links to the sources behind it.
What an evidence rating is not
An evidence rating measures how much research supports an effect — not whether something is safe or legal. A "Moderate" rating is not a recommendation, and a high rating does not mean a peptide is approved or safe for you. Many peptides we cover are not approved for human use. This is educational information, not medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare professional.
Questions about a specific rating? Every peptide page lists the studies we relied on. Start with the peptide directory, or learn how to read a study yourself.