TB-500, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, MOTS-c, NAD+: Do These “Recovery” Peptides Work?

After BPC-157, these five names keep coming up in videos about “recovery” and “optimization.” We looked at what human studies actually say. These products are often sold together in “stacks,” which multiplies the unknowns: if a problem occurs, it becomes impossible to know which substance caused it, or whether the vials even contained what the label claimed. As always, EaseMove gives no dosages, no protocols and no links to sellers.

In this article

1. The big picture
2. What recent reviews say
3. Product by product
4. What really works for recovery and muscle
5. How to read a peptide claim online
6. Frequently asked questions
7. Sources

The big picture

Product	What it is claimed to do	Human evidence for that use	Authorized in Canada for that use?
TB-500	Tendon and muscle healing	Absent or very weak	No; seized in 2026
CJC-1295	Higher growth hormone, muscle, fat loss	Hormonal effects measured in 2006; no proven physique benefit	No; seized in 2026
Ipamorelin	Same, plus “sleep” and recovery	Very weak for these uses	No; seized in 2026
MOTS-c	Metabolism, endurance, longevity	Mostly in mice	No; seized and found contaminated in 2026
Injectable NAD+	Energy, anti-aging	No clinical outcome trials	Not as a drug; found contaminated in 2026

What recent reviews say

A structured narrative review published in 2026 in JBJS Reviews examined injectable peptides in sports medicine (studies from 2020 to 2025). Its conclusions are clear: so-called regenerative peptides (such as BPC-157 and thymosin derivatives) and growth hormone secretagogues (such as CJC-1295, ipamorelin and tesamorelin) remain investigational, with uncertain safety profiles, product quality concerns and widespread anti-doping restrictions. According to the authors, clinical use should be limited to approved metabolic drugs for their indications and to rigorous research protocols.

Another 2026 review, in Frontiers in Endocrinology, looked at peptides marketed as “research compounds” to act on the growth hormone–IGF-1 axis. It ranks these products by level of evidence, from randomized trial data down to a complete absence of human studies, and describes reported side effects: endocrine and metabolic disturbances (including blood sugar imbalance), fluid retention and musculoskeletal symptoms, as well as theoretical, unproven concerns about cell growth.

Product by product

TB-500

TB-500 is marketed as a synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, a protein naturally present in the body. Thymosin beta-4 itself has been studied in a few human trials, including a phase I safety study in healthy volunteers published in 2021. But that work involves pharmaceutical-grade products in specific settings: it does not show that TB-500 sold online heals tendons or muscles. Health Canada included it among the unauthorized products seized in April 2026.

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is a long-acting analogue of GHRH, the hormone that triggers growth hormone release. A randomized study published in 2006 in healthy adults showed that it produced a prolonged rise in growth hormone and IGF-1 in the blood. Measuring a hormonal rise is not the same as proving a benefit: no solid trial shows that it improves muscle mass, recovery or body composition in healthy people, and hormonal stimulation carries its own risks. It is on Health Canada’s list of seized products.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue, often sold in combination with CJC-1295. The 2026 reviews classify it as experimental, with no solid evidence for the advertised uses (sleep, recovery, fat loss). Health Canada also seized it in 2026.

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a small peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA, discovered in 2015. In mice, it prevented obesity and insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet, and improved physical capacity in older mice. In humans, a 2021 study mainly showed that exercise naturally increases MOTS-c in muscle and blood. There are no trials showing a benefit of MOTS-c injections in humans. In November 2026, MOTS-c made by Shanghai ERP Peptide was among the products Health Canada reported as contaminated with bacteria.

NAD+

NAD+ is a molecule essential to cell metabolism, and its levels decline with age. A systematic review published in 2026 (113 studies, 33 in humans) concludes that boosting NAD+ has clear biological activity, but that its clinical effectiveness against aging remains unproven. It found no clinical outcome trials of intravenous or intramuscular NAD+, even though some clinics offer it. A 2025 meta-analysis in adults over 60 found no effect of the precursors NMN or NR on muscle mass or function. Injectable NAD+ was also among the contaminated products reported in November 2026.

What really works for recovery and muscle

Here is the irony: the best-known way to raise your MOTS-c is… to exercise. For recovery and muscle mass, the best-supported approaches remain progressive strength training, enough protein, 7 to 9 hours of sleep (as Canadian guidelines recommend) and supervised rehabilitation after an injury. See our gentle 4-week plan and our guide to protein on Ozempic.

How to read a peptide claim online

When a website or a video praises a peptide, ask three simple questions. Was the result seen in humans, or only in animals or cells? Was there a comparison group that did not receive the product? Is the source a published study, or a seller’s page? If the answer to any of these is unclear, treat the claim as unproven, and bring it to your doctor or pharmacist rather than acting on it.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for information only and does not replace advice from a health professional. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or a registered dietitian before changing your treatment, diet or exercise.