Educational content only — this is not medical advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, obtain, or use Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide. Talk to a licensed clinician before making health decisions.
What it is
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide found in the gut, brain, and immune system. It acts through VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors to cause vasodilation, regulate immune responses, and influence circadian rhythms. Synthetic VIP analogs are under investigation.
What the evidence shows
Preclinical studies suggest roles in immune tolerance, neuroprotection, and inflammation resolution. A synthetic VIP analog, aviptadil, received emergency use authorization for COVID-19 in some settings but failed to demonstrate clear benefit in larger trials. No VIP-based peptide is broadly FDA-approved.
Risks & unknowns
VIP causes vasodilation and hypotension, which limits its therapeutic use. Other potential effects include headache, flushing, diarrhea, and immune modulation. Long-term safety of exogenous VIP is unknown.
Legal / regulatory status
VIP is not FDA-approved as a standalone therapeutic peptide. Aviptadil has limited authorization in specific contexts. It may fall under WADA S0 or S2.