DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m curious about peptides. I read that they’re incredible health cures and effective at lowering weight and high cholesterol. People say that major pharmaceutical companies are suppressing them because they offer better cures at cheaper prices. Is there any credibility to these claims, and should I take them, mainly by self-injection?

— S.W.

ANSWER: A peptide is a string of amino acids. Long peptides are called proteins, and they play many diverse roles in most of the structures in the human body, as well as the enzymes that our bodies use for metabolism.

Some important peptides that are used medicinally include insulin and GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. These meds have been thoroughly tested for effectiveness and safety and are manufactured under strict controls with oversight. GLP-1 drugs are absolutely effective for weight loss in most people. An investigational oral peptide, enlicitide, was shown to lower cholesterol dramatically, and I suspect it will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, perhaps as soon as this fall.

Peptides that people buy at health food stores or online aren’t thoroughly tested and may not be manufactured under ideal conditions. While I’ve also read about the potential for its use, such as joint pain recovery, the studies showing that they’re effective are extremely limited. I can’t recommend them without better data.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently prescribed Protonix (pantoprazole) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux. Does Protonix cure acid reflux? My doctor told me to take the drug for 8-12 weeks. Should I continue to take Protonix if my GERD/acid reflux recurs?

— B.G.

ANSWER: Protonix, which is in the class of proton-pump inhibitors, doesn’t cure acid reflux. In people with GERD, stomach acid goes backward up into the esophagus due to the inadequacy of a valve structure. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) don’t stop the stomach contents from going backward; they prevent the stomach from making acid so that the stomach contents do much less damage to the lining of the esophagus (even sometimes higher, into the back of the throat). This is very effective in relieving symptoms for most people, but some people are still bothered by the reflux itself.

Most people have occasional bouts of symptomatic reflux. A short course (6-12 weeks) of PPI therapy is reasonable for people with moderate to severe symptoms to allow the esophagus to heal. If the PPI is slowly tapered off, most people do just fine, but some people need to take courses from time to time.

PPIs take several days to start working fully, so they aren’t ideal for occasional use.