Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
VIP’s broad biology makes it a useful guide to receptor effects, human experiments, and translation limits.
At a glance
- Evidence stage
- Early human
- Regulatory status
- No general FDA-approved VIP wellness treatment; VIP has extensive physiology and experimental human research.
- Research context
- VIP is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide with vascular, respiratory, immune, and gastrointestinal effects. Its short half-life and broad activity complicate therapeutic translation.
What this is
- An endogenous neuropeptide with multiple receptor-mediated effects
- A molecule studied in human physiology and experimental therapeutics
What this isn't
- A general immune-support or cognitive-enhancement treatment
- Evidence that a single infusion or inhaled analog is broadly beneficial
Key terms
Educational information only — not medical advice. This page does not diagnose a condition, recommend treatment, or replace care from a qualified clinician. The evidence stage and regulatory status below apply to the named molecule and indication, not to every product sold under a similar name.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide participates in vascular tone, airway biology, gastrointestinal signaling, and immune regulation. Human experiments show that VIP can produce measurable physiological effects, but those effects are context-dependent and can include unwanted outcomes.
Evidence limits
How to read the evidence
Educational information only — not medical advice. This page does not diagnose a condition, recommend treatment, or replace care from a qualified clinician. The evidence stage and regulatory status below apply to the named molecule and indication, not to every product sold under a similar name.
When a peptide has many receptor-mediated effects, ask which effect is intended, which effects are adverse, how exposure was delivered, and whether the study measured patient-important outcomes. Broad mechanism language is particularly unreliable here.
External sources and citations
- Effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on migraine: randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 2021
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhaled agonists: respiratory therapeutics review. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 2013
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