Peptidea Supplement - Fish Protein Hydrolysate for Stress and Mood

The anti-stress supplement Peptidea is a fish protein hydrolysate obtained from deep ocean fish using a cutting-edge enzymatic process.

Made up of 18 amino acids with a molecular weight of less than 1,000 daltons, its peptides act as precursors to regulatory neuropeptides and neurotransmitters of the nervous system, including endorphins, serotonin and melatonin. These play a major role in mood and stress management. Its compounds have also been shown to modulate the concentration of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits excitatory nerve signals emitted, in particular, in situations of anxiety or strong emotion.

How does Peptidea fish protein hydrolysate work in the body?

With its innovative formulation, Peptidea acts at various levels of the nervous system.

First of all, it influences levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Discovered by Eugene Roberts and Sam Frankel in the 1950s, this inhibitory neurotransmitter acts to slow down nerve cell activity by binding to specific receptors (called GABA_A and GABA_B). Highly-abundant in cerebral cortex neurons, it governs behaviour and emotional stability, which appears tested in the event of anger, irritability or aggression (1). It thus counterbalances the excitatory potential of glutamate – from which it is nonetheless made (2).

At the same time, the peptides in Peptidea act as a precursor to several chemical mediators intrinsically linked to well-being:

• endorphins: produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, these neuropeptides have the specific feature of binding to morphine receptors. The best-known of these, beta-endorphin, alters perception of pain and stress (3-4) ;
• serotonin: known as the ‘happy hormone ’, this important neuromediator governs self-control and inhibition (5) ;
• melatonin: synchronised with the day-night cycle, this neurohormone regulates the body’s internal clock. Released by the pineal gland at particular times, its production increases at bedtime, peaking during the night (6).

It’s worth mentioning that, unlike certain allopathic tranquillisers, fish protein hydrolysates do not cause drowsiness or a lack of alertness.

A fish peptide supplement with proven efficacy

The supplement Peptidea has been the subject of various scientific publications to support its mode of action:

• adaptability to stress. In a study on rats, the effects of a standard anxiolytic (diazepam) were compared with those of hydrolysed fish proteins, both at rest and in a situation of acute stress. Levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) and GABA in the hypothalamus and hippocampus were all measured (7);
• cognitive abilities. Other studies have also looked at the impact of fish protein hydrolysates on cognitive function (learning, memorisation, concentration (8).

How can you fight stress naturally?

There are various natural measures that can help you manage day-to-day stress better:

• take time to relax. Deep breathing exercises (such as cardiac coherence) or mindfulness meditation increase GABA production and help you feel more at ease (9) ;
• take regular exercise. When sufficiently long and intense, physical activity has been shown to increase circulating levels of beta-endorphin (10) ;
• adopt an anti-stress diet. Certain foods promote the release of endorphins, dopamine and/or serotonin in the brain and thus produce a feeling of pleasure. These include chocolate with a high cocoa content (80% minimum), bananas, brown rice, eggs, pulses or nuts (11-12). Note that GABA is naturally present in chestnuts, potatoes and certain types of tea;
• laugh (or smile). In a similar way to exercise, the jolts produced by a good laugh trigger the release of endorphins (13). If you are very tense, the simple act of smiling, even if forced, may be enough to generate positive emotions and reduce anxiety;
• open up to someone. If you are plagued by anxiety or chronic stress, articulating your suffering can help put you on a path to inner peace. Speak to a trusted family member, friend or health professional;
• establish a bedtime routine. If you suffer from stress-related sleep disorders, initiate a calming routine before bed. In the evening, turn off any screens to avoid blue light exposure and instead engage in peaceful activities (such as reading). Before you go to sleep, try writing down any worrying thoughts – it will help stop you ruminating and make it easier to fall asleep;
• get enough sleep. It’s essential to give yourself sufficient sleep time (7-8 hours a night) in order to recover physically and mentally, and thus be able to cope better with stressful situations ( (14).

Which supplements can be combined with Peptidea?

• Suntheanine®, an L-Theanine supplement extracted from green tea, is based on the thousand-year-old Zen tradition of the Japanese (15) ;
• Adrenal Support, a complex of adaptogen and medicinal plants, contains amongst others, tulsi which helps maintain resistance to stress (16) ;
• during periods of intense stress, consider supplementing with magnesium, a mineral that plays a role in normal psychological function. The synergistic supplement Optimag contains 8 forms of magnesium chosen for their optimal bioavailability (17).

1. Hepsomali P, Groeger JA, Nishihira J, Scholey A. Effects of Oral Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Administration on Stress and Sleep in Humans: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2020;14:923. Published 2020 Sep 17. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00923
2. Jewett BE, Sharma S. Physiology, GABA. [Updated 2021 Jul 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513311/
3. Sprouse-Blum AS, Smith G, Sugai D, Parsa FD. Understanding endorphins and their importance in pain management. Hawaii Med J. 2010;69(3):70-71.
4. Pilozzi A, Carro C, Huang X. Roles of β-Endorphin in Stress, Behavior, Neu-roinflammation, and Brain Energy Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):338. Published 2020 Dec 30. doi:10.3390/ijms22010338
5. Klasen M, Wolf D, Eisner PD, et al. Serotonergic Contributions to Human Brain Aggression Networks. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:42. Published 2019 Feb 22. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00042
6. Xie Z, Chen F, Li WA, Geng X, Li C, Meng X, Feng Y, Liu W, Yu F. A review of sleep disorders and melatonin. Neurol Res. 2017 Jun;39(6):559-565. doi: 10.1080/01616412.2017.1315864. Epub 2017 May 1. PMID: 28460563.
7. Bernet F, Montel V, Noël B, Dupouy JP. Diazepam-like effects of a fish protein hydrolysate (Gabolysat PC60) on stress responsiveness of the rat pituitary-adrenal system and sympathoadrenal activity. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000 Mar;149(1):34-40. doi: 10.1007/s002139900338. PMID: 10789880.
8. Chataigner M, Lucas C, Di Miceli M, et al. Dietary Fish Hydrolysate Improves Memory Performance Through Microglial Signature Remodeling During Aging. Front Nutr. 2021;8:750292. Published 2021 Nov 23. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.750292
9. McCraty R, Zayas MA. Cardiac coherence, self-regulation, autonomic stability, and psychosocial well-being. Front Psychol. 2014;5:1090. Published 2014 Sep 29. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01090
10. Goldfarb AH, Jamurtas AZ. Beta-endorphin response to exercise. An update. Sports Med. 1997 Jul;24(1):8-16. doi: 10.2165/00007256-199724010-00002. PMID: 9257407.
11. Hulsken S, Märtin A, Mohajeri MH, Homberg JR. Food-derived seroto-nergic modulators: effects on mood and cognition. Nutr Res Rev. 2013 Dec;26(2):223-34. doi: 10.1017/S0954422413000164. Epub 2013 Oct 18. PMID: 24134856.
12. Nehlig A. The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its in-fluence on cognitive performance. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;75(3):716-727. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378.x
13. Dfarhud D, Malmir M, Khanahmadi M. Happiness & Health: The Biolo-gical Factors- Systematic Review Article. Iran J Public Health. 2014;43(11):1468-1477.
14. Choi DW, Chun SY, Lee SA, Han KT, Park EC. Association between Sleep Duration and Perceived Stress: Salaried Worker in Circumstances of High Workload. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(4):796. Published 2018 Apr 19. doi:10.3390/ijerph15040796
15. Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362. Published 2019 Oct 3. doi:10.3390/nu11102362
16. Jamshidi N, Cohen MM. The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Evid Based Complement Al-ternat Med. 2017;2017:9217567. doi:10.1155/2017/9217567
17. Pickering G, Mazur A, Trousselard M, et al. Magnesium Status and Stress: The Vicious Circle Concept Revisited. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3672. Published 2020 Nov 28. doi:10.3390/nu12123672