Peptide Primer: Delta (Deep) Sleep Inducing Peptide - DSIP
July 08, 2019References: Wikipedia, Medline Encyclopedia, Neuroimag., Proceeding National Acad Sci,Neuropsychobiol,
As we get older, we spend less and less time in delta wave or deep, restorative sleep. That's not just annoying, it's dangerous as we now know that sleep is your brain on flush. Your glymphatic system opens up in your brain when you are in deep sleep, the flow of waste fluids increases several fold, your brain shrinks as it is wrung out and your brain tissue is cleansed of all its accumulated gunk. This is so important to the brain that every creature with a brain has to sleep. And if we don't get a good night's sleep,we suffer with accumulated detritus and eventually call that damage Alzheimer's. No kidding!.
That's the conundrum. You need a good night's sleep to clean out your brain, and you gradually lose the ability to get that sleep. There you have it. And it is so self-evident, you don't need to argue the point. You know it in your heart. A good night's sleep feels good.
Want a shot at something better? Not happy with the drugs on the market that make you feel groggy, get you habituated, stop working and make your doctor antsy about your repeated requests? Here you are....maybe.
DSIP is not a perfect cure but it does appear to work. Delta sleep is the sleep in which you really are in the deepest, most restorative state. It's what fades with aging. DSIP is a tiny peptide that is only 9 amino acids long. It's gene hasn't been found yet but it has been detected in all sorts of places from mothers' milk to the gut, the hypothalamus, the limbic system. It appears to show up in lots of places and appears to have its effects modulated by ACTH, TSH and many other hormones. When modulated and stabilized so that it has a longer halflife, it appears to have powerful antioxidant effects, anti-cancer effects, geroprotective effects, goodness. Way beyond the scope of what we are trying to introduce but in line with many peptides that appear to have all sorts of effects beyond their initially discovered effect.
So back to sleep. It doesn't put you to sleep. Its effect appears to be to lengthen the time in deep, delta wave sleep. It's as though it is increasing the length of the wash cycle on your laundry machine. But that effect may be huge and anything in that category may be a worthy experiment for anyone with concerns for cognitive decline. (All of us.)
Are there detractors? Yes, one study says it doesn't work very well. It could be countered with the comment that the authors didn't try very hard either. Only one dose and one timing schedule. How about a bit more effort guys?
How do you take it? It appears that you should start with 0.1 mg just an hour before sleep three times a week. The folks who are teaching how to use it suggest that if you don't feel a restorative sense from it, walk the timing back to earlier in the day. Take it at supper time for a week, then back to 2 pm. I've heard of some folks being dosed at 9 am, with good effect. Proven research on it? Precious little, but all sorts of interesting effects on growth hormone, chronic pain, ACTH. Side effects? Nope. Worth a try?
WWW: What will work for me. This gets back to the issue of the risk-benefit ratio. We don't know much about these peptides but there are people reporting beneficial effects. With no evident side effects. Deep sleep is very valuable. I'm going to buy an Oura ring that tracks sleep and wear that while I explore my own effect. The Oura ring is a new device out of Finland that details on your smartphone your sleep patterns. Might be quite interesting.
Pop Quiz
- DSIP stands for? Answer: DELTA sleep-inducing peptide but you can sure put it DEEP for Delta
- What is the beneficial effect of sleep? Answer: it is your brain on flush, and it happens best in deep sleep. Accumulating gunk like beta-amyloid is a leading consideration in the cause of cognitive decline. As is lousy sleep.
- How do you take it? Answer: A sub Q shot of 0.1 ml at 1000 mcg a milliter three times a week, an hour before bed. If no effect, drop back to earlier in the day.
- How can you measure your benefit? Answer: Buy an Oura Ring. Another clever idea out of Finland.
- Where can you obtain pure DSIP? Answer: Best we know right now, are compounding pharmacies that sell you USP product. A physician is permitted to legally prescribe USP grade product in many states if not available through traditional pharmacies. Informed consent and all that.
- Side effects? Answer: Yes, mostly good ones, as best we can tell. You get pain relief, more growth hormone, better sleep, better cortisol, better thyroid....well, better? Augmented and changed. Time will tell if better. Clinical research is the ultimate answer. We need young PhD students to get on it.