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Healing & recovery
KPV: the 3-amino-acid peptide taking on gut inflammation
Research purposes only Checked against PubMed and official sources Oct 18, 2026
Quick facts
- What it is: a naturally occurring 3-amino-acid peptide (Lys-Pro-Val).
- Status: research purposes only. Not FDA-approved.
- Evidence: reduced colitis in mouse studies; calmed inflammation in human cells in the lab.
- Human evidence: no published human trials.
- Known risks: unknown human safety.
What is KPV?
KPV is a naturally occurring tripeptide (lysine-proline-valine), just three amino acids long, derived from the hormone alpha-MSH (Tissue Cell, 2025). It's getting buzz for gut health and inflammation, and it gets into gut cells through PepT1, a transporter that's turned up in inflamed colons (Gastroenterology, 2008).
Is KPV FDA-approved?
Not FDA-approved. In July 2026 an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend allowing it in pharmacy compounding (FDA meeting page; vote report). The vote is non-binding.
Not FDA-approved; sold for research only. Known risks: not well studied; there are no published human trials. Choose a tested source.
Dosage
There's no established human dose, so we don't list one.
What the research shows
- Colitis, in mice (Dalmasso et al., Gastroenterology, 2008): KPV in drinking water reduced colitis in two mouse models, with lower inflammatory signals. In human gut and immune cells in the lab, tiny (nanomolar) amounts blocked key inflammation pathways.
- Targeted delivery, in mice (Mol Ther, 2017): KPV packed into gut-targeting nanoparticles sped mucosal healing and cut inflammation in a mouse colitis model.
- Skin cells (Tissue Cell, 2025): in lab-grown human skin cells (and a 3D skin model), KPV reduced cell death and inflammation caused by fine-dust air pollution.
- We found no published human trials of KPV.
New to these terms? See the glossary.
KPV FAQ
What is KPV used for?
Online, mostly gut health and inflammation. The research behind that is in mice and lab-grown cells, where it reduced colitis and inflammatory signaling.
Does KPV work in humans?
We found no published human trials.
Is KPV FDA-approved?
No. An FDA advisory committee voted in July 2026 to recommend allowing it in compounding, but that vote is non-binding.
What's the KPV dosage?
There's no established human dose, so we don't list one.
Not medical advice. Education only. Talk to a licensed clinician about your health.
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