Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

Episode 2672: Demystifying Bioregulators & Peptides With Nick Andrews
Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge
Guest: Nick Andrews (Biochemical engineer, peptide, and bioregulator expert)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the world of peptides and bioregulators, unraveling the science, history, applications, safety concerns, and practical optimization protocols with expert Nick Andrews. The Mind Pump crew leverages Nick’s decades of hands-on biochemical and industry knowledge to answer long-held listener questions, share real-world anecdotes, and critically analyze both Western and Russian approaches to these cutting-edge compounds. Whether you’re an athlete, biohacker, clinician, or simply curious, this episode offers unparalleled insights into these often-misunderstood molecules.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nick Andrews’ Background and Entry into the Peptide World

[02:47–04:39]

• Nick’s background: 20 years in pharma/biotech; moved into biohacking and entrepreneurship after personal injury (shoulder trauma).
• Early experience: Use of peptides over stem cells due to cost and accessibility.
  • Regained full use of injured shoulder with custom peptide protocol.
• Personal journey led Nick deeper into bleeding-edge regenerative therapeutics.

“Within about a year I had regained full use of my shoulder and it was all the way down the rabbit hole after that.” — Nick Andrews, [04:20]

2. The Power of GHK-Cu in Skin Health & Healing

[04:40–08:13]

• Real-world testimonials: GHK-Cu cream rapidly healed severe sunburn, often preventing blistering overnight.
• Mechanism:
  • UV damage causes ROS and inflammatory signaling, leading to delayed burn symptoms.
  • GHK-Cu interrupts the damage signal, shifts cells to repair mode.
  • Preventative application can “pre-condition” cells, increasing sun resilience.
• Can be used beyond aesthetics: SubQ injections may reduce ligament/tendon damage for athletes.

“GHK essentially interrupts that signal and says, hey guys, cut that crap out. Let’s just go straight to repair...” — Nick Andrews, [06:26]

3. Safety: Can Supplementing Peptides Shut Down Natural Production?

[08:13–09:50]

• Downregulation is mainly a concern at extremely high doses.
• Typical doses used in regenerative medicine/topicals are far below clinical thresholds for problems.

4. Peptide Combinations, Side Effects & Histamine Reactions

[09:50–13:45]

• Some peptides (e.g. MOTS-C, SS-31) shouldn't be combined without caution; stacking can elicit histamine reactions, especially in fair-skinned individuals.
• MOTS-C binds histamine receptors; some people react strongly (hives, rashes).
  • Solution: KPV peptide can counteract local histamine response.
• Nick clarifies most negative “shaky” effects are immune/histamine-mediated, not “overloading” the mitochondria.

“If you ever get a reaction from it...do 5 milligrams of KPV...it shuts it right down.” — Nick Andrews, [11:31]

5. Bioregulators — Origins and Distinctions from Common Peptides

[14:06–19:34]

• Bioregulators originated in the Soviet Union (developed by Dr. Vladimir Khavinson) to optimize soldiers/athletes with little Western tech access.
• Early trials: Organ extracts (“glandular therapy”) improved endurance, recovery, stress resistance.
• Three main bioregulator types: Cytamins (whole-organ extract), Cytomaxes (purified/smaller peptide fraction), Cytogens (ultra-purified/synthetic key sequences).
• Bioregulators typically: 2–7 amino acids (much smaller than most functional peptides).

“Russia basically puts things in people and then figures out how it works; the West spends ages on mechanism first.” — Nick Andrews, [15:04]

6. Mechanisms: Oral Activity & Systemic Action of Bioregulators

[19:57–24:28]

• Mythbusting: Bioregulators can be effective orally due to resistance to stomach enzyme (pepsin) and a special gut transporter (Pept1) for peptides <7 amino acids.
• 10–30% oral absorption rate, confirmed by radioisotope animal studies.
• This distinguishes bioregulators from traditional, larger peptides (which are usually injected).

7. How Bioregulators Work Differently from Peptides

[25:25–29:11]

• Peptides work by hitting cell receptors to “turn up” activity beyond baseline.
• Bioregulators enter cells and nuclei, directly influencing DNA (or histone) expression to coax tissue function back to healthy baseline (homeostasis).
• Effects are slow and steady, rarely felt acutely—except in some cases (notably sexual/reproductive health and certain subjective metrics).

“Peptides ramp above 100%; bioregulators bring you to 100%, to homeostasis.” — Nick Andrews, [28:49]

8. Medical & Practical Applications

[32:00–39:36]

• In Russia, many bioregulators are OTC, used mainly by health optimization circles rather than mainstream medicine.
• In the West: Interest is growing among clinicians for supportive care (e.g., protecting immune/cardiovascular health during/after chemotherapy).
• Example (sexual health): Stack of testicular, blood vessel, and prostate bioregulators can boost morning erections in aging men (effects in ~1–2 weeks).
• Bioregulators often multitask: e.g., bone marrow extract aids bone, immunity, T-cell function.

9. Bioregulators, Peptides, & Supplements — The "Intensity Ladder"

[39:01–39:44]

• Supplements < Bioregulators < Peptides, in terms of intensity and “forcefulness.”
• Bioregulators act as gentle “dimmer switches,” optimizing tissue performance to baseline; peptides act like “amplifiers.”

10. Using Bioregulators and Peptides Together

[40:08]

• Generally safe and potentially synergistic; bioregulators optimize baseline, peptides then boost performance above that.

“To a point, I’d call bioregulators optimizing compounds...and peptides are above and beyond.” — Nick Andrews, [39:44]

11. Clinical Pearls: Chemo Support, Endurance, Cancer

[40:27–43:05]

• Bioregulators (thymus, bone marrow, blood vessel peptides) help mitigate chemo side effects by promoting ongoing repair/regeneration.
• Some studies (mainly in vitro/Russian) suggest anti-cancer cell effects, but bioregulators are not cancer cures; rather, they restore healthy cellular signaling.

12. Pineal Gland Bioregulator & Endocrine Health ("Third Eye")

[43:05–45:39]

• Pineal bioregulator optimizes endocrine function, with secondary effects on repair, stress resilience, and potentially sleep.
• Parathyroid and pineal are both critical, though often overlooked, in global hormonal health.

13. Push Patch & NAD: Next-Level Transdermal Delivery

[45:39–61:47]

• NAD is critical for cellular energy, but delivery method matters:
  • IV = harsh, overwhelming dose, unpleasant side effects (“elephant on chest”).
  • Oral = too little impact for optimized individuals.
  • Push Patch = steady, slow, controlled release over 12+ hours, leading to real-world energy, recovery, and wellness improvements.
• Push Patch leverages medical technology (“iontophoresis”) using a battery, positive/negative charge, and precise molecule design for optimal NAD absorption.

“I can fly to Europe now and get off the plane and be ready to rock.” — Nick Andrews, [47:21]

14. The Science & Economics of Peptide Skincare

[61:47–66:30]

• Most commercial skincare peptide products are under-dosed due to raw material cost.
• Entera Skincare and a handful of others use “minimum effective dose” or more, pricing reflects higher peptide content.
  • One-off custom serum for high-net-worth client cost $1,500 per ounce; reflects true efficacy potential for “sky’s the limit” results.

15. Exciting Trends: Bioregulators, Push Patch, Entera, and the Future

[66:38–71:05]

• Push Patch is expanding into aesthetics (pre and post-procedure recovery), athletics, and immunity.
  • NAD preloading: faster healing, more energy, immune defense, sleep resilience.
• Bioregulators, peptides, and NAD are all fundamentally about boosting the body’s natural ability to recover, adapt, and resist stressors.

“If you increase the available energy for every tissue type in your body, now every single one of those processes can work better.” — Nick Andrews, [71:04]

16. Protocols and Practical Tips

[72:15–75:26]

• Bioregulators should be cycled (e.g., 1–2 months per system, then 6+ months off), to avoid adaptation and maintain efficacy.
• Like training and most supplements, biological cycles matter—a principle often overlooked in the enthusiast world.

Notable Quotes

• “Bioregulators: Think of them as the step between peptides and supplements.” — Nick Andrews, [72:48]
• “They’re going to increase resistance to the stress and degradation of life... joints, cardiovascular, sexual health...” — Nick Andrews, [72:49]
• “Anything that’s working with signaling in your body—it's a cycle. At a certain point you stop listening to the signal.” — Nick Andrews, [74:55]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Nick Andrews intro & background | 02:39–04:39 | | Peptide healing (GHK-Cu, BPC157) | 04:40–08:13 | | Peptide safety (downregulation) | 08:13–09:50 | | Peptide combos, histamine, and reactions (MOTS-C, KPV) | 09:50–13:45 | | Bioregulators: History (Khavinson, Russia) | 14:06–19:34 | | Oral absorption and activity of bioregulators | 19:57–24:28 | | Peptides vs. Bioregulators: Mechanism and effects | 25:25–29:11 | | Sexual health, subjective vs. objective effects | 29:11–32:00 | | Bioregulators in medical settings (chemo) | 40:27–41:56 | | Bioregulator intensity ladder analogy | 39:01–39:44 | | NAD delivery science; Push Patch explained | 45:39–61:47 | | Economics of skincare peptides, Entera explained | 61:47–66:30 | | Future trends, applications (immunity, aesthetics, sports)| 66:38–71:05 | | Cycling & protocols for lasting results | 72:15–75:26 |

Memorable Moments

• The GHK-Cu sunburn story (impressively rapid recovery; [04:40–06:37])
• Nick’s analogy of peptides, bioregulators, and supplements as “the dimmer, the amplifier, and the baseline” [39:36–39:44]
• The Push Patch “hydration pack” vs. “IV gallon” analogy [47:44–48:45]
• The $1,500 custom peptide serum for a high net worth client [65:25–66:30]
• “How can one molecule do all of this?” — The Shamwow joke about NAD benefits [71:05]

Resources Mentioned

• Entera Skincare: Peptide-rich topical products – enteraskincare.com
• Promethea: Oral bioregulators – probr.com
• Push Patch: Prescription NAD transdermal patches

Takeaway

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in performance, recovery, longevity, and the practical science behind cutting-edge health molecules. Nick Andrews demystifies the often obscured world of peptides and bioregulators, offering both detailed mechanisms and grounded, real-world advice for usage. The Mind Pump crew ensures the tough questions are asked, the hype examined, and the most actionable nuggets expertly distilled.

Find Mind Pump and the hosts:
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia, @mindpumpsal, @mindpumpadam, @mindpumpjustin, @mindpumpdoug
More: mindpumppodcast.com