Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP)

Also known as: DSIP, WAGGDASGE nonapeptide

Wellness

In plain English

DSIP is a small peptide first found in the blood of sleeping rabbits and named for its supposed ability to promote deep sleep. Despite its name, the science on whether it actually improves sleep in people is inconsistent and weak—decades of research have not clearly confirmed a sleep effect, and even its natural role in the body remains unclear. It is not FDA-approved, and human evidence is very limited.

The science

DSIP is a nonapeptide (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood in 1977. Early reports suggested it promoted delta (slow-wave) sleep, but subsequent studies produced inconsistent, often negative results; the peptide's gene, precursor, and receptor have never been definitively identified, and reviews describe the sleep hypothesis as poorly documented (Graf & Kastin, 1984; Kovalzon & Strekalova, 2006). It has also been studied for stress, circadian, and neuroprotective effects with limited data. Human clinical evidence for a reliable sleep benefit is weak/preclinical, and it is not FDA-approved.

References

• Graf MV, Kastin AJ, Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1984 (review)
• Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV, J Neurochem 2006 (critical review)