BPC 157

Description

BPC 157, known as the ‘Body Protection Compound’, is a pentadecapeptide isolated from human gastric juice. Its amino acid sequence is Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val; molecular weight 1419.55 daltons. Research indicates that BPC 157 possesses angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, contributing to the maintenance of healthy tissues and organs. However, BPC-157 has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is prohibited in certain sporting disciplines. Despite this, BPC-157 has been found to be used illegally in some health and anti-ageing treatments and products.

The Uses of BPC 157

Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 is an anti-ulcer peptidergic agent, safe in inflammatory bowel disease clinical trials (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, M.W. 1419, PL 14736) and wound healing, stable in human gastric juice and has no reported toxicity. BPC-157 can be used in conjunction with other therapies to enhance and increase your results.

Benefits

There have been many positive effects noted by those who have experimented with the use of BPC-157 for issues including bone healing, ligament healing, general regenerative properties and more. We will list just a small few of the key health benefits here.
Potent anti-inflammatory
Possesses neuro-protective properties—specifically modulating the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems
Promotes angiogenesis and vasculogenesis
Accelerates wound healing (e.g. muscle, ligament, tendon, nerve)
Promotes cell survival under stress
Maintains GI mucosal integrity
Protects and prevents gastric ulcers
Improves digestive function (IBS)
Used in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exacerbations/flares
Protects liver from toxic insults (alcohol, antibiotics, etc) and promotes healing
Repairs tissue; such as GIT, tendons, ligaments, brain, bone, etc
Effective treatment for Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Protects and heals inflamed intestinal epithelium (Leaky Gut Syndrome)

Biological Activity

BPC 157 is a gut peptide and possesses free radical scavenging activity. This peptide stimulates nitric oxide synthase generation and therefore offers gastric cytoprotection. Unlike other peptides, BPC 157 is effective without a carrier. It participates in muscle healing and is used in the treatment of gastrocnemius muscle complex.
BPC 157 is a stable gastric pentadecapeptide that exhibit anti-ulcer and wounds/fistulas healing properties. BPC 157 reduces immediate and delayed damage induced brain trauma and improves nerve regeneration after transection. BPC 157 displays antianxiety and antidepressant effects. It appears that BPC 157 promotes proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells through activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

Mechanism of action

BPC-157 has various possible (potentially overlapping) mechanisms of action, including promoting nitric oxide synthesis, activating cells involved in tissue repair, stimulating the synthesis of growth factors, and inhibiting inflammation.

Clinical Use

Therapeutically, the synthetically produced peptide BPC-157 is not currently approved for use as a human drug. It is an experimental compound that has been investigated for inflammatory bowel disease and soft tissue healing, although there is a concerning lack of published clinical trial data because studies appear to have been cancelled or stopped without any published conclusions.
Even though there are no studies or clinical trials that show BPC-157 is safe or effective in humans, some websites related to performance-enhancing drugs advertise that it can be injected or taken orally for bone and joint healing, stomach ulcers, organ damage, and a number of other purposes, including athletic performance enhancement. It is important to realize that these are unproven claims, and that the use of BPC-157 for these or any other reasons is not supported by medical literature or by any medical associations.
Other websites advertise BPC-157 as a “research chemical” that is “not for human use,” and yet, the same websites have suggestions for how someone could use it. Athletes are advised to never use a product that is marketed for “research only.”

Side Effects

BPC-157 is not approved for human use by major regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its safety profile, especially concerning long-term use, remains largely unestablished because there are very few human studies. This absence of comprehensive data makes it challenging to fully assess the side effects associated with BPC-157. Caution is warranted.

Safety

BPC-157 is generally considered safe for use. As it is naturally found in gastric juices, it should be well tolerated by the body in theory. It is however important to note that human clinical trials are still limited and side effects, as above, have been reported. We cannot say for sure long-term use implications may be at this point. As with any supplement in this stage, we would advice ceasing use if any concerns to arise.
As far as tested athletes are concerned - BPC is not currently on the WADA banned list under the section naming “peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics” (as of October 2020). This means that natural bodybuilders and sportspeople might use it without risk of bans.

Dosage forms

BPC-157 comes in two different forms: oral capsules and an injectable form. As an oral capsule, BPC-157 is best suited for gut restoration and for addressing intestinal problems. On the other hand, BPC-157 injectable is the preferred route of administration for inflammation, muscle sprains, ligament damage, and pain.

References

[1] Vukojevi, Jaka , et al. "Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the central nervous system." Neural Regeneration Research 17.3(2022):6.
[2] Madzarac, Goran , et al. "Brain-gut Axis and Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Theoretical and Practical Implications." Current Neuropharmacology 14.8(2016).