BPC-157, also known as the Body Protecting Compound 157, is a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids. The peptide is derived from a protective protein found in gastric juices, and scientists consider it artificial due to its unique chain sequence not found elsewhere in nature. It is typically used to treat intestinal and stomach issues such as ulcers and fistulas, as well as joint pain and inflammation.
Medical History
Research into the benefits of BPC-157 began in 1991 and has continued into today. No human studies have been done with the compound as of yet, with scientists still performing clinical studies on rats. It has been noted that the impressive therapeutic healing benefits of the compound are better achieved by an injection of the compound than by oral consumption. This is due to peptides being notorious for poorly absorbed into the body after oral consumption. Research currently suggests that the compound influences growth factors that are typically involved with the production of blood vessels in the body and damage regeneration. By being influenced by the peptide, the growth factors accelerate and speed up the production and healing process.
Benefits
BPC-157 has not yet been tested on humans. Therefore no benefits can be accurately expected by human use. On the other hand, the animal clinical trials have led to many discovered benefits that could potentially be replicated in the human body. Those potential benefits of the compound include:
- The improvement of digestive functions
- Improved protection of the liver from toxins such as alcohol
- Increased healing in the liver
- Improved blood pressure
- Accelerated wound healing
- Decreased pain in areas that were damaged
- Promotes growth of tendon fibroblasts
- Promotes increased cell survival under stress
- Improves the rate at which bones and joints heal
- Helps to neutralize damage of the gut lining sustained by consuming NSAID drugs
- Promotes the healing of the damage caused by irritable bowel disease
Side Effects
The lack of studies relating to the use of BPC-157 in humans leads to a vague idea of the short and long term safety of the compound. While the animal studies produce only mild side effects, there is no scientific way to guess what impact the compound will have on humans. As of yet, most reported side effects have been mild during short-term use of the compound, and no severe adverse reactions have been documented. These mild side effects can include changes to an individual’s bowel habits, nausea, bloating, dizziness, headache, a change in appetite, fatigue, and hot and cold flashes.
Scientists believe that the compound has the potential to have more severe reactions and side effects due to the mechanism of action that triggers its beneficial properties. While these are rare or completely undocumented, there is still a risk due to the lack of scientific information on the compound. These more severe reactions include an enhanced risk for cancer or tumor growth, a negative change to blood pressure, increased liver or kidney toxicity, and an increase in an abnormal heart rhythm.
The compound has also not been tested on pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding. So there is no guarantee that it is safe for the baby and therefore should be avoided out of caution.
Dosage
Research of BPC-157 suggests that an injection of the compound provides faster and more potent results. But due to there being no public information on the dosage of such injection, it is recommended to follow the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider. A healthcare provider can indicate the safest dosage possible in relation to an individual’s personal medical history while also administering the dose safely.
There is also no widely recommended standard dose for oral consumption, but it seems that a standard dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight is used most often. This means that an individual weighing 150 lbs will take a dose of 110 mcg, while an individual that is 250 lbs will take about 180 mcg a day.
Where to buy BPC-157
Overall, BPC-157 is currently being researched as a possible compound used for therapeutic healing of the digestive tract, joints, bones, and tissues. There are no severe side effects discovered as of yet, but scientists are concerned about more severe reactions being possible due to how the compound works in the body. Caution is recommended when choosing to use this compound.