What is BPC-157? Potential benefits & more
written by
Veronica Max, APRN, FNP-C
TLDR: BPC-157 is a peptide that has been demonstrated to be effective for diseases of the GI tract and musculoskeletal injuries in animal studies. To date, human studies are limited and the therapy is not FDA-approved, though anecdotal evidence suggests it is clinically helpful in specific patient populations with limited potential for side effects.
A handful of peptides have been used in medicine for decades: first and most famously, insulin was made available in the 1920s. Other well-known peptides include oxytocin, ACTH and vasopressin. Today, there are actually more than 150 peptides available or in development. The latest are creating a palpable stir; and many are readily available direct to consumers, including on Amazon (caution!).
BPC-157 is the darling child of biohacking, bodybuilding and performance-enhancing communities. Used for years overseas, in athletics, nootropic & regenerative spaces it’s now fast becoming a staple in many regenerative medicine, anti-aging medicine and functional medicine communities.
Need to heal your gut? BPC 157.
Need to shut down inflammation around a tendon? BPC 157.
Need to heal from an ACL surgery? BPC 157.
So, is it snake oil? Or is there merit fueling the demand for this new-ish drug/molecule?
Peptide Therapy and BPC-157
What is a peptide anyway?
Similar in structure to proteins, peptides help maintain cellular function and regulate autoimmune responses. Our bodies naturally make more than 7,000 different peptides by combining amino acids and can absorb and utilize some peptides from foods including fermented foods, dairy, grains and fish. Perhaps unsurprisingly, breastmilk is rich in peptides.
BPC 157 is a short peptide chain, and like all peptides, it is composed of small building molecules called amino acids. Peptides, simply put, are a string of amino acids. Given that peptides send messages to cells with instructions regarding what those cells should become, they’re pretty important when it comes to the functioning of our body.
BPC stands for Body Protective Compound, and that is exactly its function. BPC-157 is most often used to treat stomach and intestinal conditions such as inflamed intestinal epithelium (leaky gut), eosinophilic esophagitis, and inflammatory bowel disease; however, its abilities to improve type 1 collagen and increase blood flow via angiogenesis means it can be a powerful peptide for wound healing and overall regeneration following injuries.
Who can benefit from BPC-157?
BPC-157 is primarily considered a gastroprotective factor (i.e. helpful for the stomach lining), though some research also indicates potential for intestinal and even extra-intestinal healing of soft connective tissue and more.
Its varied potential mechanisms are thought to include interaction with inducible and/or endothelial nitric oxide-generating systems, by influencing serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and/or opioid metabolism, and/or by directly aiding blood flow, repair, regrowth, angiogenesis, and remodeling. Its safety profile in lab animals has been very good. Here are some of the successful rodent applications of BPC-157 to date:
Ulcerative colitis (anastomosis, short bowel syndrome and fistula)
Skeletal muscle injury
It’s important to note that very few human peer-reviewed data are currently available, and as such BPC-157 is not FDA-approved.
A small, 7-day clinical trial, published in 2002 offered very little information other than the reporting of ‘no significant adverse effects.’ Results from a clinical safety and pharmacokinetics study on BPC-157 registered with clinicaltrials.gov in 2015 have not yet been released (study status reported as ‘unknown’). This means that our knowledge base on BPC-157 in humans is limited to clinical reports.
Anecdotally in clinical practice, I’ve found the results from BPC-157 to be mixed. Some patients find it very helpful, others don’t find it helpful at all.
Where do you get BPC-157?
A quick Google search reveals that the options for buying BPC-157 are plentiful. With numerous direct-to-consumer purchase options available (including on Amazon!), it’s prudent to be cautious with sourcing. This is especially true if you are using injectable forms, which can potentially be contaminated with bacteria, fungus, heavy metals, etc. if not properly manufactured.
In clinical practice, I only use peptides sourced from U.S. compounding pharmacies with a 503B license. These pharmacies are subject to frequent inspections and strict regulations by the government to ensure sterility and safety.
I strongly advise against procuring peptides online without a healthcare provider’s prescription especially when it comes to injectable forms.
How do you take BPC-157?
In research, BPC-157 has been successfully applied using subcutaneous, oral, topical, intra-peritoneal, intragastric, intracolonic, intrarectal, and intra-articular injectable forms.
With most peptides, oral delivery is considered problematic due to their inherent from gastric-stable peptides like BPC-157, oral delivery is typically considered problematic due to their inherent instability and inconsistent navigation through the human digestive tract. After all, breaking down proteins is just what gastric acid and protease enzymes were designed to do.
BPC-157, however, is the only peptide considered to remain stable in the acidic environment of the stomach.
There are a handful of ways to administer BPC 157 – each with a varying degree of effectiveness & ease in dosing.
Subcutaneously – BPC 157 subcutaneous injections are easy to administer at home or in the office. The needle is inserted just below the skin, into the subcutaneous fat. This is the preferred method due to convenience and efficacy.
Intramuscularly – Typically administered in-office, intramuscular injections go directly into the muscle. This is the preferred method for athletes with injuries since it is the best way to reach close to the injured area and get the fastest healing effects.
Orally – You can take BPC 157 capsules or liquid if you are not a big fan of needles. This can be an effective option if you are taking BPC 157 for a GI issue.
Nasally – BPC 157 can also be found in the form of a nasal spray.
A lot of people ask me if BPC 157 is systemic, and the answer is yes, in line with current research. However, this depends on the method of administration. The deliverability can be increased if intramuscular injections are done in the site, or close to, the injury being treated.
In short, as far as BPC 157’s effectiveness is concerned, injections are superior to oral or nasal administration when it comes to sports injuries. If you want to incorporate BPC 157 into a treatment plan for, say, a muscle tear, you want the amplified local effect, and IM injections are best for that.
However, oral and nasal administration have benefits for reducing brain inflammation, accelerated neuron repair, and fighting off allergy and mold toxicity symptoms. The effect is localized first and then systemic so although the absorption is much less, it’s quite effective for the problem being addressed. Capsules are the least effective in regards to absorbability but if you are seeking to treat gut issues a localized healing effect is seen to be effective.
What are the downsides?
In summary, BPC-157 seems to be a potentially effective tool to help address some of the most challenging medical situations. It’s alluring, but if it seems too good to be true, is it?
Many therapeutic peptides have significant growth activity. Many of their benefits are linked to this, in fact. However, the same growth activity may also promote unwanted effects such as tumor growth.
BPC-157 specifically promotes angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), but intriguingly it has also been shown to inhibit the growth of several tumor lines and may counteract tumor cachexia. Bottom line – the jury is still out.
Additionally, there is already pressure from athletic communities to tap into the soft tissue healing capabilities of peptides such as BPC-157, especially for sports injuries. However, the use of synthetic peptides by athletes is now considered performance-enhancing.
Regulatory changes on the horizon
According to my sources at several compounding pharmacies, the FDA is poised to update their rules on peptides in November 2023. This update states compounding pharmacies cannot work with peptides that use raw material NOT on the FDA-approved list for compounding. BPC-157 is NOT on the list.
The only approved peptides on the list are Sermorelin and PT-141. Pending a change in decision by the FDA, it is possible that BPC-157 will no longer be available from US compounding pharmacies as of November 2023.
Final thoughts
BPC-157 is far from a one-shot (or one-pill) wonder, though early indications are mostly positive.
It won’t replace the foundational principles that we use with all patients at UltraPersonal Healthcare – addressing nutrient imbalances, stress, light environment, sleep disturbance, exercise, smoking and other lifestyle variables. In fact, getting those foundations right almost always makes higher-level interventions (such as peptides) either unnecessary altogether or more successful.
For us, the bottom line is that we will be approaching peptides cautiously – short-term use in high potential-impact situations such as trauma or refractory and severe inflammatory conditions. As always, informed consent and careful monitoring of outcomes is vital.
Ready to have a highly qualified healthcare provider on speed dial, that you can call or text just like a personal friend?
Veronica Max, Founder & Primary Care Practitioner with a patient.