What are the uses and safety of BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) peptides?

BPC-157 Peptides: Unproven Efficacy and Safety Concerns

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is not FDA-approved for medical use and lacks sufficient clinical evidence to support its safety and efficacy in humans. 1

What is BPC-157?

• BPC-157 is a pentadecapeptide (15 amino acid peptide) isolated from human gastric juice that has shown various biological effects in preclinical studies 1
• It was temporarily banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2022, though it is not currently listed as banned 1
• Despite growing popularity among athletes and clinicians, it remains unapproved by regulatory authorities worldwide due to insufficient clinical evidence 2

Proposed Mechanisms of Action

• Enhances growth hormone receptor expression and activates pathways involved in cell growth and angiogenesis 2
• Reduces inflammatory cytokines in preclinical models 2
• May promote tissue healing through effects on blood vessel function, including prevention of vessel constriction and assistance with clot resolution 3
• Potentially influences gene expression in wound healing processes 3

Preclinical Evidence

• Numerous animal studies suggest potential benefits for:
  • Muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries 2
  • Wound healing in various tissues 3
  • Gastrointestinal conditions 1
  • Inflammatory conditions 1

Limited Human Clinical Evidence

• Only a handful of small human studies exist:
  • A retrospective study of 16 patients with knee pain found that 87.5% reported improvement after intra-articular BPC-157 injection, but lacked objective outcome measures 4
  • A small pilot study (n=2) reported no adverse effects from intravenous infusion of up to 20mg BPC-157, but is severely limited by sample size 5

Safety Concerns

• Manufacturing is unregulated, raising concerns about:
  • Inconsistent dosing and purity 2
  • Potential contamination 2
  • Unknown interactions with medications or medical conditions 2
• While preclinical safety studies showed minimal adverse effects, comprehensive human safety data is lacking 1, 2
• Pharmacokinetics information is limited, though it appears to be metabolized in the liver with a half-life under 30 minutes and renal clearance 2

Current Status and Recommendations

• BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA or other global regulatory authorities for any medical condition 1
• Despite this, it is widely available through online retailers and some clinics 1
• Athletes should be aware that use may violate anti-doping regulations in some sports organizations 2
• Patients interested in BPC-157 should be informed about:
  • The lack of clinical evidence supporting its use 1, 2
  • Unknown long-term safety profile 2
  • Potential risks of using unregulated compounds 2

Conclusion

While preclinical research on BPC-157 shows interesting potential for various applications, particularly in musculoskeletal healing, the current evidence base is insufficient to recommend its use in clinical practice. Properly designed clinical trials are needed to establish its efficacy and safety before it can be considered a legitimate therapeutic option.