BPC-157 10mg

BPC-157 - Overview

As previously mentioned, BPC-157 is a derivative of Body Protection Compound, which is found naturally within the human digestive tract. This protective compound plays an important role in protecting the lining of the gastrointestinal tract from damage and encourages blood vessels to grow. For this reason, back when it was first discovered, BPC was deemed an exciting new compound intended to be used in treating organ, digestive tract and skin wounds and injuries.

Sadly, this potential still remains untapped as there were not many studies involving human test subjects, so BPC-157’s effect on humans has not been fully investigated yet.

On the contrary, we have many animal studies showing a positive, regenerative and an overall healing effect on problems involving soft tissues, muscles, ligaments, skin, internal organs, and even some more severe conditions such as Crohn's disease and leaky gut. Speaking of skin, BPC-157 was able to speed up collagen production, chemical wound healing and an increase in circulation.

BPC-157 - Wound Healing

Of course, we are still lacking human studies, but we have quite a few with animal subjects. One such study was designed to test BPC-157’s effect on fibroblasts proliferation. Fibroblasts were isolated from the Achilles Tendon and treated with BPC in different concentrations over the period of 24 hours.

Researchers observed an increase in the expression in growth hormone receptors in these tendon fibroblasts. These fibroblasts are essential in storing extracellular matrix proteins (collagen, fibrin, elastin, etc), and treating them with BPC-157 in vitro showed that the cells both proliferated and migrated faster. 

To confirm their findings, researchers then repeated the experiment but with altering concentrations over the same course of 24 hours. Findings showed that this concentration altering also reflected cell proliferation and migration.

BPC-157 was also found to have a proliferative effect on GH and, by day three, increasing it sevenfold!

Subsequent studies were also designed to test the effectiveness of this peptide in chemical burns and skin damages, mainly in rats. These rats were subjected to alkali burns, and the results showed that, when treated with BPC, these wounds did heal faster. The exact mechanism associated with faster healing and recovery processes had to do with accelerated tissue formation, collagen deposition, skin remodeling and an overall recovery promotion.

BPC-157 - Vascular Growth

Improved vascularization plays one of the most crucial roles in tissue healing and regeneration as it allows these processes to occur quicker. This is why we pay so much attention to blood vessel growth in wound healing, tumor growth and tissue regeneration that takes place after any sort of damage.

Numerous studies we came across all said the same thing - BPC possesses strong angiogenic properties and was able to stimulate blood vessel growth and the proliferation of the endothelial cells. Studies also indicated that it does so through stimulation of the cell surface receptor - VEGFR2 (a receptor that plays a crucial role in endothelial cell development).

One particularly interesting study was done in rats with the intention of figuring out if BPC-157 can help with intestinal lesion caused by venous occlusions (blockages). Once administered, the peptide quickly moved past this blockage and was able to rescue the affected lesion by promoting and improving the blood flow. 

On the subject of intestinal problems, further studies showed huge potential in dealing with colitis or intestinal ischemia, where the blood flow was quickly restored and the area reactivated with the help of collateral blood vessels being formed. 

Another rat study showed that, by using BPC, researchers were able to quickly rid the test rat subjects of various vein injures, thrombosis, and prolong bleedings. 

BPC-157 - Tendon healing

The problem with tendons is generally twofold:

1. They occur often and
2. The treatment and healing process is hard and takes too long

This is why the researchers are on the lookout for new, more effective ways of treatment… and BPC-157 is seen as one such potential.

As we already mentioned, in animal studies, BPC was able to increase the proliferation of new blood vessels, improve circulation, and promote overall regeneration in, not only tendons, but various other tissues throughout the body.

Most recent rat studies concluded that, in muscle, bone and soft tissue injuries, this peptide was more effective than the hormones bFGF, EFG, and VGF. Furthermore, it’s proved to be a potent stimulator in cell migration necessary for cell survival, and tendon cell growth.

BPC-157 - Antioxidant Effects

It’s not often that we talk about antioxidant effects, when talking about peptides, but animal studies also showed that BPC-157 is a potent antioxidant as it neutralizes oxidative stress (induced by nitric oxide and malondialdehyde). Studies also showed it reduces the production of reactive oxygen species in the GI tract, preventing and treating gastrointestinal inflammation.

BPC-157 - Drug Side Effects

Some of the more serious drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can’t be taken for too long since they might induce serious side effects such as:

• Heart problems
• GI tract issues
• Liver problems
• Headache and dizziness etc.

Various rat studies showed that taking BPC-157 alongside these NSAIDs, might eliminate some side effects concerning the GI tract and the development of ulcers, but also brain and heart problems.

BPC-157 Final Words

After everything we’ve learned about BPC-157 from various studies, we’re confident of its effectiveness in treating a number of different wounds and tissue damage, blood vessel proliferation, and even as a potential treatment for oxidative stress. But, the majority of these studies were done on animal subjects and we have yet to see some conclusive application in humans.

Until this happens, we can only attest to this peptide’s massive potential and see what the future holds for it!

References:

1. T. Huang et al., “Body protective compound-157 enhances alkali-burn wound healing in vivo and promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in vitro,” Drug Des. Devel. Ther., vol. 9, pp. 2485–2499, 2015.
2. Chung-Hsun Chang et al., „Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts”
3. 3D. Drmic et al., “Counteraction of perforated cecum lesions in rats: Effects of pentadecapeptide BPC 157, L-NAME and L-arginine,” World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 24, no. 48, pp. 5462–5476, Dec. 2018.
4. F. Amic et al., “Bypassing major venous occlusion and duodenal lesions in rats, and therapy with the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, L-NAME and L-arginine,” World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 24, no. 47, pp. 5366–5378, Dec. 2018. A. Duzel et al., “Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in the treatment of colitis and ischemia and reperfusion in rats: New insights,” World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 23, no. 48, pp. 8465–8488, Dec. 2017.
5. J. Vukojević et al., “Rat inferior caval vein (ICV) ligature and particular new insights with the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157,” Vascul. Pharmacol., vol. 106, pp. 54–66, 2018.
6. D. Drmic et al., “Celecoxib-induced gastrointestinal, liver and brain lesions in rats, counteraction by BPC 157 or L-arginine, aggravation by L-NAME,” World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 23, no. 29, pp. 5304–5312, Aug. 2017.
7. M.-J. Hsieh et al., “Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation,” J. Mol. Med. Berl. Ger., vol. 95, no. 3, pp. 323–333, 2017.
8. P. Sikiric et al., “Novel Cytoprotective Mediator, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Vascular Recruitment and Gastrointestinal Tract Healing,” Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 24, no. 18, pp. 1990–2001, 2018.
9. S. Seiwerth et al., “BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing, Lessons from Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Bone Healing,” Curr. Pharm. Des., vol. 24, no. 18, pp. 1972–1989, 2018.
10. C.-H. Chang, W.-C. Tsai, M.-S. Lin, Y.-H. Hsu, and J.-H. S. Pang, “The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration,” J. Appl. Physiol., vol. 110, no. 3, pp. 774–780, Oct. 2010.
11. Y.-L. Hu et al., “FAK and paxillin dynamics at focal adhesions in the protrusions of migrating cells,” Sci. Rep., vol. 4, p. 6024, Aug. 2014.
12. D. Strinic et al., “BPC 157 counteracts QTc prolongation induced by haloperidol, fluphenazine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, sulpiride, and metoclopramide in rats,” Life Sci., vol. 186, pp. 66–79, Oct. 2017.
13. N. Jelovac et al., “Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 attenuates disturbances induced by neuroleptics: the effect on catalepsy and gastric ulcers in mice and rats,” Eur. J. Pharmacol., vol. 379, no. 1, pp. 19–31, Aug. 1999.
14. Tlak Gajger, J. Ribarić, M. Smodiš Škerl, J. Vlainić, and P. Sikirić, “Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in honeybee (Apis mellifera) therapy, to control Nosema ceranae invasions in apiary conditions,” J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther., vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 614–621, Aug. 2018