BPC-157
Get a source-linked, educational explanation from this profile.
Complete Research Guide
Open each section for the available evidence. Gaps are stated rather than inferred.
Overview
BPC-157 is listed as regenerative / gastro.
- •Gut healing
- •Tendon/ligament repair
- •Neuroprotection
- •Anti-inflammatory
Regulatory status: Not FDA-approved; compounded / research use.
Structure & Properties
Compound: BPC-157; also known as Body Protection Compound 157.
Pharmacologic class: Regenerative / Gastro.
Known delivery routes: Subcutaneous, Oral, Intraperitoneal.
Sequence, molecular weight, salt form, and excipient details are formulation-specific and are not listed unless verified by a manufacturer or laboratory COA.
How It Works
Upregulates VEGF and growth-factor expression; activates FAK-paxillin pathway for angiogenesis; modulates NO synthesis; interacts with dopaminergic/serotonergic systems.
- •Reported soft-tissue and tendon repair
- •GI ulcer healing in animals
- •Anti-inflammatory in models
- •Possible neuroprotection
Human Research
Evidence grade: Pre-clinical / Observational
Evidence is primarily preclinical or observational; human effectiveness and long-term safety are not established.
Laboratory Research
Extensive animal RCTs; human case reports; no Phase II
Preclinical findings describe biological plausibility, not proven benefit in people. Animal and laboratory doses do not translate directly to human use.
Processing & Interactions
Timing and exposure
1–2× daily, timing flexible. Many protocols use morning + evening. Can be taken with or without food (SubQ). Oral routes typically pre-meal.
Potential interactions and combinations to avoid
- •Active malignancy — angiogenic effects theoretical concern
- •Concurrent aggressive NSAID use may blunt the GI-protective effect
Absorption, half-life, metabolism, and clearance can vary by formulation and route. Use prescribing information when an approved product exists.
Safety & Precautions
Known or reported risks
- •Limited human safety data
- •Sourcing/purity concerns from research suppliers
- •Theoretical angiogenesis in malignancy
Contraindications
- •Active malignancy (theoretical)
- •Pregnancy/lactation (unknown safety)
- •Hypersensitivity
- •Active gastrointestinal malignancy, polyposis, or undiagnosed GI bleeding
- •Colorectal adenoma history without current colonoscopic surveillance
- •Bowel obstruction, stricture, or acute abdominal pain of unknown cause
- •Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- •Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- •Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- •Known or suspected malignancy (angiogenic signaling)
- •Banned in competitive sport under WADA S0 (unapproved substances)
- •Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- •Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- •Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- •Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- •Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- •Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- •Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- •Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Unknown long-term toxicity should be assumed where controlled human data are limited. Seek urgent care for a severe or unexpected reaction.
Administration & Studied Formulations
Reference range: 200–500 mcg/day
Frequency: Once or twice daily
Cycling: Typical protocol: 4 weeks on / 2–4 weeks off, repeated 2–3 cycles per year.
Subcutaneous
Systemic injury / recovery cycles. Most common route.
29–31G insulin syringe. Any subcutaneous site; some protocols inject SubQ near the injured area for local effect.
Intramuscular
Deeper musculoskeletal injuries.
25G × 1" needle. IM near (not into) the injured muscle belly.
Oral
GI-targeted protocols — IBD, gastritis, esophagitis.
Capsule or liquid. On empty stomach. Oral BPC survives gastric pH and is thought to act locally on GI mucosa.
Dosing information is educational context, not a personal recommendation. Approved products must follow their label and prescriber instructions.
Applications & Related Therapies
Potentially complementary measures
- •TB-500 (Thymosin β4) — foundational recovery stack ('Wolverine')
- •GHK-Cu topically or SubQ for skin/wound healing
- •CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin during injury cycles
Clinical use should account for diagnosis, approved alternatives, nutrition, activity, sleep, rehabilitation, current medicines, and appropriate monitoring.
4–8 week cycles typical.
Cases, Considerations & Ethics
Decision framework: establish the clinical goal, confirm evidence quality and legal status, screen contraindications and interactions, compare approved alternatives, define monitoring and stopping criteria, and use shared decision-making with a licensed clinician.
Case evidence: individual reports cannot establish safety or effectiveness and should not outweigh controlled trials.
Ethics: informed consent should distinguish established care from experimental use, disclose uncertainty and cost, avoid overstated claims, and never substitute research products for medically necessary care.
What is BPC-157?
In plain words
BPC-157 is a laboratory-made chain of 15 amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Animal and laboratory studies suggest it changes signals involved in tissue repair and the growth of blood vessels. Researchers study it for healing damage to the gut, tendons, and ligaments. Human benefits and safety are not established, and products sold for research may have purity problems.
Technical definition
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from a sequence associated with a gastric protective protein. No definitive molecular receptor has been established; preclinical studies suggest effects on VEGF and other growth-factor signaling, FAK–paxillin pathways involved in blood-vessel formation, and nitric oxide regulation. It is not FDA-approved, and evidence for gastrointestinal or tendon/ligament repair remains predominantly preclinical, with limited observational human data.
Function
Dosing
Recommended Time of Day
Morning fasted and/or pre-bed; split twice daily during active injury.
See “Timing & Interactions” below for full fasted/fed circumstances, what to avoid combining, and what pairs well.
Administration & Technique
Injection & Application Sites
- Over the target / injured muscle — SubQ directly above the trained or injured muscle. Never intra-articular without imaging.
- Abdomen — 2 in (5 cm) away from the navel, either side. Fastest, most consistent SubQ absorption.
- Flank / love handle — Lateral fat pad above the hip. Good rotation site when the abdomen is tender.
- Outer thigh — Upper outer quadrant, a hand-width below the hip. SubQ pinch at 45°.
- Over the target / injured muscle — SubQ directly above the trained or injured muscle. Never intra-articular without imaging.
- Ventrogluteal — Palm on greater trochanter, index to ASIS — inject in the V. Safest IM site.
- Anterior thigh (vastus lateralis) — Middle third of the outer front thigh. Preferred IM site for self-injection.
- Upper arm / deltoid — Back of the upper arm for SubQ; 2 in below the shoulder bone for IM.
Diagram is a general illustration, not a medical instruction. Rotate sites every injection, keep 1 in (2.5 cm) between recent sites, and avoid scars, moles, bruises and the navel area.
Cycling
Typical protocol: 4 weeks on / 2–4 weeks off, repeated 2–3 cycles per year.
Timing & Interactions
- ·Active malignancy — angiogenic effects theoretical concern
- ·Concurrent aggressive NSAID use may blunt the GI-protective effect
- ·TB-500 (Thymosin β4) — foundational recovery stack ('Wolverine')
- ·GHK-Cu topically or SubQ for skin/wound healing
- ·CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin during injury cycles
Storage & Reconstitution
Reconstitution Calculator
1 mL = 100 units on a standard U-100 insulin syringe. Draw to the nearest 0.5 unit and confirm dosing with a clinician before injection.
Your Notes
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Benefits
- ·Reported soft-tissue and tendon repair
- ·GI ulcer healing in animals
- ·Anti-inflammatory in models
- ·Possible neuroprotection
Risks
- ·Limited human safety data
- ·Sourcing/purity concerns from research suppliers
- ·Theoretical angiogenesis in malignancy
Contraindications
- ·Active malignancy (theoretical)
- ·Pregnancy/lactation (unknown safety)
- ·Hypersensitivity
- ·Active gastrointestinal malignancy, polyposis, or undiagnosed GI bleeding
- ·Colorectal adenoma history without current colonoscopic surveillance
- ·Bowel obstruction, stricture, or acute abdominal pain of unknown cause
- ·Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- ·Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- ·Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- ·Known or suspected malignancy (angiogenic signaling)
- ·Banned in competitive sport under WADA S0 (unapproved substances)
- ·Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- ·Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- ·Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- ·Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- ·Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- ·Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- ·Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- ·Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Regulatory
Not FDA-approved; compounded / research use
Veterinary Use (Pets)
Widely used off-label in veterinary sports medicine for tendon, ligament, and GI recovery. Best-documented peptide in animal use.
Prohibited in competition under USEF, FEI, and most racing jurisdictions.
Full veterinary reference →Functional Groups
Cited Works
Tap any study to open the published work.