BODY PROTECTION COMPOUND - 157(BPC-157)

Mechanism of Action
BPC-157 is a pentadecapeptide isolated from human gastric juice. It acts in a pleiotropic and multifactorial manner, modulating multiple cellular pathways. In preclinical models, it has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) by increasing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and activating its receptor, VEGFR-2. It also increases the expression of growth hormone receptors in fibroblasts, which supports the repair of tendons and other tissues.
BPC-157 additionally interacts with the nitric oxide (NO) system, counteracting the harmful effects of NO inhibitors and exhibiting antioxidant activity. Collectively, it promotes cell proliferation and survival, neovascularization, and anti-inflammatory modulation of injured tissues. These mechanisms explain its potent cytoprotective and regenerative effects across a wide range of tissues.
 
Known or Proposed Clinical/Therapeutic Uses
BPC-157 has demonstrated benefits in numerous animal disease models. Due to its regenerative properties, it has been proposed to accelerate the healing of wounds and musculoskeletal injuries (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones). It has also shown protective effects in the gastrointestinal tract, promoting healing of gastric and intestinal ulcers and recovery from fistulas and inflammatory colitis.
In preclinical studies, BPC-157 mitigated damage in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and has even been investigated for potential effects in central nervous system disorders (for example, showing beneficial effects in models of stroke, depression, and schizophrenia). Despite these experimental findings, BPC-157 is not approved for medical use in humans. In fact, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) temporarily included it on the list of prohibited substances in 2022 due to its increasing use among athletes to accelerate injury recovery.
 
Side Effects or Associated Risks
A notable feature of BPC-157 is its favorable preclinical safety profile. In animal studies, even very high doses (up to 10–20 mg/kg administered intramuscularly) did not produce acute toxicity or histological alterations in major organs. A lethal dose has not been established in animal models, and prolonged administration (over several weeks) showed no apparent adverse effects compared with controls. Only mild local effects, such as pain or irritation at the injection site, have occasionally been reported.
However, safety in humans remains uncertain, as no definitive clinical trials have been conducted. Anecdotally, some unsupervised users have reported symptoms such as joint pain, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, or fatigue, though these may be related to questionable product quality or secondary effects from modulation of dopaminergic or serotonergic pathways. A theoretical risk, given its angiogenesis-promoting mechanism, is that it could facilitate tumor progression or metastasis by activating pathways such as FAK–paxillin involved in cell migration. Nevertheless, available data indicate that BPC-157 does not itself induce cancer, and studies in cell lines suggest a modulatory effect that does not initiate carcinogenesis. In summary, while BPC-157 shows few reported side effects in animal models, the lack of human trials means its use carries uncertainty and should be approached with caution.