How it works
Appears to upregulate growth-hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts and promote angiogenesis via the VEGFR2–Akt–eNOS pathway, accelerating the formation of new blood vessels at an injury site. It also modulates nitric oxide signalling and appears protective of the gut lining.
Structure: 15 amino acids (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV)
Reported benefits
- Faster tendon, ligament and muscle healing in rodent models
- Protective effect on the gastrointestinal lining, including NSAID-induced damage
- Reduced local inflammation around injury sites
- Anecdotal relief from tendinopathy and joint pain
Practical considerations
- Nearly all evidence is preclinical (rodent); robust human trials are absent
- Injected near the injury site is the common anecdotal practice, though systemic effects are proposed
- Banned by WADA for competing athletes
Side effects and risks
- Injection-site irritation
- Transient dizziness or nausea
- Unknown long-term safety profile
Dosing overview
Commonly cited in literature at 200–500 mcg once or twice daily for 4–8 weeks
This describes doses reported in published literature and community protocols. It is not a recommendation, and it is not a substitute for clinical supervision.
Research references
- Chang et al., 2011 — BPC-157 and tendon fibroblast outgrowth
- Sikiric et al., 2018 — Review of BPC-157 organ-protective effects