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Research only

BPC-157

aka Body Protection Compound 157, PL14736

A short chain of amino acids first found in your stomach's natural protective fluid.

Technically · Synthetic peptide (gastric protein fragment)

muscle recoverygut healthjoint painwound healinginflammation
BPC-157
The vial
BPC-157 2D molecular structure
The moleculeCID 9941958

In one sentence

A fragment from your stomach lining that's become the go-to recovery peptide for tendon, ligament, and gut injuries.

Like wound-healing on demand — the body uses it naturally, and the synthetic version is a focused dose.

Half-life

~30 minutes (parenteral)

Burns off fast — about 30 minutes after injection (so you re-dose daily).

Dosing

1–2× daily

How often you take a dose

Route

SubQ · Oral

How it goes into the body

Status

Research

Sold for lab research — not approved for humans

Education only. Many compounds discussed are research chemicals not approved for human use in the US. This is not medical advice — consult a licensed physician.

What it is

Scientists found this 15-amino-acid chain in human gastric juice — the natural goop that protects your stomach. The synthetic version is studied for healing tendons, ligaments, and gut tissue. Heads up: all the strong evidence is in animals, not humans yet.

The full technical answer

A 15-amino-acid sequence derived from a protein in human gastric juice. Studied for tendon, ligament, and gut healing. No human RCTs published — all trial data is animal model.

How it works

It seems to do three useful things: grow new blood vessels to injury sites (so repair crews can get there), turn down inflammation, and speed up wound healing in tendons and gut tissue. The how is still being worked out, but the animal results are consistent.

The full technical answer

Animal studies suggest it promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth), modulates the nitric oxide system, and accelerates wound healing in tendon and gut tissue.

ExtracellularInside the cellNitric oxide pathwayReceptorVEGF angiogenesisReceptorpeptidedownstream signaling
Receptors hit: Nitric oxide pathway, VEGF angiogenesis. The peptide binds the receptor on the cell surface, triggering downstream signaling inside the cell.

What the research says

Robust animal data on tendon repair, gut ulcer healing, and angiogenesis. Zero published human RCTs — all human use is anecdotal.

Sources: PubMed: BPC-157 reviews

Common dosing ranges

Range
Animal studies: 10 mcg/kg. Human protocols typically 250–500 mcg/day (no clinical validation).
Frequency
1–2× daily
Duration
Most protocols cycle 4–8 weeks on, then break

Sources: PubMed reviews

How to take it

Practical guidance synthesized from clinical protocols, FDA labels, and clinician interviews. Always cross-check with a prescribing physician.

Best time of day

Once or twice daily. AM fasted is common; some people inject near the injury site for local effects (e.g. injecting around an injured tendon).

With food or fasted

Doesn't matter for SubQ injection — bypasses the gut. Oral versions exist but absorption is questionable.

How long to cycle

4–8 weeks on, then 2–4 weeks off. Some run it continuously during active injury rehab.

When to get off

No symptom improvement after 4 weeks at full dose → reassess. End each cycle on schedule even if you feel great — long-term human safety is unknown.

Administration

SubQ
Oral

Side effects

Common

  • Generally reported as well-tolerated in animal studies
  • Injection site irritation

Serious / theoretical

  • Unknown long-term human safety profile

Sources: PubMed

Notes

FDA placed BPC-157 on the 503A bulks list as "Category 2" (preliminary safety/efficacy concerns) in 2023.

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