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BPC 157 (BODY PROTECTIVE COMPOUND 157)

Description: (William Seeds, MD)

BPC 157 is a penta-decapeptide composed of 15 amino acids. It is a partial sequence of the body protection compound (BPC) that was discovered in and isolated from human gastric juice. It has been shown to accelerate wound healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Additionally, BPC 157 has been shown to protect organs and aid in the prevention of gastric ulcers. BPC-157 acts systemically in the digestive tract to combat leaky gut, IBS, gastrointestinal cramps, and Crohn’s disease. It demonstrates its effects on the gut-brain axis. This peptide has been known to exhibit analgesic and anti-inflammatory characteristics and counteracts the negative effects of corticosteroids on muscle tissue. It positively modulates serotonergic and dopaminergic systems and offers neuroprotective characteristics including neurogenesis. It has been used with patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Research has shown its ability to help skin burns heal at a faster rate by increasing blood flow to damaged tissues. BPC-157 significantly accelerates reticulin and collagen formation as well as angiogenesis together with stimulation of macrophages and fibroblast infiltration representing a potential therapeutic tool in wound healing management. BPC 157 shows great potential healing for a vast array of cell repairs.

Properties:
❖ Pentadecapeptide (15-amino acid chain)
❖ MW = 1419
❖ Sequence: Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val
❖ Focuses on the gut-brain axis
❖ Human BPC is found in gastric juices (made in the lining of the stomach)

Clinical Applications / Benefits:
❖ Skin:
➢ Used in deep skin burns, corneal injuries
➢ Post-operative incisions
❖ Injury to muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone
❖ Gastric protection:
➢ It is an antinuclear peptidergic agent (GERD)
➢ Cytoprotective
➢ Improves nitric oxide (NO)
➢ Helps improve GI Mucosal Integrity
➢ Decreases gastric side effects of NSAIDs and alcohol
❖ Helps heal tissues:
➢ Reportedly improves cell survival under oxidative stress
➢ Increases fibroblast migration and dispersal
➢ Induces F-actin formation in fibroblasts
➢ Improves angiogenesis
➢ Enhances vascular expression of VEGFR2
➢ Increases the extent of phosphorylation of paxillin and FAK proteins without affecting the amounts produced

❖ Neuroprotective:
➢ Influences serotonergic, dopaminergic, opioid, and GABAergic systems
➢ Improves nerve regeneration
➢ Decreases neuroinflammation
➢ May help with depression
➢ Ameliorates alcohol withdrawal symptoms and opposes alcohol intoxication

❖ Cardioprotective:
➢ May help regulate blood pressure
➢ Rapidly and permanently counteracts the QTc prolongation induced by neuroleptics (such as haloperidol, fluphenazine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine) and prokinetics

Clinical Pearls:
❖ Many clinicians that have experience with peptides would agree that, if they were trapped on an island and could only have one peptide- it would be BPC 157. Clinically we have seen an overall improvement in many areas: orthopedic-related issues, accelerated recovery times from exercise, pain, neurogenic pain, chronic pain, skin, post-surgical wounds/ bruising, cognition, vaginal tissue, GERD, stomach ulcers, IBS, and more. Many believe this is because of its effect on the gut-brain axis. It continues to surprise us. BPC 157 like most peptides is pleiotropic which means it affects more than one phenotype. You end up correcting multiple cellular functions improving the overall human system.

Dosage:
❖ Half-life approximately 4 hours
❖ General use:SubQ injection 400-600mcg/day total; Oral 500- 1,000mcg daily
❖ Injury specific, split dosing into 200-300 mcg SubQ BID, injected specifically around the injury site

Possible Side effects:
❖ Injection site erythema
❖ Injection site pruritus
❖ Peripheral edema