BPC-157: Dosage, Benefits & Research Guide
Also known as: Body Protection Compound-157, PL 14736
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a 15-amino acid peptide derived from a partial sequence of human gastric juice protein. Its mechanism of action involves upregulation of growth factor expression including VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor), and activation of the FAK-paxillin signaling pathway, which collectively promote angiogenesis, fibroblast migration, and collagen deposition. Extensive preclinical research from the laboratory of Predrag Sikiric at the University of Zagreb has demonstrated BPC-157's effects across numerous animal models including tendon transection (Staresinic et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2003), muscle crushing injuries, ligament healing, and gastrointestinal lesion repair. Studies suggest BPC-157 operates through the nitric oxide (NO) system and interacts with the dopaminergic system, which may explain its observed gastroprotective and cytoprotective properties in rodent models. Compared to other tissue repair peptides like TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4), BPC-157 appears to have a stronger affinity for gastrointestinal tissue repair and tendon healing, while TB-500 shows broader systemic tissue migration. BPC-157 is notably stable in human gastric juice, an unusual property for a peptide. Most published research remains in animal models; no large-scale human clinical trials have been completed to date. Store lyophilized powder at -20C; reconstitute with bacteriostatic water and refrigerate at 2-8C for up to 14 days. BPC-157 is among the most widely studied peptides in regenerative medicine laboratories, orthopedic research institutions, and gastroenterology departments.
BPC-157 Research Applications
In published and preclinical research, BPC-157 has been studied across the following areas:
- Wound healing and tissue regeneration
- Angiogenesis and vascular repair
- Tendon, ligament, and connective tissue support
- Gastrointestinal health studies
BPC-157 in Research: Reconstitution & Study Concentrations
BPC-157 is a stable gastric pentadecapeptide investigated in preclinical models of tendon, ligament, muscle and gut-mucosal repair (Sikiric et al.). Published animal research uses concentrations expressed per kilogram of body weight in the model organism — these are not human doses. For in-vitro work the lyophilized peptide is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water to a defined mg/mL concentration. BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and is supplied for research use only.
Worked example: a 5mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water yields 2.50 mg/mL.
Open the reconstitution calculatorHow BPC-157 Compares
Researchers frequently evaluate BPC-157 alongside related compounds:
- BPC-157 vs TB-500 — the two most-studied repair peptides; often compared