Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing
Gwyer, Wragg, Wilson/PubMed/2019
Why It Matters
This paper caught my attention because it's one of the few comprehensive reviews of BPC 157, a peptide that's gained popularity in biohacking circles. The reality check: every single study cited is in rodents. Zero human data. The peptide shows promise for accelerating recovery from tendon and ligament injuries (notoriously slow healers), but we're talking about extrapolating from mouse tendons to human Achilles tears. Not a doctor. Just a guy who reads the papers — and this one is pure preclinical.
Key Findings
- BPC 157 demonstrated positive healing effects across traumatic injuries (tears, cuts) and systemic damage (chemical insults, electrolyte imbalances) in every animal study reviewed
- The peptide appears particularly promising for hypovascular tissues like tendons and ligaments, which normally heal slowly due to limited blood supply
- Studies showed healing benefits whether BPC 157 was administered locally (injection at injury site) or systemically (oral, intraperitoneal) — unlike many growth factors that require direct application
- Few adverse reactions were reported across studies, though the review acknowledges the mechanism of action remains poorly understood
- Only a handful of research groups have studied this peptide over 20 years, and zero human trials exist to confirm efficacy or safety
Read the Paper↗PMID: 30915550