BPC-157 Dosage
The human body produces more than 7,000 different peptides naturally, and they all play important functions in how we function. Peptides are short chains of amino acids – essentially the building blocks that make up proteins.
They are involved in nearly every aspect of life. They help carry nerve impulses, control hormones, enhance the immune system, and fight infection. In short, peptides are critical to keeping us healthy.
One of the peptides, BPC-157, has been causing a stir because of its potential health benefits. It is being studied for its healing potential, ability to reduce inflammation, and enabling the body to heal more efficiently.
BPC-157 is isolated from naturally occurring protein in stomach acid. It’s part of what’s called the Body Protection Compound and is believed to have a function in tissue protection and repair.
BPC-157 Dosage Chart
Use Case / Condition | Dosage Range | Frequency | Method | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
General Regenerative Support | 200–800 mcg/day | Once daily | Subcutaneous or Oral | Widely used range in research studies. Adjust based on response. |
Tissue Repair / Injury Recovery | 250–350 mcg twice daily | 2x daily (morning & night) | Subcutaneous or Oral | Total: 500–700 mcg/day. Often seen as an effective range for healing. |
Localized Joint Injury (e.g., Golfer’s Elbow) | 250 mcg | Once daily | Subcutaneous (local area) | 2-week cycle shown to reduce inflammation and promote healing. |
Bodyweight-Based Dosing | 2–20 mcg/lb | Once daily | Varies | Start low and adjust. 10 mcg/lb is a common middle ground. |
Safe Usage Threshold | ≤300 mcg/day | Daily | Any | Most users report no side effects at or below this dosage. |
Accidental High Dose | 2,500 mcg+ (not recommended) | N/A | N/A | Mild side effects have been reported at this high dose. Avoid. |
What is BPC-157 ?
BPC-157 is a compound group known as a peptide – a chain of amino acids that are the basic protein-building blocks within the body. Basically, peptides like BPC-157 are merely short sequences of amino acids hooked together. As the amino acids combine, one group (a carboxyl group) latches onto another (an amino group) and forms what is known as a peptide bond.
Specifically, BPC-157 is a particular amino acid sequence and has the chemical formula C62-H98-N16-022. “BPC” Body Protecting Compound. A particular peptide is a natural compound present in very small amounts in the stomach. Researchers believe it plays protective and healing roles on gastrointestinal tract tissues. This is why it is studied for therapeutic purposes.
Uses of BPC-157
BPC-157 and Wound Healing
One major role BPC plays in the gut is helping protect the gut lining. The gut lining, or musical barrier, safeguards deeper tissues against noxious chemicals like stomach acid, bile, and digestive enzymes. It also helps the body effectively absorb nutrients.
BPC-157 seems to contribute to this protective function by helping in the fibroblast recruitment – specialized cells that heal wounds. Both in experiments on a laboratory level and in animal models, BPC-157 has been found to have a dose-dependent action, i.e., the more you use (in moderation), the more it stimulates fibroblast growth and migration to the injury site.
Fibroblasts play a key role in tissue repair. They release structural proteins like collagen, fibrin, and elastin – materials that aid in the healing of injured tissue. This makes BPC-157 a likely candidate for therapeutic interventions that stimulate healing and tissue regeneration.
Vascular Growth and Collateralization
BPC-157 is a strong angiogenic agent, or it promotes the growth of new vessels. Specifically, it encourages endothelial cells to proliferate and grow more rapidly. Animal research, particularly in rats, shows that BPC-157 significantly enhances the growth of new collateral vessels in areas where circulation has been reduced, such as during ischemia (reduced blood flow).
Though most of the original research is based on studies of the digestive tract, there is growing evidence that BPC-157 can provide similar benefits for the heart, brain, and muscles. For this reason, researchers are studying its use not just for repairing the gut but also as a therapy following strokes, heart attacks, or other traumas in which blood flow is cut off.
Notably, research into chicken embryos suggests a probable mechanism through which BPC-157 works: It appears to initiate the activation of a receptor called VEGFR2. The receptor is key in the nitric oxide pathway system crucial to blood vessel growth stimulation, healing, and long-term cell integrity. VEGFR2 is specifically important in endothelial cell growth and repair stimulation.
Tendon Healing
If you have ever had to rehabilitate a stubborn tendon or ligament injury, you know how frustrating rehabilitation can be. These tissues just do not heal as quickly as muscles – largely because they get less blood supply. Lower circulation means fewer healing cells can get to the area, which slows it down.
This is where BPC-157 might be able to lend some serious support. First studied in animal models, BPC-157 has shown the ability to speed healing in tendons, ligaments, and even bone fractures. It increases blood vessel growth (a process called collateralization) and increases the activity of fibroblasts, the cells that build and repair connective tissue.
Even more amazing is that BPC-157 appears to be more effective than some of the most well-known healing factors like bFGF, EGF, and VEGF in repairing injured tendons and ligaments. That’s gigantic for anyone who wishes to be back training without long periods of downtime.
On a more basic level, laboratory experiments prove BPC-157 to encourage F-actin stimulation with fibroblasts, a crucial protein part of cellular motion and healing. It boasts such proteins as paxillin and FAK, which are used in the healing process during cellular migration. For you to better understand, your body may be more capable of sending assistance exactly where it’s required.
BPC-157 and Its Antioxidant Power
We all know how oxidative stress can have a negative effect on us, and it’s one of the biggest enemies when it comes to healing, inflammation, and well-being. Fortunately, research has shown that BPC-157 can have some serious antioxidative effects.
In animal studies, this peptide was able to neutralize poisonous chemicals like nitric oxide and MDA (malondialdehyde), which are both markers of oxidative stress. This peptide not only helps with healing but also protects your cells from damage in the first place.
What’s even more impressive is that BPC-157 appears to lower the production of reactive oxygen species (ROT) within the gut, which are known to cause inflammation and tissue damage with repeated exposure. By calming oxidative stress within the gastrointestinal tract, BPC-157 may be involved in general wellness and healing.
There is also some cutting-edge work on the application of Lactococcus lactis (a probiotic strain of bacteria) to deliver BPC-157 directly into the GI tract. Early test tube results show that this effectively enhances the peptide’s strength by spiking its levels within the body.
BPC-157 Dosage Calculator
BPC-157 has been the subject of several studies exploring its impressive ability to support tissue repair and healing. Research suggests it becomes systematically effective at doses ranging from 2 to 20 micrograms per pound of body weight. In most studies, common dosing falls between 200 and 800 micrograms per day.
Some experts report that the most noticeable healing effects come from taking 250 to 350 mcg twice a day, totaling 500 to 700 mcg daily. That’s a wide dosing range, and individual responses vary. Some people find better results at higher doses, while others prefer a moderate daily amount.
In one example, a person dealing with a golfer’s elbow experienced significant improvement after using 250mcg of BPC-157 injected subcutaneously near the injured elbow each day. The treatment lasted two days, easing pain, reducing inflammation, and supporting healing in the joint.
Most users report no side effects at lower doses, under 300 mcg per day. However, there have been occasional reports of people accidentally taking 2500 mcg in a single dose. Even then, the side effects were typically mild.
Conclusion
Considering all the uses and benefits related to BPC-157, why don’t doctors recommend this peptide for regenerative purposes and wound healing? The reason is simple: a wide range of studies are not conducted on people.
We don’t have data available at the medical level showcasing BPC-157 efficacy in healing in humans. Your healthcare providers won’t recommend anything. They can’t confirm a long safety track record with use in humans.
Even though the FDA doesn’t recognize this peptide, and we can’t buy it as over-the-counter medication, we hope this situation will change in the future as this drug becomes available for wider consumption.
References:
- Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Rucman, R., Turkovic, B., Rokotov, D. S., Brcic, L., et al. (2018). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 24(18), 1974–1989.
- Peinnequin, A., Mouret, C., Birot, F., Alonso, A., Mathieu, J., Clarençon, D., et al. (2013). The effect of BPC-157 on muscle and tendon healing: Experimental data and possible mechanisms. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 64(4), 437–444.
- Chen, J., & Song, H. (2020). Angiogenesis and neurogenesis: Two targets for BPC-157 peptide in brain injury recovery. Neural Regeneration Research, 15(9), 1655–1662.
- Vukojević, J., Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Grabarević, Z., Tonkic, A., Djuzel, V., et al. (2008). BPC 157 and blood vessels healing. Current Vascular Pharmacology, 6(4), 343–349.
- Gwyer, D., Wragg, N. M., & Wilson, S. L. (2019). Variations in cell behavior with differing serum-free media in vitro. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 7, 38.
- Kang, E. A., Han, S. Y., Park, J. M., Kim, E. H., Hahm, K. B., & Hong, S. P. (2012). BPC 157 accelerates healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats by activating the ERK1/2 pathway. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 18(37), 5432–5439.
- Sikiric, P., Rucman, R., Turkovic, B., Sever, M., Klicek, R., Radic, B., et al. (2010). BPC 157 and the central nervous system: Peptide modulation of serotonin and dopamine systems in rats. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 61(3), 377–382.
- Wang, X., Liu, L., Qi, L., Lei, C., Li, P., Wang, Y., Liu, C., Bai, H., Han, C., Sun, Y., & Liu, J. (2021). A first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, single- and multiple-dose, phase I study of recombinant human thymosin β4 in healthy Chinese volunteers. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine, 25(17), 8222–8228. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.16693
- Nair, A. B., & Jacob, S. (2016). A simple practice guide for dose conversion between animals and human. Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy, 7(2), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-0105.177703
- Klicek, R., Kolenc, D., Suran, J., Drmic, D., Brcic, L., Aralica, G., Sever, M., Holjevac, J., Radic, B., Turudic, T., Kokot, A., Patrlj, L., Rucman, R., Seiwerth, S., & Sikiric, P. (2013). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals cysteamine-colitis and colon-colon-anastomosis and counteracts cuprizone brain injuries and motor disability. Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society, 64(5), 597–612.
- Sever, M., Klicek, R., Radic, B., Brcic, L., Zoricic, I., Drmic, D., Ivica, M., Barisic, I., Ilic, S., Berkopic, L., Blagaic, A. B., Coric, M., Kolenc, D., Vrcic, H., Anic, T., Seiwerth, S., & Sikiric, P. (2009). Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and short bowel syndrome in rats. Digestive diseases and sciences, 54(10), 2070–2083. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0598-y