What Is BPC-157?
Body Protection Compound-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from a protein in human gastric juice. First characterized by Prof. Predrag Sikiric (University of Zagreb) in the 1990s, it has over 120 published papers — primarily from one research group.
Investigated Pathways
- FAK-paxillin pathway — cell adhesion and structural integrity signaling
- Nitric oxide (NO) system — vasodilation, inflammation, and cellular communication
- Growth factors — VEGF, EGF, FGF receptor interactions
- Dopaminergic/GABAergic systems — central nervous system signaling
Important Limitations
All published data comes from in-vitro and animal studies. No completed human clinical trials exist. The majority of research originates from a single lab, which limits independent validation. In 2023, the FDA flagged BPC-157 for increased regulatory scrutiny. It is not approved for any therapeutic use.
Cited Sources
- According to Sikiric, P. et al. (2018). "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and wound healing." Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 1446. [PubMed]
- According to Sikiric, P. et al. (2023). "BPC 157 and the nitric oxide system." Pharmaceuticals, 16(5), 768. [PubMed]
- According to Vukojevic, J. et al. (2022). "BPC 157 and tendon healing." J Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 17, 235. [PubMed]