Bpc-157 is short for Body Protection Compound-158. BPC is found mostly in the digestive tract. It plays a major role in protecting test subjects from internal damage, healing injuries, and encouraging blood vessel growth to support areas of need.
Bpc-157 Benefits
- Vein Growth – Rat research shows the peptide substantially increases the rate of collateral blood vessel growth. While this effect is mostly in the GI tract, it can also benefit cardiovascular, Brain, and muscle tissue via nitric oxide.
Bypassing Major Venous Occlusion in Rats
- Tendon Healing – Animal models have poor circulation, and this causes tendons, ligaments, etc. to recover slowly. Bpc-157 has repeatedly shown it increases collateralization & boost fibroblast density in tendon, ligament, and bone injuries.BPC-157 is better than bFGF, EFG, etc., hormones at promoting these kinds of healing.
Rat Achilles Tendon Study
- Wound Healing – BPC-157 increases fibroblasts, which are integral to wound-healing properties. The cells responsible for collagen, fibrin, elastin, etc. are very dependent on fibroblasts.
How BPC-157 Works
Phase 1: Inflammatory Phase
The inflammatory phase is the first phase of healing after an injury. In this phase, let’s pretend an animal's Achilles tendon was extensively strained during an explosive sprint, leaving it feeling sore and painful. The inflammatory response begins as the body works to maintain stable internal conditions.
Blood vessels constrict, and platelets move in to clot and initially treat the wound. Then these blood vessels dilate and allow substances like white blood cells, antibodies, enzymes, and other beneficial elements into the affected area to promote wound healing and stave off infection.
It’s during this phase that pain, swelling, heat, and redness will occur. This stage lasts anywhere from 1-5 days.
Phase 2: Proliferation and Repair Phase
After the body treats the initial symptoms of the injury and stabilizes internal conditions, it begins rebuilding tissue through a cell migration process that attracts healthy cells to the injury site.
It’s also during this phase that blood vessels must receive a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to produce healthy tissue through collagen organization in open wounds, which allows for the development of a new network of blood vessels to replace the ones that were damaged.
In this injury, the Achilles tendon is composed largely of extracellular matrix (a building material in the body) and tendon fibroblasts, elongated tendon cells. In animal models, BPC 157 has had a significant impact.
After BPC 157 is administered, granulation tissue, or new connective tissue, grows more quickly alongside tendon fibroblasts throughout the site of injury. As a result, researchers are exploring what more this peptide can do.
Phase 3: Remodeling Phase
The remodeling phase is the final step in the healing process. During this phase, the wound has largely healed but may not regain its normal strength for up to 2 years. According to Advanced Tissue, “during this phase, the dermal tissues are overhauled to enhance their tensile strength and non-functional fibroblasts are replaced by functional ones.”
It would seem, then, that BPC 157 is a healthy, simple, and risk-free opportunity to heal the body faster than it would normally heal on its own. Yet, as with many complex ingredients that claim incredible properties, issues arise as we dig further into the data.
