By: Amanda Clark

The older we get, the more difficult it can be to manage our weight and to maintain adequate gut health. For those of us who are past 40, these challenges can feel especially acute, requiring the use of every clinical tool or medical advantage at our disposal.

One recent entry in the field of holistic gut support is peptide therapy, and particularly BPC-157. You can buy BPC-157 online and in many health shops, where you’ll find plenty of claims about its efficacy supporting gastrointestinal wellbeing. But do these claims have any merit? What does the clinical research say about the use of BPC-157 for supporting gut health and assisting with weight management?

Peptide Therapy Explained

Before getting into the particulars of BPC-157, it may be helpful to address peptide therapy more generally.

Peptides are nothing new. In fact, they are innate to the human body. A peptide is simply a short chain of amino acids, essential for building proteins. Your body makes peptides all on its own, and these peptides play an important role in key bodily functions, from wound healing to metabolism.

Peptides are so potent that clinicians have sought different ways to harness their powers, using them for therapeutic effects. That’s what’s led to the advent of so many synthetic peptides, including BPC-157. These peptides are not exactly naturally-occurring, but they are made to closely emulate the genetic structures of your body’s peptides. In theory, this makes them very well tolerated, and provides a high level of bioavailability.

What is BPC-157?

So what is BPC-157 specifically? This peptide is derived from human gastric juices, specifically from a concentration of proteins that naturally occur in the body. BPC-157 has exhibited a number of promising effects, including the ability to promote healthy blood flow and to alleviate inflammation.

Needless to say, these properties have presented a number of possible therapeutic applications. While research into BPC-157 is still fairly preliminary, early evidence has indicated the potential to help with wound healing and muscle regeneration, making BPC-157 sought-after within the bodybuilding community. And that’s just one example of this peptide’s utility.

BPC-157 and Digestive Health

For those who are looking for a safe and well-tolerated solution to gut health problems, or to weight fluctuations, there is some early evidence suggesting BPC-157 might be helpful. Consider just a few noteworthy studies:

● Studies have confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effects of BPC-157 can protect the stomach from ulcers and other inflammatory conditions.

● Other studies suggest that the angiogenic effects of BPC-157 can support the development of a healthy gut, and potentially provide long-term relief from conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

● There is also clinical research to suggest that BPC-157 can support gastric integrity and protect cells in the stomach, again supporting gut health.

 

Can BPC-157 Help You Lose Weight?

It’s important to note that BPC-157 is not labeled as a tool for weight loss, and there is no clinical evidence to suggest that it can do things like melt fat or burn calories. However, promoting a healthy gut is an important way in which BPC-157 may help with things like appetite control and general metabolic health. Evidence of BPC-157 as a weight loss remedy is anecdotal, but some of these related studies suggest that the claims are plausible.

 

Using BPC-157 in a Safe, Healthy Way

This peptide is widely considered to be safe and well-tolerated, but even so, it doesn’t hurt to proceed with some caution. Some general tips for administering BPC-157:

 

● Always talk with your doctor before adding new supplements to your fitness routine.

● Make sure you follow the dosing instructions carefully, starting with the lowest recommended dose and working your way up only as needed.

● Keep in mind that BPC-157 is available in both oral and injectable formats, both of which can be safe (though injections are more efficient).

● Buy supplements from US-based manufacturers that maintain high standards of quality and purity.

 

BPC-157 is the latest holistic remedy to claim GI and weight management effects. There is some reasonable evidence to back up these claims, suggesting that this peptide is well worth considering.

 

Guest Posts Author Bio

Amanda E. Clark is a contributing writer to Paradigm Peptides. She has experience in writing about health and supplements topics, including holistic remedies such as peptide therapy, along with general trends in sports medicine.

 

References

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Hsieh, M., Liu, H., Wang, C., Huang, H., Lin, Y., Ko, Y., Wang, J., Chang, V., & Pang, J. (2017). Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 95, 323-333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-016-1488-y.

 

Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Grabarević, Ž., Petek, M., Ručman, R., Turković, B., Rotkvić, I., Jagić, V., Duvnjak, M., Miše, S., Djačić, S., Šeparović, J., Veljača, M., Sallmani, A., Banic, M., & Brkić, T. (1994). The beneficial effect of BPC 157, a 15 amino acid peptide BPC fragment, on gastric and duodenal lesions induced by restraint stress, cysteamine and 96% ethanol in rats. A comparative study with H2 receptor antagonists, dopamine promotors and gut peptides.. Life sciences, 54 5, PL63-8 . https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(94)00796-9.

 

Gwyer, D., Wragg, N., & Wilson, S. (2019). Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and Tissue Research, 377, 153 – 159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-019-03016-8.

 

Sikiric, P., Seiwerth, S., Ručman, R., Turković, B., Rokotov, D., Brčić, L., Sever, M., Klicek, R., Radić, B., Drmic, D., Ilić, S., Kolenc, D., Stambolija, V., Zoričić, Z., Vrčić, H., & Šebečić, B. (2012). Focus on ulcerative colitis: stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157.. Current medicinal chemistry, 19 1, 126-32 . https://doi.org/10.2174/092986712803414015.

 

Sikiric, P., Hahm, K., Blagaic, A., Tvrdeic, A., Pavlov, K., Petrovic, A., Kokot, A., Gojkovic, S., Krezic, I., Drmic, D., Ručman, R., & Seiwerth, S. (2019). Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, Robert’s Stomach Cytoprotection/Adaptive Cytoprotection/Organoprotection, and Selye’s Stress Coping Response: Progress, Achievements, and the Future. Gut and Liver, 14, 153 – 167. https://doi.org/10.5009/gnl18490.