Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Systematic review of predominantly preclinical animal models with only one small retrospective human study
PubMed 40756949 · doi:10.1177/15563316251355551
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review searching PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and PROSPERO up to June 3, 2024. English-language studies reporting on the mechanism of action, musculoskeletal outcomes, metabolism, and safety of body protection compound-157 (BPC-157) were screened in duplicate.
What was found
Of 36 included studies (published between 1993 and 2024), 35 were preclinical and 1 was clinical. Preclinical studies reported that BPC-157 upregulated growth hormone receptor expression, promoted angiogenesis and cell growth pathways, decreased inflammatory cytokines, and improved functional, structural, and biomechanical outcomes in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injury models. Metabolism is hepatic with a half-life under 30 minutes and renal clearance. The only clinical study was a retrospective series of 12 patients with chronic knee pain receiving intraarticular BPC-157 injection, where 7 of 12 reported pain relief lasting greater than 6 months. No clinical safety data were found.
Why it matters
Despite growing use among athletes, clinical use of BPC-157 is unsupported by human trial evidence and the substance remains unapproved and banned in competitive sports.
Limits
The evidence base is almost entirely animal-based (35 of 36 studies). Human data consist solely of a single 12-patient uncontrolled retrospective series, with zero clinical safety or pharmacokinetic data available.