August 30, 2025 • 16 mins
Karen takes a look at BPC-157, the buzzy peptide touted for faster healing and joint relief, explaining what animal studies actually show, the lack of human clinical trials, and its regulatory reality.
Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.
Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The content of this podcast is provided for general informational
purposes only and is not intended as nor should it
be considered, a substitute for professional medical advice. Hello, this
(00:21):
is Karen Nicol, family nurse practitioner, and you are listening
to Itchy and Bitchy, a podcast that provides answers to
your many unanswered health questions. One of the members of
my course called The Pyramid Pause Answer told me that
she had a new diagnosis of frozen shoulder and was
interested in a supplement called BPC one fifty seven, which
(00:44):
she had heard can help joint and muscle problems. She
asked if she could take this supplement to help her problem.
Many times when I get questions from my course members,
I think my podcast listeners may have this question. So
guess what you're going to hear about today. Correct BPC
(01:05):
one fifty seven. Let me start by telling you what
BPC one fifty seven is. It is a peptide that
comes from human gastric juice. BPC one fifty seven is
short for Body Protection Compound one fifty seven and is
a laboratory made synthetic peptide made up of fifteen amino
(01:29):
acids that are linked together in a chain in a
very specific order. It is often promoted to protect organs
from damage or to speed up the healing and recovery
of wounds of the skin, tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones.
BPC one fifty seven may also be marketed in health
(01:50):
and wellness products to enhance physical and mental performance, promote
gutt and joint health, or manage inflammation. We know this
peptide provides these benefits through animal studies in rats, mice,
and beagle dogs. They used six week old rats that
were purchased from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company.
(02:15):
They also used ten to twelve month old beagle dogs
which were purchased from Yadong Experimental Animal Research Center in Nanjing, China.
They state that all animals were treated humanly and all
studies were carried out in accordance with good laboratory practice
as dictated by the China Food and Drug Administration. Animal
(02:38):
care and welfare were performed in accordance with the Guide
for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. That being said,
when using animals for studies, they give the animals the
diseases or injuries that they want to test disturbing but true.
There are no human studies using BPC one fifty seven.
(03:01):
Animal studies have shown BP one fifty seven to be
a promising peptide in areas like wound healing, muscular skeletal injuries,
and cell protection. Let's start with wound healing. BPC one
fifty seven promotes the formation of new tissue, new blood, vessels,
and collagen production. All are critical components of wound healing.
(03:27):
Epithelial cells and fibroblasts are essential for tissue repair, and
this peptide helps with growth and movement of these two
healing building blocks. Significant anti inflammatory properties have been found
with this peptide, which may contribute to its effectiveness in
healing inflammatory skin, lesions, and other tissue injuries. BPC one
(03:51):
fifty seven has been found effective in several different skin injuries,
including incision wounds, deep burns, and diabetic ulcers. This peptide's
healing mechanisms are partially understood not completely understood, so more
research is really needed to fully understand how it works.
(04:13):
The same mechanisms observed in wound healing properties of BPC
one fifty seven were also seen with tendon and ligament healing.
In studies of the peptide BP one fifty seven aids
the effectiveness of growth hormone receptors in tendons, which can
help the healing process provided by growth hormone, resulting in
(04:35):
better tendon healing. In rat studies, this peptide demonstrated improved
healing of injured muscles, which can prevent muscle atrophy and
promote full functional recovery following a muscle injury. BPC one
fifty seven has been shown to promote angiogenesis, the growth
of new blood vessels through several complicated mechanisms which I
(04:58):
won't go into you're going, thank you, but this process
is key in the healing of all types of injuries.
This peptide also has been shown to help gastro intestinal
conditions into Thelial cells in the GI tract play very
important roles including helping the transfer of absorbed nutrients into
(05:19):
the bloodstream. They also act as a barrier to prevent
harmful substances and microbes like bacteria or viruses into the
bloodstream from the inside of the gut, and they regulate
the movement of immune cells into the gastrointestinal tissue during inflammation.
(05:40):
BPC one fifty seven has been shown to provide endothelial protection,
which plays a crucial role in the healing of gastric
and duodonal ulcers. This peptide has also demonstrated protective effects
against a variety of GI injuries, including those caused by insets, alcohol,
(06:01):
and stress. It has also shown to be effective in
healing fistulas and promoting recovery in conditions like ulcerative colitis
and multiple sclerosis. BPC one f seven has also shown
significant promise in treating glaucoma, in promoting cornial healing, and
(06:23):
in counteracting the adverse effects of retinal eschemia, which is
when the retina doesn't get a good enough blood supply.
The peptide also shows potential in treating dry eye syndrome,
which I know all you menopausal women out there are
going yes and what I'm listening So by now you
(06:43):
may be asking how do I get this stuff? I
think I need this stuff. Well, I'll discuss that after
this quick break, welcome back. After hearing about all the
(07:13):
benefits of this peptide, you may not be happy to
hear what I need to tell you next. BPC one
fifty seven is not considered a dietary supplement. The FDA
has not approved this drug and it cannot be legally
prescribed or sold over the counter. BP one fifty seven
(07:33):
is listed as a non approved substance on the World
Anti Doping Agencies That's wata WADA prohibited list, and it's
also on the Department of Defense Prohibited Dietary supplement Ingredients list,
so it is not approved for use in athletes or
service members. Products containing BP one fifty seven might be
(07:57):
labeled as quote research chemicals and carry statements such as
not for human consumption, research use only, or for research
purposes only, so is BPC one fifty seven safe for
human use? The twenty fifteen study of BPC one fifty
seven did not result in any approved uses for this substance.
(08:21):
In addition, the marketed benefits of BPC one fifty seven
have only been shown in lab or animal studies. As
I mentioned earlier, because there is a lack of well designed,
comprehensive human clinical studies, there is little to no reliable
scientific evidence to support the safety or the effectiveness of
(08:46):
BPC one fifty seven in humans. One of the few
places to get BPC one fifty seven is through a
compounding pharmacist, typically prescribed by functional medicine providers. However, the
FDA has also cautioned against taking compounded drugs containing BPC
(09:06):
one fifty seven due to safety risks and potential contamination
with other substances. An online company called Biolongevity Labs sells
the real deal with the true peptide sequence of BPC
one fifty seven. I'll talk about the importance of the
sequence of the amino acids in this peptide in a minute.
(09:30):
Biolongevity Labs sell the peptide in a biostrip form, which
is a little strip that melts in your mouth. They
charge one hundred and sixty two dollars for twenty strips,
which is a twenty day supply. They also sell it
in an injectable form and dosing. Information on the injectable
(09:51):
product isn't available on the website, or at least I
couldn't find it, Although these products can be purchased on
this website without a prescription. Both products are labeled with
this disclaimer in capital bolded letters and I am quoting
this product is intended as a research chemical only. This
(10:13):
designation allows the use of research chemicals strictly for in
vitro testing and laboratory experimentation only. All product information available
on this website is for educational purposes only. This product
should only be handled by licensed, qualified professionals. Further disclaimer
(10:36):
information on their website states that the peptides described on
their website are solely for the use in structured scientific
study by authorized individuals. We advise consulting with research experts,
medical practitioners, or legal counsel prior to any decisions about
(10:57):
obtaining or utilizing these peptides. So what exactly is being
sold on websites like Amazon? Are they really BPC one
fifty seven and why don't they include all those warnings?
Most of the supplements that you can purchase in capsule
form on many websites have in them the fifteen amino
(11:19):
acids that are contained in BPC one fifty seven, but
the amino acids are not linked into a chain that
creates the peptide called BPC one fifty seven. It is
not an amino acid chain. The capsule contains fifteen separate
amino acids. They are often labeled as a blend. On
(11:41):
the ingredients label, you will also see the fifteen amino
acids listed separately on the label. While taking amino acids
could possibly provide some benefits, you should know that if
you are taking one of these products that is an
amino acid blend, you are not taking BPC one fifty seven.
(12:04):
The cost of this amino acid blend type supplement runs
about thirty to sixty dollars for sixty caps. In addition
to the fact that BPC one fifty seven is a
chain of amino acids, they are in a very specific
order and the amino acids must be linked in that
(12:26):
order to provide the benefit seen in the BPC one
fifty seven studies. If they are in any other order,
it is not BPC one fifty seven peptide. The functional
properties of BPC one fifty seven cannot be replicated by
using the same amino acids in a different order. Experiments
(12:51):
with other peptides that have an inverted or a scrambled
sequence proved that the intended function and potency of the
peptide is lost. Even a single change in the amino
acid sequence of BPC one fifty seven can drastically alter
a peptide structure and function, leading to the loss of
(13:12):
the benefits we see with this particular peptide. There are
other supplements available that contain these fifteen amino acids that
are connected in a chain. They are not a blend,
but the order of the amino acids have been changed slightly,
so the supplement isn't truly BPC one fifty seven. I
(13:36):
guess the strategy is by doing this they are able
to label it as a dietary supplement and do not
have to include all the warnings I just shared with you.
These amino acid chain supplements that call themselves BPC one
fifty seven with the altered order of the amino acids
in the chain, are often priced around ninety dollars for
(13:58):
thirty caps, and it is not BPC one fifty seven.
Here's the bottom line. BPC one fifty seven is an
unapproved drug. It is not a dietary supplement. The safety
and effectiveness of BPC one fifty seven have not been
thoroughly evaluated in humans. Most of the supplements sold online
(14:21):
that are sold as BPC one fifty seven aren't really
BPC one fifty seven. They contain the same fifteen amino acids,
but are either a blend of the separate amino acids
or are in a chain that is in a different
order than BPC one fifty seven. Neither type is actually
(14:44):
BPC one fifty seven. It is true that BPC one
fifty seven can be purchased online, but comes with significant warnings,
including the fact that it is not approved for human
use and should be managed by a medical professional. Also
on the website, I found that had the real BPC
(15:05):
one fifty seven, it is very expensive at over eight
dollars per dose. So although it is very tempting to
try this supplement, I get it. Most of what can
be purchased isn't the real deal, and the real deal
is not approved for human use. I'd save my money
(15:26):
if I were you, and use it to do other
things for your joints and muscles, like reducing inflammation. For
tips on how to do this, you can listen to
the Itchy and Bitchy episode that aired on three, nineteen
twenty twenty two. That's March nineteen, twenty twenty two, called
putting Out the Fire in your Body. Thank you for listening.
(15:48):
Wherever you listen to this podcast, please leave a review
and rate the podcast. Your reviews and ratings really matter.
I know, I tell you that every time, but they
really do matter. Also, make sure you follow the show
so that it will be automatically downloaded. That really matters.
I encourage you to visit our Facebook page I n
(16:08):
BAT Podcasts, where you can give us a like and
leave comments or questions for me. Our website is Itchy
andbitchi dot com, where there are blogs with some of
our subjects available for you to read. As always, thanks
to Forrest winzel my Son, our producer and composer of
our theme music and the person who does all the
behind the scenes work to make this podcast possible. Thank
(16:31):
you Forrest. Forest has begun his second year of his
master's degree in music composition at Peabody Music Conservatory and
is already loving it. I'm so proud of him. Please
remember that your health is in your hands.
The content of this podcast is provided for general informational
purposes only and is not intended as nor should it
be considered, a substitute for professional medical advice. Hello, this
(00:21):
is Karen Nicol, family nurse practitioner, and you are listening
to Itchy and Bitchy, a podcast that provides answers to
your many unanswered health questions. One of the members of
my course called The Pyramid Pause Answer told me that
she had a new diagnosis of frozen shoulder and was
interested in a supplement called BPC one fifty seven, which
(00:44):
she had heard can help joint and muscle problems. She
asked if she could take this supplement to help her problem.
Many times when I get questions from my course members,
I think my podcast listeners may have this question. So
guess what you're going to hear about today. Correct BPC
(01:05):
one fifty seven. Let me start by telling you what
BPC one fifty seven is. It is a peptide that
comes from human gastric juice. BPC one fifty seven is
short for Body Protection Compound one fifty seven and is
a laboratory made synthetic peptide made up of fifteen amino
(01:29):
acids that are linked together in a chain in a
very specific order. It is often promoted to protect organs
from damage or to speed up the healing and recovery
of wounds of the skin, tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones.
BPC one fifty seven may also be marketed in health
(01:50):
and wellness products to enhance physical and mental performance, promote
gutt and joint health, or manage inflammation. We know this
peptide provides these benefits through animal studies in rats, mice,
and beagle dogs. They used six week old rats that
were purchased from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Company.
(02:15):
They also used ten to twelve month old beagle dogs
which were purchased from Yadong Experimental Animal Research Center in Nanjing, China.
They state that all animals were treated humanly and all
studies were carried out in accordance with good laboratory practice
as dictated by the China Food and Drug Administration. Animal
(02:38):
care and welfare were performed in accordance with the Guide
for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. That being said,
when using animals for studies, they give the animals the
diseases or injuries that they want to test disturbing but true.
There are no human studies using BPC one fifty seven.
(03:01):
Animal studies have shown BP one fifty seven to be
a promising peptide in areas like wound healing, muscular skeletal injuries,
and cell protection. Let's start with wound healing. BPC one
fifty seven promotes the formation of new tissue, new blood, vessels,
and collagen production. All are critical components of wound healing.
(03:27):
Epithelial cells and fibroblasts are essential for tissue repair, and
this peptide helps with growth and movement of these two
healing building blocks. Significant anti inflammatory properties have been found
with this peptide, which may contribute to its effectiveness in
healing inflammatory skin, lesions, and other tissue injuries. BPC one
(03:51):
fifty seven has been found effective in several different skin injuries,
including incision wounds, deep burns, and diabetic ulcers. This peptide's
healing mechanisms are partially understood not completely understood, so more
research is really needed to fully understand how it works.
(04:13):
The same mechanisms observed in wound healing properties of BPC
one fifty seven were also seen with tendon and ligament healing.
In studies of the peptide BP one fifty seven aids
the effectiveness of growth hormone receptors in tendons, which can
help the healing process provided by growth hormone, resulting in
(04:35):
better tendon healing. In rat studies, this peptide demonstrated improved
healing of injured muscles, which can prevent muscle atrophy and
promote full functional recovery following a muscle injury. BPC one
fifty seven has been shown to promote angiogenesis, the growth
of new blood vessels through several complicated mechanisms which I
(04:58):
won't go into you're going, thank you, but this process
is key in the healing of all types of injuries.
This peptide also has been shown to help gastro intestinal
conditions into Thelial cells in the GI tract play very
important roles including helping the transfer of absorbed nutrients into
(05:19):
the bloodstream. They also act as a barrier to prevent
harmful substances and microbes like bacteria or viruses into the
bloodstream from the inside of the gut, and they regulate
the movement of immune cells into the gastrointestinal tissue during inflammation.
(05:40):
BPC one fifty seven has been shown to provide endothelial protection,
which plays a crucial role in the healing of gastric
and duodonal ulcers. This peptide has also demonstrated protective effects
against a variety of GI injuries, including those caused by insets, alcohol,
(06:01):
and stress. It has also shown to be effective in
healing fistulas and promoting recovery in conditions like ulcerative colitis
and multiple sclerosis. BPC one f seven has also shown
significant promise in treating glaucoma, in promoting cornial healing, and
(06:23):
in counteracting the adverse effects of retinal eschemia, which is
when the retina doesn't get a good enough blood supply.
The peptide also shows potential in treating dry eye syndrome,
which I know all you menopausal women out there are
going yes and what I'm listening So by now you
(06:43):
may be asking how do I get this stuff? I
think I need this stuff. Well, I'll discuss that after
this quick break, welcome back. After hearing about all the
(07:13):
benefits of this peptide, you may not be happy to
hear what I need to tell you next. BPC one
fifty seven is not considered a dietary supplement. The FDA
has not approved this drug and it cannot be legally
prescribed or sold over the counter. BP one fifty seven
(07:33):
is listed as a non approved substance on the World
Anti Doping Agencies That's wata WADA prohibited list, and it's
also on the Department of Defense Prohibited Dietary supplement Ingredients list,
so it is not approved for use in athletes or
service members. Products containing BP one fifty seven might be
(07:57):
labeled as quote research chemicals and carry statements such as
not for human consumption, research use only, or for research
purposes only, so is BPC one fifty seven safe for
human use? The twenty fifteen study of BPC one fifty
seven did not result in any approved uses for this substance.
(08:21):
In addition, the marketed benefits of BPC one fifty seven
have only been shown in lab or animal studies. As
I mentioned earlier, because there is a lack of well designed,
comprehensive human clinical studies, there is little to no reliable
scientific evidence to support the safety or the effectiveness of
(08:46):
BPC one fifty seven in humans. One of the few
places to get BPC one fifty seven is through a
compounding pharmacist, typically prescribed by functional medicine providers. However, the
FDA has also cautioned against taking compounded drugs containing BPC
(09:06):
one fifty seven due to safety risks and potential contamination
with other substances. An online company called Biolongevity Labs sells
the real deal with the true peptide sequence of BPC
one fifty seven. I'll talk about the importance of the
sequence of the amino acids in this peptide in a minute.
(09:30):
Biolongevity Labs sell the peptide in a biostrip form, which
is a little strip that melts in your mouth. They
charge one hundred and sixty two dollars for twenty strips,
which is a twenty day supply. They also sell it
in an injectable form and dosing. Information on the injectable
(09:51):
product isn't available on the website, or at least I
couldn't find it, Although these products can be purchased on
this website without a prescription. Both products are labeled with
this disclaimer in capital bolded letters and I am quoting
this product is intended as a research chemical only. This
(10:13):
designation allows the use of research chemicals strictly for in
vitro testing and laboratory experimentation only. All product information available
on this website is for educational purposes only. This product
should only be handled by licensed, qualified professionals. Further disclaimer
(10:36):
information on their website states that the peptides described on
their website are solely for the use in structured scientific
study by authorized individuals. We advise consulting with research experts,
medical practitioners, or legal counsel prior to any decisions about
(10:57):
obtaining or utilizing these peptides. So what exactly is being
sold on websites like Amazon? Are they really BPC one
fifty seven and why don't they include all those warnings?
Most of the supplements that you can purchase in capsule
form on many websites have in them the fifteen amino
(11:19):
acids that are contained in BPC one fifty seven, but
the amino acids are not linked into a chain that
creates the peptide called BPC one fifty seven. It is
not an amino acid chain. The capsule contains fifteen separate
amino acids. They are often labeled as a blend. On
(11:41):
the ingredients label, you will also see the fifteen amino
acids listed separately on the label. While taking amino acids
could possibly provide some benefits, you should know that if
you are taking one of these products that is an
amino acid blend, you are not taking BPC one fifty seven.
(12:04):
The cost of this amino acid blend type supplement runs
about thirty to sixty dollars for sixty caps. In addition
to the fact that BPC one fifty seven is a
chain of amino acids, they are in a very specific
order and the amino acids must be linked in that
(12:26):
order to provide the benefit seen in the BPC one
fifty seven studies. If they are in any other order,
it is not BPC one fifty seven peptide. The functional
properties of BPC one fifty seven cannot be replicated by
using the same amino acids in a different order. Experiments
(12:51):
with other peptides that have an inverted or a scrambled
sequence proved that the intended function and potency of the
peptide is lost. Even a single change in the amino
acid sequence of BPC one fifty seven can drastically alter
a peptide structure and function, leading to the loss of
(13:12):
the benefits we see with this particular peptide. There are
other supplements available that contain these fifteen amino acids that
are connected in a chain. They are not a blend,
but the order of the amino acids have been changed slightly,
so the supplement isn't truly BPC one fifty seven. I
(13:36):
guess the strategy is by doing this they are able
to label it as a dietary supplement and do not
have to include all the warnings I just shared with you.
These amino acid chain supplements that call themselves BPC one
fifty seven with the altered order of the amino acids
in the chain, are often priced around ninety dollars for
(13:58):
thirty caps, and it is not BPC one fifty seven.
Here's the bottom line. BPC one fifty seven is an
unapproved drug. It is not a dietary supplement. The safety
and effectiveness of BPC one fifty seven have not been
thoroughly evaluated in humans. Most of the supplements sold online
(14:21):
that are sold as BPC one fifty seven aren't really
BPC one fifty seven. They contain the same fifteen amino acids,
but are either a blend of the separate amino acids
or are in a chain that is in a different
order than BPC one fifty seven. Neither type is actually
(14:44):
BPC one fifty seven. It is true that BPC one
fifty seven can be purchased online, but comes with significant warnings,
including the fact that it is not approved for human
use and should be managed by a medical professional. Also
on the website, I found that had the real BPC
(15:05):
one fifty seven, it is very expensive at over eight
dollars per dose. So although it is very tempting to
try this supplement, I get it. Most of what can
be purchased isn't the real deal, and the real deal
is not approved for human use. I'd save my money
(15:26):
if I were you, and use it to do other
things for your joints and muscles, like reducing inflammation. For
tips on how to do this, you can listen to
the Itchy and Bitchy episode that aired on three, nineteen
twenty twenty two. That's March nineteen, twenty twenty two, called
putting Out the Fire in your Body. Thank you for listening.
(15:48):
Wherever you listen to this podcast, please leave a review
and rate the podcast. Your reviews and ratings really matter.
I know, I tell you that every time, but they
really do matter. Also, make sure you follow the show
so that it will be automatically downloaded. That really matters.
I encourage you to visit our Facebook page I n
(16:08):
BAT Podcasts, where you can give us a like and
leave comments or questions for me. Our website is Itchy
andbitchi dot com, where there are blogs with some of
our subjects available for you to read. As always, thanks
to Forrest winzel my Son, our producer and composer of
our theme music and the person who does all the
behind the scenes work to make this podcast possible. Thank
(16:31):
you Forrest. Forest has begun his second year of his
master's degree in music composition at Peabody Music Conservatory and
is already loving it. I'm so proud of him. Please
remember that your health is in your hands.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.