BPC-157 in humans: a systematic review finds three small, low-quality studies
What was studied
Almost all BPC-157 research is in animals, despite its popularity for injury recovery. This review searched four databases and the main trial registry for any study of BPC-157 in people, for any purpose, and graded the quality of what it found.
What was found
Three studies qualified: a retrospective study of knee injections for knee pain (16 people), a retrospective pilot of bladder instillations for interstitial cystitis (12 people) and an intravenous safety pilot in 2 people. All reported improvement in most participants and no treatment-related adverse events, and all were judged to be of poor methodological quality.
What it doesn’t tell us
With no comparison groups and tiny numbers, these studies can’t separate an effect of BPC-157 from natural recovery or a placebo response, and no side effects in 30 people says little about safety. The reviewers conclude that use in people should be limited to properly regulated clinical trials. It matches the grading on our profile: human evidence remains small and uncontrolled.