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BPC-157 and MK-677: Performance Enhancement at an Unkown Cost

In this article, we will examine BPC 157 and MK 677, two peptide supplements with performance-enhancing properties and potential therapeutic applications. We will delve into how they enhance performance and their evidence of anti-inflammatory, healing, and recovery properties. We will weigh the evidence indicating their benefits against the absence of detailed human studies to indicate their safety. Are BPC-157 and MK-677 worth the hype?

Klara Hatinova

Author - Klara Hatinova

Klara is a postgraduate researcher in experimental psychology at the University of Oxford.

Klara used MediSearch to find sources for this blog.
MediSearch gives instant answers to medical questions based on 30 million scientific articles.

BPC-157 vs MK-677

BPC-157 and MK-677 are dietary supplements used for enhancing performance, but the FDA approves neither due to insufficient research on their long-term safety.

What is BPC-157?

BPC-157 stands for Body Protection Compound 157, a pentadecapeptide comprising 15 amino acids. It's a partial sequence of a body protection compound first discovered in human gastric juice [1].

BPC-157 has been shown to have extensive beneficial properties, including:

  • Healing: BPC-157 is a peptide that can speed up tendon healing and muscle recovery, bone, skin and ligament healing [2, 1].
  • Anti-inflammation [3]
  • Gastrointestinal tract benefits: BPC-157 has been used as an experimental therapy for peridontitis, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, intestine, liver, and pancreas lesions [4]. BPC-157 can also protect the stomach against damage caused by alcohol or NSAID medication [5].
  • Cytoprotection: Protection against harmful pathogens, such as benefits from COVID-19 [5, 6].

Although the spectrum of therapeutical benefits of BPC-157 sounds highly appealing, most of the studies supporting the above benefits have been done in animals. Further research is essential.

What is MK-677?

MK-677, also known as Ibutamoren, is a synthetic drug miming the endogenous hunger hormone ghrelin. It can promote muscle growth, which makes MK-677 a popular supplement in the bodybuilding and performance-enhancing communities.

The stomach naturally produces ghrelin, regulates further food intake, and regulates energy allocation to anabolism.

  • MK-677 is designed to stimulate the secretion of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Critically, there have been few side effects from increasing GH and IGF-1 with taking MK-677, indicating it is safe to use in moderate quantities [7].
  • MK-677 is a promising supplement to reverse and prevent age-related lean mass loss. It can improve muscle growth and strengthen bones and tendons, especially in older adults. This is likely to rely on GH and IGF-1 stimulation, which, in 60-year-old adults, was found to be restored to similar levels in many young people [7].
  • MK-677 can counteract muscle wasting in extreme diets [8].

What are the side effects of MK-677?

As with any pharmacological pill, MK-677 also has side effects to accompany its benefits. Most notably, MK-677 increases hunger and appetite, but also blood sugar. This is the opposite of weight loss peptides, which block the activity of GLP-1, a related gastric peptide.

Another study found that MK-677 treatment increased serum leptin levels and the leptin/body fat ratio at two weeks of treatment and serum-free T3 after eight weeks. These results indicate that MK-677 treatment can affect circulating factors important for adipose tissue mass and fuel metabolism [9].

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