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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.
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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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