Hello,
I've been reading about the healing properties of the peptide BPC-157. While I realize that large scale clinical trials haven't been performed on human subjects, I would be open to trying something that helps with knee pain. I have advanced PF arthritis and when my knee flares up I have difficulty with walking and the activities of daily living.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34324435/Â
I have AF in my Hoffa pad following a MACI/TTO surgery so while I have full ROM my patella tendon is scarred down and I have a lot of scar tissue under my knee that is pulling my kneecap down (patella baja). While most of the studies I read have been positive I'm concerned that this could make AF worse.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6271067/Â
As it's not yet FDA approved the doctors that are prescribing it are generally "wellness" types that have no experience with AF so I wanted to ask the experts here if they have an opinion on trying BPC-157.
Thank you!
Hi again Greta,
It's difficult to find quality studies on BPC-157. The great majority of papers are from a single group, who do not explain the mode of action. However, I would be extremely cautious about trying BPC-157, since its reported activities such as increased angiogenesis, proliferation and activation of fibroblasts and increased collagen formation and maturation are all central to fibrosis pathology.
Unfortunately the paper in the first link is, in my opinion, very poor quality, and I simply do not believe the claim that this compound is able to re-grow cartilage. I have not looked at the quality of the second paper, but the finding of increased healing in mice, plus the pathways that are activated, again give cause for concern in the context of fibrosis. There has been a lot more focus on improving healing (for ulcers) rather than damping it down (for fibrosis) in research, and I'm always careful about therapies that improve healing as a lack of healing is at the opposite end of the pathology spectrum.
I personally would also be careful about taking a "wellness" compound that is not regulated and quality controlled, since there is a long history of dangerous compounds and unpredictable levels of active ingredient in this type of thing.
I'm sorry I can't be more positive. Please do ask if you have more questions.
Kayley