Plain Language Summary
A retrospective clinical study of intra-articular BPC 157 (alone or combined with thymosin beta-4) for multiple types of knee pain including osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, and tendinosis. A 1-year chart review showed patient-reported pain reduction across diverse knee pathologies. Provides preliminary human evidence that BPC 157 may benefit joint pain, though the retrospective design limits conclusions.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Knee pain, a common complaint in primary care, has many causes, the most common of which is osteoarthritis (OA). Other common causes are meniscus tears, tendinosis, ligament tears or sprains, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and septic arthritis. Also, referred pain from hip joint pathology like slipped capital femoral epiphysis can result in knee pain.1 The use of peptides BPC157 and thymosin-beta-4 (TB4) has not been studied in the treatment of knee pain.
METHODS: A retrospective study was done at the Institute for Hormonal Balance in Orlando, Florida, USA to see whether intra-articular injection of the peptide BPC 157, alone or combined with TB4, helped relieve knee pain. A 1-year chart review from 2019 to 2020 was performed. Since this was a retrospective study, patient follow-up varied, with most patients having had an injection of peptide into their knee 6 months to 1 year prior to the study. Of the 17 patients in the study, 16 were contacted by phone to follow up on the status of their knee pain. Only 1 patient could not be reached for the survey. Patients were asked to rate their pain prior to injection, the length of time the peptides helped ease the pain and the degree to which the injection helped them. No specific tools were used to measure their improvement in function, quality of life, stiffness or activities of daily living. The survey's main goal was to determine whether BPC157 helped with multiple types of knee pain in a primary care setting.
RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 12 had received only BPC 157 as an intra-articular injection. In this group, 11 of the 12 patients (91.6%) had significant improvement in knee pain, whereas 1 patient (8.3 %) had no improvement. The other 4 patients received a combination of 2 peptide injections of BPC 157 and TB4. Of the patients who received both peptides, 75% showed significant improvement, but 25% had no relief of their knee pain. Overall, 14 of 16 patients (87.5%) had relief of their knee pain when BPC 157 or a combination of BPC 157 and TB4 was used.
CONCLUSION: This small study suggests that intra-articular injection of BPC-157 helps with multiple types of knee pain.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: BPC157 is a peptide with regenerative properties that can be used to relieve multiple types of knee pain.2,3 Future studies are needed to look at the different causes of knee pain with follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs) to document the peptide's benefits. BPC157 has the potential to repair tears, build cartilage and reduce the number of knee surgeries. Because of its reparative properties, treatment with BPC157 offers advantages over the use of steroids.
RESULTS: BPC157 is a peptide with regenerative properties that can be used to relieve multiple types of knee pain.2,3 Future studies are needed to look at the different causes of knee pain with follow-up MRIs to document the peptide's benefits. BPC157 has the potential to repair tears, build cartilage and reduce the number of knee surgeries. Because of its reparative properties, treatment with BPC157 offers advantages over the use of steroids.