Study
This research tested if BPC 157, a peptide compound, could heal both stomach ulcers and skin wounds at the same time. The researchers compared BPC 157 to standard ulcer medications (atropine, ranitidine, and omeprazole). The study found BPC 157 worked better than the standard treatments. BPC 157 healed both the skin and stomach faster, even when the healing process was made worse by steroids. The standard medications took longer to work and only helped heal either the skin or stomach individually, not both at once.
The study suggests BPC 157 could be a treatment option for people with non-healing wounds and persistent stomach ulcers. However, this was a rat study and more research would be needed before use in humans.
Research Methods
The researchers:
- Created small holes (fistulas) connecting the stomach and skin in rats
- Made 2mm holes in the stomach and 3mm holes in the skin
- Gave different groups of rats:
- BPC 157 in drinking water or by injection
- Standard ulcer medications (atropine, ranitidine, omeprazole)
- Steroid medication to make healing worse
- Measured healing over 21 days
- Tested the strength of healed tissue
- Examined tissue samples under microscope
- Tested if healed fistulas leaked when stomach was filled with water
Publication Details
- Title: Therapy for unhealed gastrocutaneous fistulas in rats as a model for analogous healing of persistent skin wounds and persistent gastric ulcers: stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, atropine, ranitidine, and omeprazole
- Researchers: Sandra Skorjanec et al.
- Publication: Digestive Diseases and Sciences
- Publication date: January 2009
- PMID: 18649140
- DOI: 10.1007/s10620-008-0332-9
- Source URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18649140/