Key Takeaways:
- The natural science behind injury recovery and its pain points
- How peptides may help the body’s recovery process
- Peptides used for injury recovery in research
- Understanding the potential limitations
Introduction
Recovering from a physical injury is usually a lengthy process that requires time and patience. There’s no question that this process can hinder daily life, which is why researchers have been looking at peptides, like the bpc 157 peptide, to help accelerate the healing process.
Various studies and approaches have shown that there are several peptides that can offer a wide range of benefits, though they are still being studied by researchers and scientists alike.
It’s important to point out that experimental peptides are commonly discussed alongside SARMs, but they have many unique benefits independent of SARMs.
The most common bodily injuries pertain to muscle and connective tissue, which are known for slower repair rates due to limited blood supply, and undergo various stages throughout the healing process, including inflammation, regeneration of new cells, and eventually remodeling.
Peptides have shown effectiveness in many studies for enhancing natural healing to minimize downtime and speed up the recovery process. Some peptides help with sleep patterns which way augment recovery as well.
Enter peptides – chains of amino acids naturally produced to promote natural healing. There are many different peptides, and this guide explores how they work and which of them work best for injury recovery.
Using Peptides for Injury Recovery
Peptides have shown clinical effectiveness in a wide variety of bodily functions – whereas some operate as necessary hormones, others may work as neurotransmitters.
Peptides, in general, give cells and molecules instructions by binding to receptors on the cell’s surface.
Researchers are actively exploring the efficiency of experimental peptides. A study released in 2017, consisting of 80 subjects with micro-injuries to the skeletal muscle, showed that those who received these peptides healed more quickly than those who did not.
It’s important to note that this test group consisted of teens, and their bodies are generally capable of healing more quickly on their own.
Aging plays a significant role in a body’s ability to heal due to the decline of growth hormones, and peptides may help with the lack of these hormones.
Bodies use growth hormones to rejuvenate joints and muscle fibers and form new cells. Not all peptides offer the same benefits – some are more effective than others, depending on the type of injury or disease being studied.
Different Types of Experimental Peptides
It’s essential to understand the differences in peptides and where they work best to get the most out of what peptides have to offer for ongoing research.
Regarding the different types of healing peptides, some have much more research that supports their benefits and applications. More research is needed to validate the claims below, but listed is what current research states:
TB500
This healing peptide is known for its versatile and mobile molecular structure.
Research from the National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown that it can quickly locate injuries within the body and promote the healing and growth of tissue in numerous ways, including reducing inflammation, alleviating muscle injury, promoting cell growth, improving muscle flexibility, and boosting growth rates.
BPC 157
This peptide derives from a protective protein that naturally occurs in the stomach. Used as an anti-inflammatory, BPC 157 may offer protective effects to numerous areas of the body outside of the stomach and intestinal tract.
These notable healing benefits include blood flow stimulation, improving organ damage, reducing fibrosis, and healing bones, joints, and tendons, according to an NIH study.
Ipamorelin
Aimed at bone health and body composition, ipamorelin peptide is known for its anti-aging properties. It’s also noted for its minimal side effects and potential to help increase muscle mass while aiding fat loss.
Some of this peptide’s many benefits, according to a recent report, include aiding muscle growth, assisting in the function of the GI tract, and improving overall bone health.
These peptides have shown promise in promoting injury recovery from multiple angles, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely flawless.
Some aspects of peptides come with limitations, depending on certain circumstances. Many of these claims are still being tested by scientists and researchers alike as peptides for healing purposes are not yet approved by the FDA. Ipamorelin is one of several different growth hormone secretagogues, to learn more see our review of GHRP6 vs MK 677 vs Ipamorelin.
The Limitations of Peptides
Research demonstrates that providing the body with active peptides can promote the synthesis of necessary proteins, but its effectiveness isn’t universal.
A good example of this is a lack of dietary control. Small sample numbers and inconsistent diets hindered the reliability of several studies.
Peptides are amino acid chains that become proteins if the chain consists of fifty amino acids. Research is still underway to further understand what healing peptides are capable of and where their limitations might stand.
Their current known healing benefits are actively being studied by those dealing with injury recovery, especially with the musculoskeletal system in clinical studies. Peptides that aid in wound healing will be able to assist those recovering from minor injuries and surgery in the future.
Healing peptides must be appropriately used to achieve the desirable effects. Studies continue to demonstrate the acute benefits of peptide administration when dealing with muscle injuries, recovery, and performance setbacks.
Future investigations of peptide use should study the effects on the immune system.
It’s important to note that the results of peptides in research are bound to vary based on when and how they’re used and various other factors, depending on the individual test subject.
Learn More from the Experts
There’s no doubt that this topic can be somewhat confusing if you don’t know where to start.
Talking with the right professionals can provide a clear perspective on what peptides are and how they work for injury recovery, so it’s important that you contact your healthcare provider for further information on peptides for injury recovery as these are experimental compounds and should be used for clinical research purposes only.
For those who want to buy peptides, the experts at Sports Technology Labs have many of these products available now, and all third party tested for purity, so contact them today with any questions.
Scientific References:
1. Li C, Yang Z. Evaluation of supplementing active peptide’s effect on recovering skeletal muscle micro-injury after track and field exercises. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Jan;30(1 Suppl):253-256. PMID: 28625951.
2. Seiwerth, S., Brcic, L., Batelja Vuletic, L., Kolenc, D., Aralica, G., Misic, M., … & Sikiric, P. (2014). BPC 157 and blood vessels. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 20(7), 1121-1125.
3. DeFife, K. M., Grako, K., Cruz-Aranda, G., Price, S., Chantung, R., Macpherson, K., … & Turnell, W. G. (2009). Poly (ester amide) co-polymers promote blood and tissue compatibility. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 20(11), 1495-1511.
4. Wilson, R. P. (2003). Amino acids and proteins. In Fish nutrition (pp. 143-179). Academic press.
5. Wang, F., He, Y., Yao, N., Ruan, L., & Tian, Z. (2022). Thymosin β4 Protects against Cardiac Damage and Subsequent Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice with Myocardial Infarction. Cardiovascular Therapeutics, 2022.
6. Stacy, J. J., Terrell, T. R., & Armsey, T. D. (2004). Ergogenic aids: human growth hormone. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 3, 229-233.
7. Li-Chan, E. C. (2015). Bioactive peptides and protein hydrolysates: research trends and challenges for application as nutraceuticals and functional food ingredients. Current Opinion in Food Science, 1, 28-37.