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BPC-157 | A potential breakthrough in injury repair
Studies suggest that BPC-157 may be beneficial in protecting organs - especially the stomach - and assisting with the healing of various injuries. Because of this many athletes are turning to BPC-157 to help recover from injury. In this article we examine the evidence for BPC-157, for what it is most useful, and the effective dosage.
What is BPC-157?
Studies suggest that BPC-157 may be beneficial in protecting organs - especially the stomach - and assisting with the healing of various injuries. Because of this many athletes are turning to BPC-157 to help recover from injury.
BPC-157, also known as Bepecin, is a synthetic peptide. A peptide is a small chain of amino acids, BPC-157 consists of a sequence of 15 amino acids. BPC-157 is derived from a protective protein found in human stomachs. As it is not found in nature it is considered ‘synthetic’, however it is derived from ‘natural’ components.
What evidence is there that it works?
The animal studies on BPC-157 appear very promising, it shows potential as a therapy to aid recovery in soft tissues, tendons and ligaments. In these same studies very few negative side effects have been observed, however these are not human studies, so caution should be exercised when extrapolating these results onto humans. Extra care should be exercised if consuming BPC-157 as the potential for negative side effects in humans is not fully understood (1).
For tendon and ligament repair
Due to low blood circulation, tendons and ligaments tend to not heal very well. In one study, the Achilles tendon in rats was cut and BPC-157 was administered to these rats. Healing in the group of rats administered BPC-157 was significantly improved compared to a control group (2). Another studs found similar results when the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of rats was cut and BPC-157 was administered (3).
Further studies have also demonstrated BPC-157 helps with tendon to bone repair (4).
For skeletal muscle healing
Skeletal muscle is the muscle we use in voluntary movement – and that which is most commonly injured in sports. It is one of the 3 major muscle groups, the other two being cardiac muscle (the muscle in the heart) and smooth muscle (muscle which is not under conscious control, such as those lining our intestines).
In another rat study, the quadricep muscle in rats was cut and BPC-157 was administered. The rats given BPC-157 again showed significant improvements in healing (5).
In addition to healing muscle injury from trauma, studies suggest that BPC-157 may also be effective in healing other systemic muscle problems. Muscle wasting and damage can be caused by many factors including infection, certain diseases or medications. For example stomach lesions can be caused by taking too much ibuprofen.
Various animal studies have demonstrated BPC-157’s ability to assist in muscle repair processes in the instance of:
· Stomach lesions (6)
· Potassium overdose (7)
· Inflammatory bowel disease (8)
· Overdose of anesthetic (9)
· Magnesium overdose (10)
· Weight loss in cancer patients (11)
How does it work?
It is still not fully understood how BPC-157 works however it is believed to act on a number of pathways, including the nitric oxide pathway (12) , the FAK-paxillan pathway (13), and upregulation of growth hormone receptors (14).
What are the risks?
There is no known toxicity level for BPC-157 and significant negative side-effects have not been observed. In addition BPC-157 is derived from human gastric juices and therefore is potentially safer that other peptides or drugs which are derived from non-human sources. However caution should still be exercised.
There are only a small number of studies on BPC-157 and almost all of these have been performed in rodents, so the risks for humans are not known. The mechanism of action is also not fully understood.
Some concern has been raised that some peptides and growth factors may promote cancerous tumor growth, however no evidence has been shown to suggest this is the case with BPC-157. In addition BPC-157 has been shown to inhibit and counteract several tumor lines (15).
how is it taken?
BPC-157 can be purchased in many forms, as an injection, a cream and as a tablet.
One study compared the effectiveness of injection versus a local treatment using a cream. Both treatments were administered to two different groups of rats who had their muscles crushed, both methods of treatment proved effective (16). Additionally BPC-157 appears to be effective when taken by mouth (17).
BPC-157 is usually taken daily therefore taking by mouth is preferred by most. It avoids the need for a daily injection - and the associated risks which come with any injection - such as pain at the site of injection or possible infection.
The oral dose which was effective in rats translates to approximately 100-200ug for a person per day.
REFERENCES
1) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00441-019-03016-8
2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14554208/
3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20225319/
4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16583442/
5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16609979/
6) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0928425799001205
7) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23327997/
8) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24304574/
9) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27060013/
10) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28210905/
11) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29898649/
12) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23755725/
13) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21030672/
14) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25415472/
Cycloastragenol – a revolutionary anti-aging drug or a cancer risk?
Cycloastragenol (CAG) has been heralded by some as a miracle anti-aging agent. Early studies appear promising, showing it has the ability to increase telomere length, however there is a still a lack of quality peer-reviewed research. In addition, there is some concern that taking CAG may increase the risk of certain cancers. In this article we will discuss what CAG is, how it works and the latest findings as to its efficacy and risks.
Cycloastragenol (CAG) has been heralded by some as a miracle anti-aging agent. Early studies appear promising, showing it has the ability to increase telomere length, however there is a still a lack of quality peer-reviewed research. In addition, there is some concern that taking CAG may increase the risk of certain cancers. In this article we will discuss what CAG is, how it works and the latest findings as to its efficacy and risks.
What is Cycloastragenol?
CAG is a molecule derived from Astragalus membranaceus herb. The Astragalus herb has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The Chinese claimed that Astragalus can prolong life and it has been used it to treat fatigue, allergies, colds, heart disease and diabetes.
CAG is one of the active ingredients in Astragalus.
Astragalus used in Chinese medicine is one of the primary sources of CAG.
What are telomeres?
Telomeres are sequences of repeated genetic code located on the end of DNA strands.
Each time a cell divides, our DNA is copied from the old cell to the new cell. As the DNA is copied a small part of the DNA is lost from the end of the DNA strand. The telomere is the sacrificial end of the DNA strand. Each time our cells divide a part of the telomere is lost and the telomere becomes shorter.
When the telomere ends get too short, the DNA can no longer be copied and the cell refuses to divide any further. The average length of telomeres is a good indicator of biological age in most organisms (shorter = older).
Our cells divide for many reasons one of which is to replace damaged and dead cells. Our skin cells are constantly dividing as we lose approximately 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells every minute!
The number of times each cell can divide is limited. The average cell will divide between 30 to 90 times before cell death. Once this limit is reached, the cell will no longer divide, thus in theory the ability for that tissue to grow or heal would be greatly reduced, potentially leading to typical signs of aging.
Fortunately, cells have the ability to secrete an enzyme called telomerase, which can add telomeres back to the ends of the DNA. When telomerase causes telomers to become longer, it leads to the turning back of the age-clock (1).
Telomeres are the “protective caps” on the end of DNA
How does CAG work?
CAG is well absorbed by the body as it can pass through and be absorbed by the intestine. It later undergoes further metabolism in the liver.
Extensive pharmacological properties have been attributed to CAG. It activates the telomerase enzyme and consequently may causes telomere elongation, it produces anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative actions and is also reported to support healthy lipid metabolism (2).
CAG’s ability to induce telomere elongation is one of the main reasons CAG has generated so much excitement in the anti-aging community. In mice premature aging has been reversed through increased telomerase production (3).
What are the benefits of CAG?
The elongation of telomeres would allow each cell to last longer and also support the body's ability to produce new cells through more cell divisions (4). This would enable the body to replace dead and damaged cells for longer, potentially reducing aging.
Clinical research studies have demonstrated that CAG can activate telomerase in humans (5). These properties of CAG led to the belief that CAG could be used as an antiaging agent.
Later research studies were focused primarily on assessing whether CAG could actually defy the signs of aging. In various studies CAG has been shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, boost immunity and improve vision (6), (7), (8).
While these studies demonstrate CAG may be beneficial in increasing healthspan, no studies have yet conclusively demonstrated CAG’s ability to extend lifespan in humans.
Is CAG safe?
There is some concern that CAG may increase the risk of cancer. Critically short telomeres lead to apoptosis (cell death), in the case of cancer this would be a good thing! By preventing shortening of telomeres, the bodies ability to induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is affected. Apoptosis is the body’s natural defense mechanism that can help to kill the abnormal cancer cells selectively (9).
In fact, telomeres are already elongated by telomerase enzyme in nearly 80% of tumors, that is one of the reasons they are so hard to kill (10). Elongation of telomeres due to telomerase could in theory prevent the destruction of cancer cells thereby contributing to tumor growth.
Apoptosis, is the death of cells which is a normal and natural part of development
A lawsuit has been filed by an employee against the manufactures of a well-known CAG product.
The employee, Egan, was hired by Patton in May 2011 to help expand the reach of Telomerase Activation Sciences in foreign markets. Telomerase Activation Sciences sells a supplement called TA-65, which is claimed to elongate short telomeres.
Egan was asked to take these pills twice a day. However, later, on 14 September, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which, according to the lawsuit filed by Egan, could be due to TA-65.
However, research studies have not been able to establish any cancer risk associated with the use of CAG. Laboratory research studies in animals have shown that CAG does not induce any genotoxic or toxic effect. In a research study, the administration of CAG to rats for 3 months did not show any rise in the incidence of cancer (11).
This indicates that while physiological processes involved in cell division do suggest that CAG could cause cancer, there has been no clinical evidence to prove this claim.
Conclusion
CAG looks like a promising anti-aging compound. While it has not been proven to increase lifespan yet it has been shown to reduce various age associated biomarkers. In addition it has been shown to reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. It may also reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, retinopathies, and cataracts.
However, it is advisable to not ignore the potential risk of cancer. Careful evaluation of the safety of CAG through further long-term scientific studies is required. Anyone with a personal or family history of cancer may be advised to avoid CAG until more long-term safety studies have been conducted.
References:
14 ways to improve your sleep
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health, arguably more important than diet or exercise. Poor sleep has been linked with weight gain, heart disease, increased risk of infection, diabetes, reduced sex drive, memory problems, cancer, depression and ultimately death!
7/10 people have difficulty sleeping at least one night per week (1). If you are reading this article then chances are you do too.
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health, arguably more important than diet or exercise. Poor sleep has been linked with a range of health problems including weight gain (2), heart disease (3), increased risk of infection (4), diabetes (5), reduced sex drive (6), memory problems and Alzheimer’s (7), cancer (8), depression (9) and ultimately death (10)!
This article outlines various methods which have been shown to improve sleep. Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all solution however experimenting with various approaches below should help you get a better nights rest.
Fix your diet
Avoid sugar
High sugar intake has been associated with lighter, less restorative sleep and more awakenings during the night (11). This can lead to a viscous cycle, when people are tired from lack of sleep, they tend to crave more junk food, so the cycle repeats (12). Try to avoid foods high in refined
sugar, especially before bed.
Avoid spice
Spicy food may also be a culprit in keeping you awake. Not all spicy food is to blame (some spices may help promote sleep) but chili and mustard have been shown to raise body temperature, which is the enemy of sleep.
The active ingredient capsaicin is the culprit (13). In addition too much spicy food can cause gastric disturbance, indigestion and can leave you feeling restless throughout the night.
Avoid alcohol
A glass of red wine might make you feel sleepy, and indeed alcohol can help people to fall asleep but several studies have shown alcohol reduces REM sleep. REM sleep is the stage of sleep when you are dreaming, and it is thought to be the restorative phase of sleep.
Alcohol also causes dehydration, and releases toxins into the body which can make you feel even worse in the morning.
In one study as little as one drink was shown to impair sleep quality. Moderate alcohol consumption lowered restorative sleep quality by 24% and a high alcohol intake by as much as 39% (14).
Change your behavior
Don’t do this!
Eliminate screens
Cell phones, television screens and computers all emit blue light. Blue light has been shown to reduce our body’s natural production of the sleep inducing hormone, melatonin.
A study of screen use before bed found screens emitting more blue light led to poorer sleep outcomes (15).
If you need to use a screen before bed,
try to activate the blue light filter, or wear
blue blockers (described below).
Try meditation
Is a racing mind keeping you up at night? Oftentimes when we lie in bed we start replaying the days events or we start worrying about the future.
Meditation helps focus the mind on the present, it helps us acknowledge and realize the thoughts and emotions which are causing us stress and anxiety.
It has been shown that meditation helps slow breathing and lower the heart rate (16), both of which help the body relax and fall asleep. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to be an effective way to promote sleep (17).
If you are new to meditation I suggest using a guided meditation, you can find a number guided meditations on YouTube or through apps such as Headspace, or Waking Up.
Read a book
Reading, like meditation refocuses the mind away from stressful thoughts and anxieties.
One study showed that reading a book for only 6 minutes reduced stress levels by 68% (18), which was more than listening to music, drinking tea or going for a walk.
Reading is also a good substitute for television and social media, which have been shown to expose viewers to blue light which is responsible for keeping them awake.
Change your environment
Reduce lighting
When humans are exposed to blue light, the body ceases to produce melatonin. This can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm. Exposure to blue light signals to the body that it should be awake. In one study exposure to even a dim light at night
was associated with decreased total
sleep time and sleep efficiency (19).
At least 2 hours before bed try to turn off as many lights as you can, use dim bulbs where possible and when sleeping try to eliminate all sources of light (cover any light coming from digital displays) and use blackout curtains if you have light coming from the window.
Control the temperature
A small change in temperature can have a drastic impact on sleep quality. A cooler environment can help promote sleep.
Interestingly when humans sleep our CORE body temperature drops, but our skin temperature actually increases. This happens because higher
skin blood flow helps helps cool the body.
One way to lower your core body temperature is to lower the temperature in your bedroom, also avoid strenuous exercise before bed. if you want to take it to the extreme, you can go to bed wearing nothing but socks and gloves! This can actually help lower your core temperature as it will stimulate the body to push blood to your extremities to stay warm, this will increase your skin temperature while cooling your core, it may look strange but it works.
Eliminate abrupt noise
Environmental noise is a significant cause of sleep disruption, the WHO published guidelines in 2009 stating that annual average night noise exposure should not exceed 40 decibels, similar to a quiet street in a residential area. Anyone exposed to higher levels than this is at risk from
adverse health effects (20).
Try to eliminate sources of noise where possible, if this can’t be done try earplugs or play some white-noise, white noise (as opposed to abrupt noises) can actually help calm the mind and promote restful sleep.
Try supplements
Melatonin - For jetlag
Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body, the primary responsibility of this hormone is to regulate our sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin levels rise in the body when darkness occurs, causing us to feel sleepy. Melatonin levels stay elevated during the night and fall to almost zero during the day.
One of the causes of jetlag is a disruption in the sleep-wake cycle. If jetlag is making it difficult to fall asleep then taking a melatonin at bedtime can help shift the sleep cycle earlier. Inversely if jetlag is causing you to wake early, taking melatonin upon waking can help you fall back to sleep and will also shift your sleep cycle later. The same is true for shiftworkers with disrupted sleep cycles.
Studies have shown melatonin can be an effective treatment to adjust the timing of sleep cycles in those affected by jetlag (21), and possibly for the treatment of insomnia. As a generic sleep aid for someone not experiencing jet lag or sleep cycle disruption melatonin has not been shown to be effective.
Glycine - For those looking for a mental boost
Glycine is an amino acid which your body uses to create proteins, the body naturally produces glycine from other amino acids and Glycine is found in protein rich foods. Glycine is also available as a dietary supplement.
It is believed Glycine induces sleep by reducing core body temperature, it does this by dilating the blood vessels in the periphery of the body, which results in heat loss (22). During a normal sleep cycle, sleep usually occurs when our core temperature is dropping, as it would after glycine supplementation.
Glycine has been shown to not only improve sleep quality but as a bonus it has also been shown to improve feelings of daytime sleepiness and improve performance of memory recognition tasks (23).
Valerian root - For the light sleeper
Valerian is a herb which is native to Europe and Asia, an extract of the root of the plant is commonly sold as a dietary supplement to promote sleep. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb to since Ancient Greece.
Many of the studies on valerian remain inconclusive and the exact mechanism by which valerian has its effects are not fully understood. It is believed that Valerian acts on the GABA receptors in the brain, similar to benzodiazepines (a commonly prescribed class of drugs for sleep and anxiety) (24).
A recent meta analysis of the various studies examining valerian as a sleep aid concluded that valerian might improve sleep quality (25).
Try these wearables
The Manta Sleep Mask takes it to a new level
Eye mask & earplugs
Noise and light can be very detrimental to sleep quality. Even if we are not fully woken background noise or residual light from a street lamp, clock radio or even the morning sun can significantly lower sleep quality. One study of patients in an intensive care unit showed that the use of earplugs and eye masks resulted in significantly more REM sleep, less
awakenings and elevated melatonin levels (26).
Felix Gray makes some trendy blue light blockers without the ugly orange lenses
Blue light blockers
Our bodies natural sleep cycles (the circadian rhythm) is regulated by the production of melatonin in the human body.
Studies have shown that melatonin production is suppressed when humans are exposed to blue light. In the natural world this makes sense, the sun goes down and the human body starts producing melatonin which helps induce sleep. Unfortunately today we are surrounded by artificial lighting which inhibits our bodies natural production of melatonin. In addition some studies suggest a link between exposure to light and an increase risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity (27).
Wearing blue light blocking glasses in the evening for a few hours before bed is one way to fool the brain into producing melatonin again. Wearing glasses in the evening may look strange but it’s probably a better option than lighting your whole apartment like a brothel.
References
https://www.consumerreports.org/sleep/why-americans-cant-sleep/
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/03/06/1216951110.abstract
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006899311014302
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/1788611
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/107/1/43/4794751#112507111
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07420528.2017.1324878
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/meditation-offers-significant-heart-benefits
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2110998
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html
health/noise/publications/2009/night-noise-guidelines-for-europe
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00262.x
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side