Gut Health
Research compounds studied for gut lining repair, intestinal permeability reduction, and inflammatory bowel conditions. Many effective via oral route - no injections required.
Most researched for Gut Health
BPC-157
The most referenced gut healing peptide with a unique advantage: it survives digestion and acts directly on the gut lining when taken orally. Research shows accelerated healing of gastric ulcers, intestinal fistulas, and IBD-related damage. The oral route makes it the most accessible entry point for gut health research - no injections needed for gut-specific applications.
BPC-157
aka Body Protection Compound-157, BPC157, stable gastric pentadecapeptide
How it works: An oral form of BPC-157 that survives stomach acid to act directly on the gut lining, studied for ulcers, IBD, and leaky gut.
GI tract healing (primary); gastric ulcer; IBD; leaky gut; esophageal repair
Research dose
500-1000 mcg, Once or twice daily (oral)
Real-world (reported)
500 mcg oral 1–2×/day. Can swallow injectable powder. Fasted for broader systemic; with meals for GI mucosal.
Administration
Oral
Timing
Fasted for systemic attempt; with meals for GI mucosal targeting
Cycle length
4–12 weeks
Real-world figures are community-reported, not medical advice.
Common side effects: Generally well tolerated orally; mild nausea at very high doses
Community take: [ANECDOTAL] Very popular oral form for GI. Community: oral = GI targeting; SubQ = systemic. Many use both simultaneously.
- Onset
- GI improvement 1–2 wks; mucosal healing 4–8 wks
- Half-life
- Hours (GI tract)
- Storage
- Dry: Capsules: room temp; dry. Loose powder: fridge. · Reconstituted: N/A once swallowed
- Reconstitution
- Injectable powder swallowable (stable in stomach acid) or use pre-formulated capsules
- Rare side effects
- Same theoretical tumor concern as injectable; no oral-specific serious adverse events
- Contraindications
- Active malignancy; pregnancy; same as injectable
- Drug interactions
- No significant interactions
- Recommended bloodwork
- GI symptom assessments; stool calprotectin; CRP
- Stacks well with
- KPV: anti-inflammatory gut synergy. Larazotide: tight junction complement.
- Secondary uses
- Systemic healing via oral (debated efficacy vs SubQ for non-GI targets)
- Research status
- Same evidence as parenteral BPC-157 + oral rat GI studies; human oral community protocols established
- FDA status
- No
- Legal status
- US: Research use only; PCAC July 2026 (same compound) · UK: Legal for research · Canada: Legal research chemical · Australia: Schedule 4 · EU: Unregulated
- Typical price
- $30–$60 / 30-cap bottle (500 mcg each)
Larazotide Acetate
aka AT-1001, Larazotide, AT-1001, INN-202
How it works: Directly tightens intestinal tight junctions to reduce leaky gut and prevent passage of antigens.
Leaky gut reduction; celiac adjunct; intestinal barrier restoration
Research dose
0.25-2 mg, 3×/day before meals
Real-world (reported)
0.5–1 mg oral 3×/day before meals. Cycle 8–12 wks.
Administration
Oral
Timing
Before each meal
Cycle length
8–12 weeks
Real-world figures are community-reported, not medical advice.
Common side effects: Generally well tolerated in Phase 2; mild nausea; headache
Community take: [ANECDOTAL] Growing use for leaky gut, food sensitivities, celiac. Phase 2 data reassuring.
- Onset
- Gut permeability improvement 2–4 wks
- Half-life
- Hours (enteric)
- Storage
- Dry: Room temperature; dry
- Reconstitution
- N/A (oral)
- Rare side effects
- Limited long-term data beyond Phase 2
- Contraindications
- Active gut obstruction; pregnancy; Not established -- larazotide is investigational with no formal contraindication; Patients without confirmed celiac disease were not studied and should not extrap; No drug-drug interactions have been identified. Larazotide acts locally in the g
- Drug interactions
- No significant interactions
- Recommended bloodwork
- Intestinal permeability (lactulose/mannitol); stool zonulin; GI symptoms; calprotectin
- Stacks well with
- BPC-157: leaky gut synergy. KPV: anti-inflammatory gut complement.
- Secondary uses
- IBD; food sensitivity; systemic inflammatory conditions from gut permeability
- Research status
- Phase 2 celiac trials completed (ImmunsanT); no FDA approval
- FDA status
- No
- Legal status
- US: Research use only; Phase 2 completed; no FDA approval · UK: Legal for research · Canada: Legal research chemical · Australia: Schedule 4 · EU: Unregulated
- Typical price
- $40–$100 / month supply
- Research evidence
- moderate
- Indications
- Adjunctive treatment for celiac disease symptoms despite gluten-free diet; Reduction of intestinal permeability (investigational); Potential applications in other conditions involving tight junction dysfunction
- Chemical data
- CAS 881851-50-9 · C34H59N9O12 · 785.9 Da
- Amino acids
- 47 aa
LL-37
aka Cathelicidin, Cathelicidin, CAMP, CAP-18
How it works: An antimicrobial host defense peptide that kills pathogens directly and recruits immune cells to sites of infection.
Antimicrobial (bacteria, fungi, viruses); immune modulation; wound healing
Research dose
0.1-1 mg, Variable; 1–3×/day or every other day
Real-world (reported)
Very limited community protocols — 0.25–0.5 mg SubQ daily or 3×/week.
Administration
SubQ / Topical
Timing
Any time
Cycle length
4–8 weeks
Real-world figures are community-reported, not medical advice.
Common side effects: Cytokine-like effects at high doses; injection-site reactions; headache
Community take: [ANECDOTAL] Very limited gray-market use. Niche antimicrobial/immune application. Most community experience from wound healing application.
- Onset
- Antimicrobial effects rapid; immune modulation 1–4 wks
- Half-life
- Hours
- Storage
- Dry: Fridge 2–8°C; freeze long-term; very light and heat sensitive · Reconstituted: Refrigerate; use within 14 days (less stable than most)
- Reconstitution
- Add 1 mL BAC water to 1 mg vial = 1 mg/mL
- Rare side effects
- Pro-inflammatory effects at high systemic doses; cytokine storm potential (theoretical)
- Contraindications
- Active autoimmune disease; pregnancy; cancer (angiogenic potential); Active psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (LL-37 forms complexes with self-DNA/RNA; Systemic lupus erythematosus or NET-driven autoimmune conditions; Active rosacea (cathelicidin dysregulation is implicated in rosacea pathogenesis; Mast cell-mediated disorders or history of anaphylactoid reactions
- Drug interactions
- Immunosuppressants
- Recommended bloodwork
- CBC; CRP; cytokine panel if concerns
- Stacks well with
- KPV: gut healing combo. BPC-157: wound healing stack.
- Secondary uses
- Anti-inflammatory; anti-biofilm; potential anti-cancer
- Research status
- Preclinical extensive; some Phase 1/2 human trials; FDA PCAC review pending; limited gray-market protocols
- FDA status
- No
- Legal status
- US: Research use only; PCAC review pending · UK: Legal for research · Canada: Legal research chemical · Australia: Schedule 4 · EU: Unregulated
- Typical price
- $50–$150 / 1 mg vial
- Research evidence
- low
- Indications
- Antimicrobial peptide research; Innate immunity and host defense studies; Wound healing and tissue repair investigations; Anti-biofilm research
- Chemical data
- CAS 154947-66-7 · C205H340N60O53 · 4493.4 Da
- Amino acids
- 37 aa
KPV
aka Lys-Pro-Val, alpha-MSH C-terminal tripeptide, KPV tripeptide
How it works: Blocks NF-kB inflammatory signaling pathways to reduce chronic inflammation.
GI inflammation; IBD/Crohn's; leaky gut; systemic anti-inflammatory
Research dose
250-1000 mcg, Once or twice daily
Real-world (reported)
500 mcg oral or SubQ daily for GI. SubQ for systemic anti-inflammatory.
Administration
SubQ / Oral
Timing
Any time
Cycle length
4–8 weeks
Real-world figures are community-reported, not medical advice.
Common side effects: Generally well tolerated; mild injection-site reactions
Community take: [ANECDOTAL] Growing use for IBD, leaky gut, Crohn's. Oral route popular for GI targeting. 'BPC-157 for the gut but with immune modulation added.'
- Onset
- GI effects within days; anti-inflammatory effects 1–2 wks
- Half-life
- Minutes
- Storage
- Dry: Fridge 2–8°C; freeze long-term · Reconstituted: Refrigerate; use within 28 days
- Reconstitution
- Add 1 mL BAC water to 1 mg vial = 1 mg/mL; 500 mcg dose = 50 IU
- Rare side effects
- Limited long-term human safety data
- Contraindications
- Active malignancy (MC1R expressed in melanoma); pregnancy; Immunosuppressed states (theoretical - NF-kB inhibition may further compromise i; Pregnancy (no reproductive or developmental toxicity data available)Frequency di; Immunosuppressants (theoretical additive immunosuppression through overlapping N; NF-kB pathway drugs (theoretical pharmacodynamic interaction with agents targeti
- Drug interactions
- No significant documented interactions
- Recommended bloodwork
- GI symptom assessment (IBD activity scores); CRP; stool biomarkers (calprotectin)
- Stacks well with
- BPC-157: gut healing stack. LL-37: antimicrobial complement for gut infections.
- Secondary uses
- Wound healing; skin inflammation; immune modulation
- Research status
- Preclinical robust; some human cell studies; Phase 1/2 ongoing; FDA PCAC July 2026
- FDA status
- No
- Legal status
- US: Research use only; PCAC July 2026 · UK: Legal for research · Canada: Legal research chemical · Australia: Schedule 4 · EU: Unregulated
- Typical price
- $30–$60 / 1 mg vial
- Research evidence
- very-low
- Indications
- Inflammatory bowel disease research; Mucosal inflammation studies; Gut barrier function research; Anti-inflammatory peptide research
- Chemical data
- CAS 67727-97-3 · C16H30N4O4 · 342.4 Da
- Amino acids
- 11 aa
VIP
aka Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, VIP Peptide, PHM-27
How it works: A natural signaling peptide that widens blood vessels, opens airways, calms inflammation, and supports gut and circadian function.
POTS/dysautonomia (emerging); mast cell activation; pulmonary arterial hypertension (VPAC agonism); immune modulation
Research dose
50-200 pmol/kg/min (IV); or 50–200 mcg SubQ, Variable by indication
Real-world (reported)
100 mcg SubQ 1×/day — extremely limited community protocol. Most use via clinic/IV administration.
Administration
SubQ / IV (clinical)
Timing
Any time
Cycle length
Per protocol
Real-world figures are community-reported, not medical advice.
Common side effects: Facial flushing; hypotension; nausea (dose-dependent); GI effects
Community take: [ANECDOTAL] Very limited community experience due to instability and dosing complexity. Used by some POTS/dysautonomia community with reported benefit.
- Onset
- Variable by indication
- Half-life
- Very short (~1 min IV; longer SubQ)
- Storage
- Dry: Freeze –20°C; very labile; protect from all light and heat · Reconstituted: Refrigerate; use IMMEDIATELY after reconstitution; discard remaining
- Reconstitution
- Add 1 mL BAC water to 0.2 mg vial; very low doses used
- Rare side effects
- Significant hypotension; bronchospasm (rare); rapid degradation → use within minutes
- Contraindications
- Hypotension; cardiovascular disease; pregnancy; Severe hypotension or hemodynamic instability; Decompensated heart failure (risk of further vasodilation and fluid shifts); Pregnancy (insufficient safety data; VIP has roles in reproductive biology that; Antihypertensive medications (ACE inhibitors; ARBs; calcium channel blockers; be
- Drug interactions
- Antihypertensives (additive hypotension)
- Recommended bloodwork
- BP and HR monitoring; cardiac evaluation baseline
- Stacks well with
- BPC-157: GI healing complement. SS-31: mitochondrial/cardiac synergy.
- Secondary uses
- GI motility; neuroprotection; anti-inflammatory; sleep regulation
- Research status
- Multiple Phase 2 human trials (PAH — Aviptadil; POTS; COVID-19 respiratory); Aviptadil (FDA Breakthrough Therapy for COVID-19 ARDS 2020)
- FDA status
- No
- Legal status
- US: Research use only; Aviptadil had FDA Breakthrough Therapy (COVID-19 ARDS) · UK: Legal for research · Canada: Legal research chemical · Australia: Schedule 4 · EU: Unregulated
- Typical price
- $100–$500 / 0.2 mg (limited supply)
- Research evidence
- low
- Indications
- Pulmonary hypertension research; Neuroprotection studies; Inflammatory bowel disease research; Circadian biology research
- Chemical data
- CAS 37221-79-7 · C147H237N43O43S1 · 3326.8 Da
- Amino acids
- 111 aa
Example stacks
Gut Health - Beginner
Oral BPC-157 is the most accessible gut healing protocol - no injection required. Survives digestion and acts directly on the gut lining.
- • Take on empty stomach - 30 min before food or 2 hrs after
- • Keep a symptom diary
- • Be patient - improvements start at 3-4 weeks
Gut Health - Intermediate
BPC-157 repairs the gut lining while KPV targets inflammatory signaling. Both oral - a fully injectable-free protocol.
- • Take BPC-157 fasted and KPV any time
- • KPV is especially useful for IBD and autoimmune component
- • Eliminate known dietary triggers
Community outcome data
Collected from users researching this goal. Not a clinical database - for general reference only.
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For educational and research purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any research compound.