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Training and recovery

Recovery peptides such as BPC-157, TB-500 and thymosin beta-4 are much talked about in training circles. Here you can see what the research has found, from animal studies to the first studies in humans.

A runner stretches on an athletics track

Peptides in this topic

All peptides
  • Thymosin beta-4Research compound

    A protein the body makes itself and uses to repair tissue. Tested in several placebo-controlled studies in humans with wounds and eye injuries.

    Controlled human trials
  • BPC-157Research compound

    A synthetic peptide based on a protein from gastric juice. Studied for the healing of tendons, ligaments and muscles, with many promising animal studies.

    Early human studies
  • CJC-1295 and ipamorelinResearch compound

    Two synthetic peptides that make the body release more of its own growth hormone. In studies in healthy adults, growth hormone levels rose two to ten times.

    Early human studies
  • TB-500Research compound

    A synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, a protein the body uses to repair tissue. Promising in animal studies of recovery and repair.

    Lab and animal studies

Why peptides come up in training circles

The body uses peptides when tissue needs repairing after injuries and hard training. They send signals that start the growth of new blood vessels, new cells and new connective tissue. This is why researchers are studying whether certain peptides can help tendons, muscles and wounds heal faster.

What the research has found

BPC-157

BPC-157 is based on a protein from gastric juice. A systematic review from 2025 gathered 36 studies on muscle and bone injuries. In the animal studies, healing of muscles, tendons, ligaments and bone improved.[1] The first studies in humans have reported less pain.[2] Read about BPC-157

Thymosin beta-4 and TB-500

Thymosin beta-4 is a protein the body itself uses to repair tissue, and TB-500 is a short fragment of it. In animal studies, both promote the growth of new blood vessels and tissue repair.[3] Thymosin beta-4 has also been tested against placebo in humans. In a study of corneal wounds, the wound had fully healed in 6 of 10 people with thymosin beta-4 eye drops, against 1 of 8 with placebo.[4] Read about thymosin beta-4

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin

These two peptides make the body release more of its own growth hormone. In studies in healthy adults, growth hormone levels rose 2 to 10 times after a single injection of CJC-1295.[5] Read about CJC-1295 and ipamorelin

Exercise and the body's own peptides

Exercise itself sets the body's own peptides to work. In humans, production of MOTS-c rises during exercise, and in mice MOTS-c improved physical performance at every age.[6]

Do you compete in sport?

If you compete, our anti-doping page explains how each peptide fits with sport, so you can train with confidence.

Questions and answers

Which recovery peptide is best studied in humans?

Thymosin beta-4 has been tested in several placebo-controlled studies in humans, with signs of faster healing of wounds and corneal injuries. The others have promising results in animal studies.

Are BPC-157 and TB-500 the same?

No. BPC-157 is based on a protein from gastric juice, while TB-500 is a short fragment of thymosin beta-4.

What is the Wolverine stack?

It is the name for the combination of BPC-157 and TB-500. We go through the research on each substance in our article on the Wolverine stack.

Sources

  1. [1]

    Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, et al. Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS J. 2025.

    PMID 40756949DOIMeta-analysis

  2. [2]

    Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021.

    PMID 34324435Observational study · n = 16

  3. [3]

    Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, et al. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. Am J Sports Med. 2026.

    PMID 41476424DOIReview

  4. [4]

    Sosne G, Kleinman HK, Springs C, et al. 0.1% RGN-259 (Thymosin ß4) Ophthalmic Solution Promotes Healing and Improves Comfort in Neurotrophic Keratopathy Patients in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Masked Phase III Clinical Trial. Int J Mol Sci. 2022.

    PMID 36613994DOIRCT · n = 18 · Funding or ties: ReGenTree.

  5. [5]

    Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006.

    PMID 16352683DOIRCT

  6. [6]

    Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021.

    PMID 33473109DOIAnimal study · Funding or ties: CohBar.