Comparison
BPC-157 vs TUDCA
Side-by-side of BPC-157 and TUDCA. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
BPC-157
BPC-157 peptide profile: pentadecapeptide body protection compound 157. Preclinical data on tendon, gut healing, recovery. No human RCTs as of 2026.
TUDCA
TUDCA is the taurine-conjugated form of ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile-acid molecule with replicated effects on liver function, ER stress, and bile flow.
Effects at a glance
BPC-157
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon-to-bone and ligament healing after surgical or chemical injury
- •Rodent studies report mucosal protection and faster recovery from NSAID-induced and colitis-induced gut damage
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 250 to 500 mcg twice daily subcutaneously near the injury site
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026, so efficacy and long-term safety remain unestablished
- •Banned by WADA since 2022 under the S0 non-approved substances category for competitive athletes
- •Theoretical angiogenic concern means avoidance is prudent in active malignancy until human data exists
TUDCA
- •Bile-acid molecule (taurine-conjugated UDCA) with chemical chaperone activity at the endoplasmic reticulum
- •Established pharmaceutical use for cholestasis and primary biliary cholangitis at 500-750 mg/day
- •Reduces ER stress and stabilizes misfolded proteins; the mechanistic basis for emerging ALS / retinal applications
- •Modest improvements in NAFLD markers and insulin sensitivity at 500-1,750 mg/day in small trials
- •Mitochondrial protection signal in animal models drives the longevity-supplement positioning
- •Generally well-tolerated; mild GI effects are the main dose-dependent issue
Side-by-side
| Attribute | BPC-157 | TUDCA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | supplement |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurine-conjugated UDCA |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.25 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | daily (anecdotal protocols) | daily, divided into 2 doses with food |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | - | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 2 |
| Molecular weight | - | 499.7 |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C26H45NO6S |
| Mechanism | Proposed upregulation of VEGFR2 and nitric oxide pathways, modulation of growth-hormone receptor expression, and stabilization of gut-brain axis signaling. Mechanism remains largely preclinical. | Bile-acid signaling via FXR/TGR5 receptors; chemical chaperone reducing ER stress and unfolded protein response; mitochondrial protection through reduced outer-membrane permeabilization. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) | OTC dietary supplement (US); pharmaceutical in Italy and several Asian countries |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | OTC supplement |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Insufficient data for supplement use; UDCA used in cholestasis of pregnancy |
| CAS | 137525-51-0 | 14605-22-2 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 9848818 |
| Wikidata | Q4835418 | Q418751 |
Safety profile
BPC-157
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- nausea
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established safety profile in humans
TUDCA
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- diarrhea (dose-dependent)
- constipation (rare)
- nausea
Contraindications
- complete biliary obstruction
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient supplement-dose data)
- active GI disease without medical supervision
Interactions
- cyclosporine, oral contraceptives, fat-soluble vitamins: modest absorption changes via altered bile-acid pool(minor)
- phenylbutyrate: synergistic for ALS use (Relyvrio combination); consult clinician(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
TUDCA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. BPC-157 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick TUDCA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick TUDCA.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, TUDCA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: TUDCA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for BPC-157 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between BPC-157 and TUDCA?
BPC-157 and TUDCA differ in category (peptide vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, BPC-157 or TUDCA?
BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours; TUDCA half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack BPC-157 with TUDCA?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper