Training breaks tissue down; recovery is where adaptation happens. These are the compounds sports and orthopedic research keeps studying — repair, growth hormone pulse, and mitochondrial endurance.
Tested athletes: most peptides on this page — including all GH secretagogues — appear on the WADA prohibited list. If you compete under an anti-doping code, check the current WADA list before anything else.
BPC-157
Tendon, ligament & muscle repair
The go-to compound in sports-injury research discussion. Animal models show accelerated healing of transected Achilles tendon, quadriceps muscle and medial collateral ligament, with improved biomechanical strength at the repair site — the injuries that end seasons.
Key literature
• Krivic A. et al., J Orthop Res, 2006 — Achilles tendon-to-bone healing.
• Staresinic M. et al., "Effective therapy of transected quadriceps muscle in rat: BPC 157," J Orthop Res, 2006.
• Cerovecki T. et al., "Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat," J Orthop Res, 2010.
TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)
Soft tissue, flexibility, angiogenesis
Actin-binding peptide that promotes cell migration and new blood-vessel formation into damaged tissue. Frequently paired with BPC-157 in recovery research because the mechanisms are complementary rather than overlapping.
Key literature
• Bock-Marquette I. et al., Nature, 2004 — Tβ4 promotes cardiac cell migration and repair.
• Goldstein A.L. et al., "Thymosin β4: a multi-functional regenerative peptide," Expert Opin Biol Ther, 2012.
Ipamorelin + CJC-1295
GH pulse, sleep quality, lean mass
A selective GH secretagogue paired with a GHRH analog. The combination amplifies natural pulsatile growth hormone release without the prolactin or cortisol elevation seen with older secretagogues. Deep-sleep quality — where most recovery actually happens — is the most consistently reported effect.
Key literature
• Raun K. et al., "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue," Eur J Endocrinol, 1998.
• Teichman S.L. et al., "Prolonged stimulation of GH and IGF-I secretion by CJC-1295," J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006.
MOTS-c
Endurance, glucose utilization
A mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK — the same energy-sensing pathway triggered by exercise itself. Rodent studies report improved insulin sensitivity, resistance to diet-induced obesity, and enhanced exercise capacity in older animals.
Key literature
• Lee C. et al., "The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis," Cell Metab, 2015.
• Reynolds J.C. et al., "MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline," Nat Commun, 2021.
Tesamorelin 10mg
Body composition
Human trial data show significant visceral fat reduction with preserved lean mass — the exact recomposition profile athletes are chasing during a cut.
Key literature
• Falutz J. et al., NEJM, 2007 — tesamorelin and visceral adipose tissue.
5-Amino-1MQ
Fat metabolism & muscle NAD+
An NNMT inhibitor studied for increasing intracellular NAD+ in adipose and muscle tissue, with rodent work reporting reduced fat mass without loss of lean tissue.
Key literature
• Neelakantan H. et al., "Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice," Biochem Pharmacol, 2018.
Recovery research starts with verified material
99%+ purity, third-party USA lab tested, COA published per batch.