Growth hormone & performance
Sermorelin
An analog of the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone.
It was FDA-approved for growth-hormone deficiency in children and withdrawn from the US market in 2008 for commercial reasons.
How it works
It is the active first part of GHRH. It makes the pituitary release its own growth hormone in natural pulses, so the body’s feedback control stays in place.
What it is used for
Diagnosing and treating GH deficiency in children. Used in anti-aging clinics.
What the evidence says
The approval data is in children. Small studies in adults show a rise in IGF-1.
Side effects and cautions
Injection-site reactions, flushing, headache and dizziness.
Half-life
About 10–20 minutes (published estimates)
Makes sense for
- Adults with low GH looking for a natural-pattern GH increase
Does not make sense for
- Active cancer
- Untreated thyroid problems
Boost the effect
- Inject on an empty stomach (2 hours after eating, no food for 30 minutes after): sugar and fat blunt the growth-hormone release
- Evening dose before bed and deep sleep: most growth hormone is released in deep sleep
- Enough protein: growth hormone needs building material to work on