Growth Hormone Peptides

Peptides are increasingly making the headlines in the last few years and have been a major talking point on social media by influencers and health gurus. Some claims are accurate, but many more are not. They have been promoted as magical fixes, which lead to improper use and distribution. There are more than 7000 known peptides, majority of them are not available for human use.

What are peptides?

Peptides are small chains of amino acids that are produced by the human body, but we have been able to replicate some of them, and create injections, pills creams or nasal sprays, that contain peptides, and use them as tools to assist in achieving certain health goals.

In recent years we gained more understanding of how peptides work, and how we can incorporate them in health and wellness , injury repair, gut health, sleep disturbances and other stubborn health issues that traditional medicine failed to solve.

In todays era of information overload, it can be overwhelming to understand the scope of peptides and what they do, and what’s true and what’s false, so over the next few months, I will dedicate a few blogs and podcast series to simplify peptides.

In todays blog we will discuss one of the most commonly used peptide class, the Growth Hormone Peptides.

Growth Hormone Peptides, or growth hormone secretagogues have different uses and clinical applications. They are not side effect free, and as the majoroty of the peptides, do not have major human studies. Some of these peptides are approved by the FDA for other purposes like Lipodystrophy in HIV, or growth hormone deficiency is children.

Clinical application in cellular health and longevity is extensive. They are commonly used to help preserve muscle mass, improve visceral fat loss, and improve athletic performance. They are commonly used along with GLP 1s, or other weight loss stratigy to minimize muscle loss and enhance fat loss. 

Tesamorelin is a Growth Hormones Releasing Hormone (GHRH) analogue, which means it works by stimulating the Pituitary Gland to release Growth Hormone in a pulsatile physiological manner. It is an example of Growth Hormone Peptide that is approved by the FDA for Lipodystrophy, and today in the world of longevity and wellness, it is a great tool that is utilized to assist with visceral fat loss, and muscle retention. 

Another FDA approved peptide is Sermorelin, which was developed and used for gorwth hormone defeciency in children, but it also has the same desired potential effects on visceral fat, insulin sensitivity and sleep, but has less potency that Tesamorelin.

An example of non FDA approved Growth Hormone Peptide is CJC/Ipamorelin, it is still experimental, and not widely available, but it could potentially have more impact on body composition and sleep, as it has a longer duration of action and it combines two peptides ( CJC and Ipamorelin) that work synergistically to improve growth hormone production and release. 

MK 677 is an oral form of Growth Hormone Peptide, it is not as widely available for use, and is available for research purposes only.

Hexarelin is another example, and it was involved in some cardiac disease research, and it has some potential in cardiovascular recovery after major events, but for now as many other peptides, the data comes from observational studies and animal studies rather than radomized controlled trials, and care should always be taken when using them, and always be supervised by a knowledgeable medical provider.  

Pepetides are modulators, and they assist the body in certain functions in the presence of the proper circumstances. In the case of growth hormone peptides, these circumstances are mainly determined by food content ( fats, proteins and carbohydrates), food timing and sleep. To mimic the natural growth hormone release it is better to take these peptides at bedtime as growth hormone is naturally produced during sleep.

What to watch for when utilizing growth hormone peptides?

1- Source: Your doctor should only recommend a trustworthy source and a third party tested product that is compounded in a reputable pharmacy. Many peptides out there are contaminated, mislabeled, under or over dosed.

2- Side effects: Improper use could result in unwanted side effects. Some side effects are related to elevated heart rate, blood sugar, skin irritation, flushing, nausea or dizziness. Majority of the peptides remain experimental, so always consult with your doctor, and ask if boosting your growth hormone is a good idea for you.

3- Timing and cycling: growth hormone peptides should not be used continuously, they should always be cycled on a regular basis, example is taking the peptide on weekdays and skipping the weekend, or taking a break every 6 weeks.

Peptides are tools and modulators, they are not shortcuts, and they should always be used along with healthy life style, clean food, and good sleep to achieve the desired results.