Ipamorelin
C38H49N9O5
H-Aib-His-D-2Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
Key Benefits
Biologic Description
Ipamorelin, a pentapeptide known for stimulating ghrelin receptors, is garnering interest in the scientific community for its potential applications in Muscle Growth, Body Composition Enhancement, and other areas. As a selective growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin receptor agonist, Ipamorelin mimics the hormone ghrelin, promoting the production of growth hormone (GH) and influencing Somatocrinin release while inhibiting Somatostatin.
It stands out among growth hormone releasing peptides for its unique property of not activating the body’s stress response, a common effect in other compounds of its class. This specific characteristic makes Ipamorelin a more targeted and potentially 'cleaner' growth hormone releasing agent. However, there's a notable gap in comprehensive research on Ipamorelin, leaving some uncertainty about its optimal dosing and potential side effects.
The Peptide's mechanism of action involves stimulating the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, thereby encouraging cellular and tissue proliferation. Its structure, consisting of five amino acids (H-Aib-His-D-2Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2), and its chemical composition (C38H49N9O5), classify it as a synthetic ghrelin mimetic. By binding to ghrelin receptors, Ipamorelin triggers the release of growth hormone stimulating hormone, which then signals the release of growth hormone. This targeted action, without activating the body's stress response, positions it as a preferred choice in growth hormone therapy.
Clinical trials have explored several potential benefits of Ipamorelin. It has shown promise in promoting bone growth, as evidenced by studies where its administration counteracted skeletal muscle catabolism induced by glucocorticoids and increased bone mineral content in rats. Additionally, Ipamorelin may stimulate muscle growth, although definitive scientific evidence in this area is still pending. It has also been observed stimulate the smooth muscle of the digestive lining to help food move more quickly through the digestive system
Ipamorelin's similarity to ghrelin suggests potential benefits in improving vasculature and collagen synthesis. Ghrelin has been linked to angiogenesis and the promotion of cartilage, joint, and skin repair through collagen synthesis. While these effects have been observed with ghrelin, specific studies on Ipamorelin are yet to confirm similar outcomes.
In conclusion, Ipamorelin presents a promising avenue for research in fields like anti-aging, injury recovery, and women’s health. However, its complete profile, encompassing safety, efficacy, and optimal dosage, requires further exploration to fully understand and leverage its potential benefits.
Dosage Guidelines
In the context of research, the standard dosing range for Ipamorelin is typically between 200 mcg to 300 mcg per day. When initiating research with Ipamorelin on a new subject, it's advisable to start with the minimum dosage and gradually increase it as necessary to observe the desired effects.
Ipamorelin is generally administered in research cycles lasting 8-12 weeks, with a subsequent 4-week break. Continuous or indefinite administration of Ipamorelin, regardless of the research purpose, is not recommended. For daily doses exceeding 200mcg, it is often preferable to divide the total dosage into two or three separate injections throughout the day.
Determining the optimal maintenance dose of Ipamorelin hinges on the specific goals of the research. For objectives related to anti-aging or weight management, lower doses tend to be more effective. Conversely, achieving significant muscle or bone growth may require a higher dosage. Each research initiative should carefully consider these factors to tailor the Ipamorelin dosage to their specific needs and objectives.
100-300mcg
Daily
8-12 Weeks
Side Effects
The occurrence of side effects from Ipamorelin is generally reported to be minimal. In the limited number of human studies conducted, most participants either did not experience any side effects or reported only minor issues. For instance, one study observed mild facial flushing in subjects following the administration of a growth hormone releasing peptide. Another study involving children noted no adverse effects.
However, given that Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin, the "hunger hormone," it may potentially increase appetite. This is a consideration given ghrelin's primary function is to stimulate hunger.
Despite these observations, the existing human research on Ipamorelin is quite sparse. This scarcity underscores the need for caution, as there could be unknown side effects that have not yet been identified. Researchers should exercise the utmost care in studies involving Ipamorelin, keeping in mind the limited scope of current knowledge.
Regarding Ipamorelin's safety, it's important to note that it has not received approval for human use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any international regulatory agencies. Consequently, any claims of Ipamorelin being completely safe should be approached with skepticism.
To date, research indicates that Ipamorelin has caused minimal side effects in both animal and human studies. This research dates back to 1998, with growth hormone releasing peptides like GHRP-6 and GHRP-2, which were initially studied for their potential heart health benefits, preceding Ipamorelin's discovery.
While Ipamorelin's safety profile appears favorable, general peptide administration can be associated with various side effects such as injection site pain, lightheadedness, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. However, reports of Ipamorelin causing even these minor side effects are exceedingly rare, suggesting a high tolerance among subjects.
References:
Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue
K Raun 1, B S Hansen, N L Johansen, H Thøgersen, K Madsen, M Ankersen, P H Andersen - 1998 Nov
Administration of both GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 resulted in increased plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol. Very surprisingly, ipamorelin did not release ACTH or cortisol in levels significantly different from those observed following GHRH stimulation.
The growth hormone secretagogue ipamorelin counteracts glucocorticoid-induced decrease in bone formation of adult rats
N B Andersen 1, K Malmlöf, P B Johansen, T T Andreassen, G Ørtoft, H Oxlund - 2001 Oct
The ability of the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) Ipamorelin to counteract the catabolic effects of glucocorticoid (GC) on skeletal muscles and bone was investigated in vivo in an adult rat model.
The GH secretagogues ipamorelin and GH-releasing peptide-6 increase bone mineral content in adult female rats
J Svensson 1, S Lall, S L Dickson, B A Bengtsson, J Rømer, I Ahnfelt-Rønne, C Ohlsson, J O Jansson - 2000 Jun
All treatments increased body weight and total tibial and vertebral BMC measured by DXA in vivo compared with vehicle-treated controls. The results of in vitro measurements using pQCT and Archimedes' principle, in addition to ash weight determinations, show that the increases in cortical and total BMC were due to an increased growth of the bones with increased bone dimensions, whereas the volumetric BMD was unchanged.