From the Guidelines
Sermorelin is a beneficial treatment option for growth hormone deficiency, offering improved sleep quality, increased lean muscle mass, and reduced body fat, among other benefits, as supported by recent clinical practice recommendations 1. The primary benefits of sermorelin include:
- Improved sleep quality
- Increased lean muscle mass
- Reduced body fat
- Enhanced exercise capacity
- Improved skin elasticity
- Potentially better cognitive function Sermorelin is typically administered via subcutaneous injection at doses ranging from 100-500 mcg daily, usually before bedtime to align with the body's natural growth hormone release patterns, as seen in clinical practice recommendations for growth hormone treatment in children with chronic kidney disease 1. A common regimen involves daily injections for 3-6 months, followed by maintenance dosing of 3-5 times weekly, although the optimal dosing schedule may vary depending on individual patient needs and response to treatment, as suggested by recent studies 1. Unlike direct growth hormone replacement, sermorelin preserves the body's natural pulsatile release pattern of growth hormone, potentially reducing side effects, such as slipped capital femoral epiphysis, which is a known risk factor associated with growth hormone therapy 1. Users should be aware that results typically take several weeks to become noticeable, with optimal effects often seen after 3-6 months of consistent use, highlighting the importance of patience and adherence to treatment, as emphasized in clinical practice recommendations 1. Sermorelin works by binding to receptors in the pituitary gland, stimulating the production and release of endogenous growth hormone, which then mediates its effects through IGF-1 production, maintaining the physiological feedback mechanisms that regulate growth hormone levels in the body, as supported by recent research 1.
From the Research
Benefits of Sermorelin
- Sermorelin, a 29 amino acid analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), stimulates growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary 2
- It is effective in promoting growth in some prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, with significant increases in height velocity sustained during 12 months' treatment 2
- Sermorelin induced catch-up growth in the majority of growth hormone-deficient children, with slow growing, shorter children with delayed bone and height age appearing to have a good response to treatment 2
- The combination of intravenous sermorelin and arginine is a more specific test for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults 3
- Long-acting forms of GHRH, such as sermorelin, have been developed to extend the half-life of GH and GH-releasing hormone, allowing for less frequent administration 3
Therapeutic Effects
- Sermorelin has been shown to increase insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels, which is a marker of growth hormone activity 3
- GH replacement therapy, including sermorelin, has been shown to improve muscle mass, exercise capacity, and quality of life in adults with growth hormone deficiency 4, 5
- It also has beneficial effects on lipid profile, bone mass, and cardiovascular risk markers 4, 5
Safety and Tolerability
- Sermorelin is well tolerated, with transient facial flushing and pain at injection site being the most commonly reported adverse events 2
- Long-acting forms of GH and GHRH, including sermorelin, have been shown to be pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically effective, with extended half-lives and longer sustained elevation of IGF-I 3
- However, complications such as nodule formation and lipoatrophy at the injection sites have been reported 3