From the Research
The best evidence for sermorelin (a GHRH analogue) is limited, showing modest benefits for increasing growth hormone levels in adults with GH deficiency and potentially improving body composition in aging adults, as supported by the most recent study from 2021 1.
Key Points
- Sermorelin is typically administered as a subcutaneous injection at doses of 0.2-1.0 mg daily, usually before bedtime to mimic natural GH pulsatility.
- Treatment duration in studies ranges from 3-12 months.
- For clinical use, patients should be monitored with IGF-1 levels every 3-6 months, and treatment adjusted accordingly.
- Side effects are generally mild and include injection site reactions, headache, and rarely flushing or dizziness.
- Sermorelin works by stimulating the pituitary gland to produce endogenous growth hormone rather than providing exogenous GH directly, which may offer a more physiologic approach with potentially fewer side effects than recombinant human growth hormone.
Considerations
- The long-term safety and efficacy of sermorelin remain inadequately studied compared to recombinant human growth hormone, as noted in a 2020 study 2.
- A 2018 study 3 highlights the importance of considering the effects of GH replacement therapy on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in adult growth hormone deficiency.
- A 2002 study 4 suggests that GH treatment may actually worsen insulin resistance in hypopituitarism, rather than improving it.
- The 1999 study 5 provides evidence for the use of sermorelin in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, but its relevance to adult populations is limited.
Clinical Use
- Sermorelin should be used with caution in adults with GH deficiency, and its use should be individualized based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks, as emphasized in a 2020 study 2.