Is Sermolein (growth hormone secretagogue) safe for muscle building?

Sermolein (Growth Hormone Secretagogue) Is Not Safe for Muscle Building

Sermolein (sermorelin) is not recommended for muscle building purposes due to insufficient safety data, potential risks, and lack of proven efficacy for this indication.

What is Sermolein (Sermorelin)?

Sermolein, or sermorelin, is a 29-amino acid analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete endogenous growth hormone 1. It was originally developed for diagnostic and therapeutic use in children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.

Safety Concerns for Muscle Building

Several major issues make sermorelin unsuitable for muscle building:

1. Lack of Approval for Muscle Building

   • No anabolic supplement, including growth hormone secretagogues like sermorelin, has received sufficient study to be recommended for routine use in building muscle mass 2.
   • Sermorelin is not approved by regulatory agencies for muscle building purposes.

2. Limited Evidence of Efficacy

   • While sermorelin can increase insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels 3, there is insufficient consistent clinical data to recommend growth hormone-related compounds for increasing muscle mass 2.
   • Growth hormone supplementation has often demonstrated increases in muscle mass but seldom yielded consistent evidence of muscle strength improvement 2.

3. Potential Adverse Effects

   • Growth hormone-related compounds can cause:
     • Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance 4
     • Potential worsening of cardiovascular risk factors 4
     • Fluid retention and joint pain
     • Possible stimulation of cancer growth

4. Prohibited in Sports

   • Sermorelin is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 5, making it illegal for competitive athletes.

Evidence from Guidelines

The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines state that "no anabolic supplement has received sufficient study to be considered for routine inclusion in pulmonary rehabilitation programs" 2. While this guideline focuses on COPD patients, the principle applies broadly to the use of growth hormone-related compounds for muscle building.

Similarly, ESPEN guidelines note that "there are insufficient consistent clinical data to recommend currently approved androgenic steroids to increase muscle mass" 2. This further supports the lack of evidence for hormonal interventions for muscle building.

Alternative Approaches for Muscle Building

For those seeking to build muscle mass safely:

1. Strength Training

   • The addition of a strength-training component to exercise programs increases muscle strength and muscle mass with high-quality evidence 2.
   • Strength training has been shown to have significant anabolic effects without the risks of pharmacological interventions 2.

2. Creatine Supplementation

   • Creatine monohydrate has the most established safety profile among supplements and can enhance training capacity and promote chronic training adaptations in muscle strength, power, and lean body mass 6.
   • Recommended dosage: loading phase of ~20g/day divided into four equal doses for 5-7 days, followed by maintenance of 3-5g/day 6.

Conclusion

While sermorelin may increase growth hormone secretion and IGF-1 levels, its use for muscle building cannot be recommended due to:

1. Lack of approval for this indication
2. Insufficient evidence of efficacy
3. Potential serious adverse effects
4. Prohibited status in sports

Instead, focus on evidence-based approaches like proper strength training and, if desired, supplements with established safety profiles such as creatine monohydrate.