Is Sermorelin (GHRH) safe for increasing energy and muscle growth?

Sermorelin (GHRH) for Energy and Muscle Growth: Safety and Efficacy

Sermorelin is not recommended for increasing energy and muscle growth due to insufficient evidence of efficacy and potential safety concerns. 1

Understanding Sermorelin

Sermorelin is a 29-amino acid analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland to release endogenous growth hormone (GH) 2. While it has been studied for diagnostic purposes and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency 2, its use for enhancing energy and building muscle in healthy adults is not supported by high-quality evidence.

Evidence on Efficacy for Muscle Growth and Energy

The evidence regarding sermorelin's effectiveness for muscle growth and energy enhancement is limited:

• Growth hormone secretagogues like sermorelin have not received sufficient study to be recommended for routine use in building muscle mass 1
• Growth hormone supplementation has often demonstrated increases in muscle mass but seldom yielded consistent evidence of muscle strength improvement 1, 3
• The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines recommend against the use of anabolic supplements, including growth hormone secretagogues, due to insufficient evidence 1
• Studies with growth hormone have shown modest increases in lean body mass but have failed to consistently demonstrate improvements in:
  • Muscle strength
  • Physical function
  • Exercise capacity
  • Quality of life 3, 1

Safety Concerns

Several safety concerns exist with growth hormone-related compounds:

• Potential adverse effects include:
  • Insulin resistance
  • Glucose intolerance
  • Fluid retention
  • Joint pain 1
• Growth hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose 1
• Sermorelin has a short half-life in plasma (about 10-20 minutes in humans), limiting its practical utility 4
• Sermorelin is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 1

Alternative Evidence-Based Approaches

For those seeking to increase energy and muscle growth, consider these evidence-based alternatives:

1. Strength training: Recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine as an effective method for increasing muscle strength and mass with high-quality evidence 1

2. Testosterone replacement therapy: Only for men with documented low testosterone levels and symptoms; shown to improve lean body mass and reduce fat mass 1, 3

   • In men with COPD and low testosterone, studies showed increases in muscle mass and strength 3
   • Combined with strength training, testosterone has shown additive effects on lean body mass and leg muscle strength 3

3. Nutritional interventions: Proper nutrition and potentially creatine monohydrate supplementation can enhance training capacity and promote adaptations in muscle strength and lean body mass 1

Conclusion

While sermorelin stimulates growth hormone release, there is insufficient evidence supporting its use for energy enhancement and muscle growth in healthy adults. The potential risks outweigh the uncertain benefits. Strength training, proper nutrition, and addressing any underlying hormonal deficiencies (if present) represent safer and more evidence-based approaches to improving energy and building muscle.