Oral Growth Hormone

Looking for a potent GH release that doesn’t involve needles and frustrating timing schedules? Ibutamoren (mk-677) may just fit the bill…

People have always been a huge fan of Ipamorelin and CJC1295 (modified GRF 1-29) when it comes to increasing Growth Hormone levels. But those two peptides require injections, and to really see benefits, you have to inject it multiple times a day, and plan your meals out accordingly (you want to be fairly fasted before using these, and then wait for at least 30 minutes before eating afterwards). So for those of you who don’t want to jack with all that, and want a continuous, 24 hour increase in GH, IGF-1 and IGF-BP3, then Ibutamoren, an orally active GH secretagogue may be just the ticket.


The benefits of Growth Hormone on metabolism and lean body mass are undeniable. I also go to great lengths pointing out that I don’t think GH is much of a muscle builder per se, and that its ultimate benefit comes down to controlling, or rather off-setting, the detrimental effects of insulin on body composition, when it comes to excessive fat gain. Insulin and IGF-1 are amazing at increasing protein synthesis, no doubt, but the real benefits after extended trials of anything that increases GH levels seem to come more in the way of increased leanness, and decreased fat storage.

For many, the use of HGH is not only too costly, but is not a good route to go if overall health and longevity is of utmost importance. HGH, injected exogenously, can create a really awesome environment for body transformation, but with that comes the price of shutting down the HPA production of natural pulses, which interferes with an overall healthier body, for lack of a more scientific term. HGH is great at doing what it does, but leaving it “on” for 8 hours post injection, can lead to insulin resistance and water retention imbalances that ultimately take their toll on the body, especially if someone is using large doses. GH is not supposed to be a 24 hour ON button. It is supposed to peak and drop, along with other hormones, to create the perfect environment for long-term health and anti-aging benefits.

Enter the injectable GH releasers such as Ipamorelin and GRF. These are very, very good at getting the job done when it comes to increasing the body’s own production of Growth Hormone. The biggest problem, though, is that to really take advantage of the benefits, and to fully utilize the peaks, a person would have to inject multiple times a day, and plan out their diet accordingly (too much food in the gut will dampen the release and peak of the GH).

But with an orally active version like Ibutamoren, a single dose can increase benefits throughout the entire day, without the need for carrying around needles, watching your diet before and after injections, and all that crap that goes with playing with GH releasers.
Effects of a 7-day treatment with a novel, orally active, growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, MK-677, on 24-hour GH profiles, insulin-like growth factor I, and adrenocortical function in normal young men.

To assess the effects of prolonged administration of a novel analog of GH-releasing peptide (MK-677), nine healthy young men participated in a randomized, double blind, three-period cross-over comparison of orally administered placebo and 5- and 25-mg doses of MK-677. Each period involved bedtime administration of the drug for 7 consecutive days. At the end of each period, plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were measured at 0745 h, and 24-h profiles of plasma GH and cortisol were obtained at 15-min intervals together with the 24-h urinary excretion of free cortisol. Profiles of plasma free cortisol were calculated at hourly intervals. The amounts of GH secreted were similar in all three conditions, but GH pulse frequency was increased with both dosages of the drug, primarily because of an increase in the number of low amplitude pulses. Plasma IGF-I levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas IGFBP-3 levels were increased only with the highest dosage. There was a positive relationship between GH pulse frequency and IGF-I increase. Except for an advance in the nocturnal nadir and in the morning elevation, MK-677 had no effect on cortisol profiles. In particular, 24-h mean levels of plasma total and free cortisol and urinary excretion of free cortisol were similar under all conditions. The present data suggest that the use of MK-677 for the treatment of relative somatotropic deficiency, particularly in older adults compromised by such deficiency, deserves further investigation.

And a quick note about the cortisol effects… A lot of these peptides increase Cortisol, which is definitely not wanted during the peak of GH release, if physical transformation is a goal. Many of these also increase Prolactin, which can cause a lot of other side-effects. So an orally active GH releaser that doesn’t increase Cortisol is definitely going to be a game changer.

Two-Month Treatment of Obese Subjects with the Oral Growth Hormone (GH) Secretagogue MK-677 Increases GH Secretion, Fat-Free Mass, and Energy Expenditure

We conclude that 2-month treatment with MK-677 in healthy obese males caused a sustained increase in serum levels of GH, IGF-I, and IGF-binding protein-3. The effects on cortisol secretion were transient. Changes in body composition and energy expenditure were of an anabolic nature, with a sustained increase in fat-free mass and a transient increase in basal metabolic rate. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether a higher dose of MK-677 or a more prolonged treatment period can promote a reduction in body fat.

Another quick point. IGF-BP3 increases are a good thing. In some instances, we see a binding protein and think of SHBG, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, which arguably makes Testosterone less effective. In this instance, however, the binding protien IGF-BP3 is needed to carry the IGF-1 into the cell and activate the receptor. So anything that increases IGF-1 AND also increases BP3 is a definite benefit.