Stacking two peptides that act on the same receptor, like ipamorelin and GHRP-2, produces additive effects at best and receptor competition at worst. Specifically, pairing a ghrelin receptor agonist (ipamorelin) with a GHRH receptor agonist (CJC-1295 or sermorelin). The idea that you can combine random growth hormone peptides and expect synergy is marketing, not science. The group’s 1995 study examining 7 healthy young males showed that repeated intravenous boluses of GHRP-6 given during sleep increased serum GH, ACTH and cortisol levels, as well as mean time spent in stage 2 sleep without altering slow wave sleep patterns(59). Work examining the effects of GHRPs on sleep derives primarily from a series of studies by Frieboes et al. Recently, a study of 25 women and 21 men with Prader-Willi syndrome examined the impact of long-term exogenous GH vs. placebo on body composition in these patients. Normalization of GH release and the resulting increase in lean mass and reduction in fat mass may most significantly benefit obese individuals. A double-blind, placebo controlled study that included 161 hip fracture patients examined the impact of ibutamoren vs. placebo on functional improvements during rehabilitation(50). I’ve been researching this compound for a while, and what I’ve found about its potential impact on bone health is worth sharing. Testosterone plays a significant role in bone metabolism, and while TRT can help maintain bone density, it doesn’t always reverse the clock. For men on TRT, bone density is actually something we should be paying close attention to. At standard bodybuilding doses where suppression occurs, they cross into the enhanced zone regardless of the marketing claims about selectivity. Low-dose SARMs at microdose levels, where bloodwork confirms no suppression, occupy a debatable edge of the natty plus zone. Enclomiphene, tongkat ali, fadogia agrestis, and other compounds that stimulate natural testosterone production without suppressing it occupy the natty plus zone. The widespread use of GH therapy as a performance-enhancing agent by multiple high-profile athletes further accelerated the implementation of these amendments (19). The 1988 and 1990 amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act made it illegal to use GH in the United States for off-label conditions due to advertising that claimed GH can reverse the effects of aging. Side effects include joint stiffness, radiculopathy, edema, and a theoretical but never-demonstrated increased risk of malignancy. Although these findings offer promise to hypogonadal men struggling with weight loss despite adequate TTh, GH therapy remains controversial and is tightly regulated. This conversion then leads to a hyper-estrogenic state that inhibits luteinizing (LH) secretion, undermining intrinsic testicular health and stifling testosterone production (3). These compounds appear to possess many of the same beneficial effects as those seen with GH therapy itself while demonstrating none of the same adverse side effects or regulatory concerns. GH therapy has been shown to improve lean body mass, decrease adiposity, and improve serum lipid profiles (16,17). These findings highlight the fact that although TTh can improve lean body mass and other essential metabolic parameters, it may not inhibit fat mass increases that are seen with metabolic syndrome. The authors also failed to observe changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), or bone density (14). The skin and anti-aging effects are often more dramatic in women, possibly because the collagen and elastin benefits of GH/IGF-1 are more visible in female skin. The primary goals for women are typically anti-aging, skin quality, fat loss, and recovery. Women tend to be more sensitive to GH effects, partly because women already have higher baseline GH pulse amplitude than men. Women often start lower — 100–200mcg — and many find that 150mcg once daily pre-bed delivers excellent results without any side effects. The primary goals are usually fat loss, lean mass maintenance or building, and recovery. Both sexes respond well to ipamorelin, and the core mechanism is identical.
