Ipamorelin is a penta-peptide hormone (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2), a growth hormone secretagogue and a small molecule ghrelin mimetic developed by Novo Nordisk. Ipamorelin belongs to the most recent generation of GHRPs and causes significant release of growth hormone. Similar to GHRP-6 and GHRP-2, it suppresses somatostatin and increases the stimulation and release of Growth Hormone (GH) from the anterior pituitary. Currently, there are few clinical trials involving Ipamorelin, which were first being studied in the 90s. Somatotropes are the cells that are responsible for producing and releaseing GH.
The Ipamorelin Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide Comparison
Ipamorelin is a 3rd generation GHRP behind GHRP-6 and GHRP-2. Ipamorelin has very similar characteristics of GHRP-2: does not have ghrelin’s lipogenic properties and does not promote hunger. Ipamorelin acts synergistically when applied during a Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) pulse or when it is administered along with a GHRH or an analog such as Sermorelin or Modified GRF 1-29 (growth releasing factor, aminos 1-29). The synergy comes both due to the suppression of somatostatin and the fact that ipamorelin increases GH release per-somatotrope, while GHRH increases the number of somatotropes releasing GH. On the other hand, Ipamorelin is similar to GHRP-6 because they both release GH at a very similar strength minus the side effects that of GHRP-6. Both GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 cause a release and an increase in cortisol and prolactin levels, however Ipamorelin only selectively releases GH at any dose. Ipamorelin shares similar functionality to Hexarelin and compared to other peptides, it is a much more stable form of ghrelin and has longer half-life periods of at least two hours long and causes secondary effect by making neurons to become excited.
Studies Related to Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin has been shown to be both highly potent and very selective in vivo and vitro situations, and has also demonstrated good safety and tolerability in human clinical studies. Research has shown that Ipamorelin is growth hormone specific which means that the pituitary hormones such as cortisol are unaffected. In one study, it was found that young female adult rats had increased bone mass due to 12 weeks of treatment with ipamorelin. This peptide compared to other Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides ensures the benefits without having to deal with possible negative side effects.