What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide (a peptide containing five amino acids) that mimics ghrelin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by enteroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract [1]. Ghrelin is responsible for several anabolic processes in the body including [2]:
- Energy usage
- Appetite suppression
- Fat processing
As a ghrelin mimetic, ipamorelin significantly influences the GI system, body composition, and adiposity. It is also classified as a growth hormone (GH) secretagogue due to its ability to increase the secretion of GH and insulin growth-factor 1 (IGF-1) in the body.
What makes ipamorelin unique is that it is the world’s first selective GH secretagogue. This means that it binds to the same receptors as does endogenous ghrelin (the GHSR-1a receptors) and that it stimulates the cells in the pituitary gland to release more GH without raising ACTH or cortisol levels [3].
Ipamorelin’s secondary effect is that it reduces the amount of somatostatin, a GH-inhibiting hormone. By reducing somatostatin, ipamorelin is able to raise levels of endogenous GH and IGF-1 on par with what is possible with exogenous GH therapy [3].
Benefits of Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a research peptide that lacks U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and has no recognized medical uses. However, here is a brief review of the benefits of ipamorelin as observed during various studies.
- Improved gastric motility: Two studies have linked ipamorelin to improved gastric motility [4, 5]. Greenwood-Van Meerveld et al. found that ipamorelin accelerated gastric emptying in adult male rats [4]. Beck et al. found that ipamorelin did not improve measured outcomes (time to first tolerated meal and first bowel movement) any better than a placebo, but data from this study showed that ipamorelin treatment may help open laparotomy patients recover faster [5, 6, 7].
- Increased GH-release: K Raun et al. found that ipamorelin can stimulate GH release in animals (swine and rats) to an extent comparable with GHRP-6 [3]. Other research has shown that ipamorelin can increase GH and body weight in rats [8].
- Increased body weight: Various animal studies have linked ipamorelin to body weight gain [8, 9]. Lall et al. found that GH-deficient and non-GH-deficient mice that received twice-daily injections of ipamorelin increased their body weight by 15.3% and 16.9% respectively in just 9 weeks. Dissections revealed that ipamorelin did not increase the weight or size of the rodents’ internal organs [9].
- Potential treatment for male hypogonadism: Deepankar et al. indicated that ipamorelin may help with weight gain in hypogonadal males [6].
- Purported anabolic benefits: Due to ipamorelin’s ability to increase GH secretion and body weight gain in animals [9], there is a good deal of speculation as to whether this peptide can be administered for muscle growth and fat loss. While GH therapy (not ipamorelin) has been shown to increase lean body mass and decrease fat mass in recreational athletes [10], there is no evidence showing that ipamorelin offers these benefits. Based on animal studies, ipamorelin actually increases the total body fat percentage of non-GH-deficient rodents [9].
- Purported anti-aging benefits: Anecdotal evidence shows that many anti-aging clinics tout ipamorelin as an anti-aging treatment that can reduce visible signs of aging. While there is evidence that growth hormone (GH) secretagogues like ipamorelin can increase lean body mass and decrease fat mass in seniors [11], long-term research shows that elevated GH levels increase disease risks and decrease life expectancy by accelerating the aging process [12].
Ipamorelin Side Effects | A Comprehensive Overview
Ipamorelin appears to have a significant influence on the GI system, adiposity, and overall body composition when administered to test subjects. However, it also produces some direct and indirect side effects. Here’s what researchers must know.
First, it’s important to note that data from human clinical trials involving ipamorelin is extremely limited. To date, ipamorelin’s efficacy has only been tested in one phase 2 clinical trial, which was a small, proof of concept study that involved just 114 participants [5]. While safety data from this trial is encouraging, the sample size is too small for any meaningful conclusions to be drawn.
Second, while animal studies have found that ipamorelin increases GH secretion and body weight gain in rodents without increasing liver size, as GH can, these studies were of short duration [9]. The long-term use of ipamorelin for increasing GH secretion has yet to be studied and findings are, at best, preliminary [11].
Below, we will examine the most common side effects associated with ipamorelin.
Mild ipamorelin side effects
According to Deepankar et al. adverse effects associated with ipamorelin treatment are rare and similar to those reported with sermorelin [6]. These include:
- Redness, itching, pain, rashes, and sensitivity at the site of injection
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Fever (that is transient, and goes away quickly)
Some of these side effects are easily avoided or treated. For example, changing the site of injections should help reduce pain or irritation at that particular spot.
Other possible ipamorelin side effects
There is currently no data from clinical trials linking ipamorelin to major side effects in humans. However, this is more to do with how little the peptide has been researched. To date, the only human trial involving ipamorelin was just 7 days long [5], which is clearly insufficient to draw any conclusions about this peptide’s long-term side effects.
While the long-term safety of ipamorelin has yet to be evaluated, we can surmise that, as a growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, long-term ipamorelin therapy may indirectly produce side effects associated with elevated GH levels. As noted by Barkte, supranormal GH levels have been associated with [12]:
- Increased disease risks
- Reduced life expectancy
- Acceleration of aging
However, Deepankar et al. found that ipamorelin did not raise serum levels of GH and IGF-1 beyond “physiological norms” [6]. This suggests that it may not carry the same risks associated with exogenous GH therapy, which include joint stiffness, radiculopathy, and the risk of edema.
While ipamorelin could offer therapeutic and clinical potential, its long-term side effects have yet to be studied and this remains a clear area for further research.
Where to Buy Ipamorelin Online? | 2024 Edition
The sale of research peptides is loosely regulated across the English-speaking world, and many companies sell substandard imported products. Researchers interested in buying ipamorelin online should therefore exercise great caution when selecting a vendor.
Our team at Peptideinfo.net has interacted and ordered from every major brand in the industry, and are pleased to recommend the following source of research-grade ipamorelin:
Research Peptide
At Peptideinfo.net, we highly recommend Research Peptide for high-quality research peptides. Their commitment to quality and purity is unmatched, and they offer flexible shipping and returns. In addition, they’ve been recognized for their business practices and are highly rated by customers.
Below are a few more reasons we like Research Peptide:
- Independently Tested Products: By working with three different third-party laboratories, Life is able to offer research peptides verified to have a purity rating of 99% or greater.
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Bacteriostatic Water and Ipamorelin
Every researcher needs the right set of tools to experiment safely and effectively. Particularly when working with Ipamorelin, as well as other therapeutic peptides, handlers must be properly equipped.
Standard protocols for peptide administration and storage call for sterile essentials such as vials, bacteriostatic water and alcohol wipes.
Gathering the full set of materials can be an arduous task. Fortunately, the Peptideinfo.net team is here to help with our number one recommended provider of research supplies.
Side Effects of Ipamorelin | Verdict
Having reviewed the available research, it is clear that ipamorelin is an under-researched growth hormone (GH) secretagogue that has strong clinical and therapeutic potential. It appears to be a potent stimulator of both GH and IGF-1 to an extent comparable with exogenous GH therapy, and it has a significant impact on body composition.
Ipamorelin has yet to pass phase two clinical trials, and further human studies evaluating are required before drawing any conclusions about this peptide’s side effects and long-term safety.
Ipamorelin certainly presents an interesting opportunity for further longitudinal studies and would be a strong candidate for medical research in metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism.
To source Ipamorelin for research, we recommend visiting our top-rated vendor.
