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Sermorelin (GHRH(1-29))
An injectable analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (the first 29 amino acids of GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone. Honest appraisal: this WAS an FDA-approved prescription drug (Geref) with real human trials — for diagnosing GH deficiency and treating GH-deficient children — but it was discontinued commercially. Its current marketing as a compounded 'anti-aging' peptide is off-label and is NOT what those trials validated.
Research peptide — not a dietary supplement
Sermorelin is a research compound, not a regulated dietary supplement. It is typically administered by injection and sold “for research use only.” The evidence below is largely preclinical (animal and in-vitro) or early-stage, so no evidence score is assigned. This page is provided for transparency and education — it is not a recommendation to use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider, and be aware that purity, dosing, and legal status vary by jurisdiction.
What the evidence says
Sermorelin doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 1986–2026 with a typical study size of 19 participants.
Based on 16 studies · 10 RCTs · 214 total participants
Confidence
Moderate confidenceBy outcome
Emerging because real trials validate only its diagnostic use and pediatric GH-deficiency treatment, while the marketed 'anti-aging' use rests on small aging trials that measured GH/IGF-1, not clinical benefit.
1 trial ongoing or recruiting · 21 completed on ClinicalTrials.gov
8 of the completed trials have posted results
Registered trials show research momentum for Sermorelin, not proof of effect — a registration is a plan, and posted results are sponsor-reported, not peer-reviewed. They are never counted toward the evidence rating above.
Browse these trials on ClinicalTrials.govClinicalTrials.gov · as of Nov 2026
Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the biologically active N-terminal fragment of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone, GHRH(1-29)-NH2.
It binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs and stimulates the synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone (GH), which in turn raises IGF-1.
Because it works upstream of the pituitary and preserves the body's own feedback loops, it produces a more physiologic GH pulse than injected recombinant GH.
Sermorelin has a genuine clinical pedigree: it was marketed as the FDA-approved prescription drug Geref, used both as a diagnostic agent (the GHRH stimulation test for GH deficiency) and as a treatment to accelerate growth in children with GH deficiency of hypothalamic/pituitary origin.
The pediatric evidence is real — including a multicentre study and randomized comparisons against recombinant GH — and the diagnostic use is well established.
Importantly, controlled pediatric trials found that conventional GH replacement generally out-performed GHRH for growth, and Geref was subsequently discontinued commercially.
The compound has also been studied in healthy aging adults: small randomized placebo-controlled trials showed it can raise nocturnal GH pulsatility and IGF-1, but did not establish the body-composition, vitality, or anti-aging clinical benefits now claimed in its compounded-pharmacy marketing.
So the honest picture is two-tiered: legitimate, trial-backed evidence for diagnosis and pediatric GH-deficiency (its original approved indications), and an unproven, off-label 'anti-aging' use that the existing human trials do not support.
It is a prescription drug, not a dietary supplement, is given by subcutaneous injection, affects the GH/IGF-1 axis, and is banned in sport by WADA.
GHRH(1-29) is the active fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone; it binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to trigger GH synthesis and release.
By acting upstream of the pituitary, it stimulates the body's own pulsatile GH secretion (preserving feedback regulation), which raises circulating IGF-1.
How Sermorelin works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Only under specialist endocrinology care for diagnosed GH deficiency — not for general use.
Trials raised GH/IGF-1 but showed glucose-tolerance impairment with repeated dosing; clinical anti-aging benefit is unproven.
Avoid — stimulating the GH/IGF-1 axis is a theoretical proliferation risk.
Avoid — not established as safe.
Prohibited by WADA at all times (GH-releasing agent) — using it risks an anti-doping violation.
Glucocorticoids can blunt the GH response to GHRH, reducing efficacy.
GH-axis stimulation can impair glucose tolerance (observed with repeated GHRH dosing in elderly subjects); may affect glycemic control.
Agents that alter somatostatin tone or thyroid status can modulate the GH response to GHRH.
Tip: Rotate injection sites; reactions in trials were mild and transient
Tip: Monitor glucose, especially with repeated dosing and in older adults
Tip: Usually transient
Sermorelin has an evidence score of 3.5/10 — emerging evidence based on 16 indexed studies. An injectable analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (the first 29 amino acids of GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone. Honest appraisal: this WAS an FDA-approved prescription drug (Geref) with real human trials — for diagnosing GH deficiency and treating GH-deficient children — but it was discontinued commercially. Its current marketing as a compounded 'anti-aging' peptide is off-label and is NOT what those trials validated. Representative study: PMID 8329826.
Dosing for Sermorelin: Prescription-only; historic regimens used ~30 µg/kg/day subcutaneously for pediatric GH deficiency. No validated dietary-supplement dose exists. (no cited human trial states a fixed daily dose, the trials dosed per kg of body weight). Individual needs vary, so check the right dose for you with a healthcare provider.
The best time to take Sermorelin is before bed. It can be taken on an empty stomach. Pediatric GH-deficiency trials dosed once daily at bedtime (or in divided nocturnal doses) to mimic the physiologic overnight GH pulse.
Sermorelin should be used with caution — talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. Reported side effects include impaired glucose tolerance, injection-site reaction (pain, redness, swelling), headache / flushing. How often they occur is not established for all of them. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Pregnancy/breastfeeding; Active or suspected malignancy (GH/IGF-1 axis stimulation); Use without medical supervision.
PT-141
Too few graded studiesA melanocortin-receptor (MC4R) agonist peptide for low sexual desire. Important honest framing: unlike most 'research peptides', bremelanotide is an FDA-APPROVED prescription drug — Vyleesi, approved 2019 — for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, self-injected subcutaneously on-demand. It has real phase-3 RCTs (the RECONNECT program). The catch: the approved-trial benefit was statistically significant but small (a fraction of a point on desire scales), nausea is very common, and it transiently raises blood pressure. Grey-market 'PT-141' vials sold online are NOT the approved drug and are unregulated.
Gonadorelin
Too few graded studiesA synthetic copy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the hypothalamic decapeptide that drives the pituitary to release LH and FSH. Honest appraisal: it has genuine, trial-backed roles as a diagnostic agent (the GnRH/gonadorelin stimulation test) and — delivered in pulses by an infusion pump — for inducing ovulation in hypothalamic amenorrhea and spermatogenesis in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Its now-trendy use in men's TRT clinics (compounded, to 'maintain testosterone/fertility' alongside testosterone, often replacing hCG) is largely off-label and has NOT been validated in controlled trials for that purpose.
Argireline
Too few graded studiesA topical cosmetic peptide — a leave-on skincare ingredient, NOT something you swallow, inject, or take as a supplement, and NOT a drug. Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8, also sold as acetyl hexapeptide-3) is a six-amino-acid fragment modelled on the SNAP-25 protein. It is marketed as 'topical Botox' because, in cell systems, it interferes with the SNARE complex that nerve endings use to release neurotransmitter, in theory slightly relaxing the tiny muscle contractions that create expression lines. There ARE real human topical studies — small, short, vehicle-controlled split-face wrinkle trials — and they do show modest reductions in the appearance of fine lines. But the effect sizes are small, several of the trials are industry-linked, and this is a cosmetic effect on wrinkle APPEARANCE, not a health outcome. It is generally well tolerated on skin. It is described here honestly as a cosmetic ingredient, not recommended as an ingestible supplement.
Kisspeptin
Too few graded studiesA hypothalamic neuropeptide (from the KISS1 gene) that sits at the top of the reproductive hormone axis — it stimulates GnRH neurons to release LH and FSH. It has a genuinely rigorous human-research record, largely from the Dhillo group at Imperial College London: kisspeptin-54 has been tested as an IVF egg-maturation trigger, in hypothalamic amenorrhea, and for sexual/emotional brain processing. Honest framing: this is legitimate investigational science, NOT an approved drug or a dietary supplement, and the grey-market 'libido peptide' sold online is not the supervised clinical product.
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Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 16 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
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