What the studies show
Acute, dose-dependent GH rises demonstrated in healthy volunteers in Novo Nordisk's early programme; more selective than GHRP-6, with little cortisol or prolactin rise.
A few small or poorly-controlled human studies. Enough to be interesting; not enough to count on. Most of what gets called “clinically proven” online lives here.
- 1Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.Eur J Endocrinol, 1998;139:552–561Pharmacology; animal and early human data.
- 2Gobburu JV, et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers.Pharm Res, 1999;16:1412–1416Dose–response for GH release in healthy adults.
In context
Ipamorelin is a synthetic five-amino-acid peptide that stimulates growth-hormone release with little effect on cortisol or prolactin. Small early studies confirmed the hormone release; the only randomised trial — 117 bowel-surgery patients, testing it for post-operative gut recovery — found no benefit, and development stopped. It is not an approved medicine anywhere, and the popular claims about muscle, fat loss and sleep have never been tested in a trial.
Ipamorelin is not approved. Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.
Questions
Is Ipamorelin proven to help with growth hormone release?
What studies are behind the grade?
Is Ipamorelin approved for this?
Other outcomes for Ipamorelin
- CPost-operative ileus (gut recovery)1 RCT (n=117)
- DBody compositionNone controlled
- DSleep or recoveryNone
- CSafety in humansadverse1 RCT + early-phase
Reviewed 2 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →