Claimed effect · Sermorelin

Does Sermorelin help with body composition in adults?

C
Grade C — weak human evidenceSmall studies, mostly open-label · effect size: small
Short answerWeak human evidence. Small studies, mostly open-label: enough to be interesting, not enough to count on. Where an effect is seen it is a small effect. A few small trials and open-label series report modest changes; no adequately powered randomised trial in healthy adults.

What the studies show

A few small trials and open-label series report modest changes; no adequately powered randomised trial in healthy adults.

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.

  1. 1
    Sermorelin evidence review: Geref approval history, withdrawal, and adult off-label data.Evidence review, 2026Secondary source used for approval and withdrawal history; adult RCT data described as limited.

In context

Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone — the active fragment. It was FDA-approved in 1990 as Geref for diagnosing growth-hormone deficiency in children, and the brand was withdrawn in 2008 for commercial reasons, not safety. It reliably raises growth hormone and IGF-1. The adult anti-ageing and body-composition claims rest on small open-label studies, not randomised trials.

Sermorelin is withdrawn (us brand). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Sermorelin proven to help with body composition in adults?
No. The human evidence is weak (Small studies, mostly open-label); LYO grades it C.
What studies are behind the grade?
A few small trials and open-label series report modest changes; no adequately powered randomised trial in healthy adults.
Is Sermorelin approved for this?
No. Sermorelin is withdrawn (US brand); it is not an approved medicine for any indication in the jurisdictions LYO covers.

Other outcomes for Sermorelin

Reviewed 2 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →