Ipamorelin is a peptide made up of 5 amino acids, considered to be a pentapeptide. It is classified as a growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) because it has an amino acid sequence of Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2. Its molecular structure is C38H49N9O5, and it has a molecular weight of 711.9 g/mol. As a result of its makeup, this peptide is similar to Hexarelin, GHRP-6, and GHRP-2 in growth stimulation in non-human subjects. However, the dipeptide Ala-Trp is missing, which is central to GHRP-1.
Due to its reported effects on lab subjects in comparison to the side effects associated with other growth hormone-releasing peptides, Ipamorelin appears to act as a smooth alternative to GHRP-6 and GHRP-2. The peptide did not appear to release cortisol, prolactin, or the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) significantly varying levels from those noted after GHRH stimulation. Ipamorelin peptide is now commonly known as the gentle GHRP due to its reported shortage of side effects. It is still under investigation and its safety profile has not been solidified.
The initial favorable reports on the peptides efficacy and safety has been suggested to be due to the peptide’s reported tendency to impact just the growth hormone axis alone, as opposed to other peptides like GHRP-6 and Sermorelin, making it potentially convenient for investigating the isolated results of growth hormone secretagogue agonists.
Ipamorelin Peptide Research
Ipamorelin peptide appears to activate the ghrelin receptor upon binding to it. The ghrelin receptor is a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS-R), and plays a crucial role in regulating energy and body weight. The GHS-R is found primarily and more abundantly in the brain, but can also be spotted in muscles of the heart, skeleton, and liver. The main purpose of the ghrelin receptor is to facilitate growth hormone release from the pituitary gland. Ipamorelin peptide, unlike other ghrelin receptor agonists, is quite limited to growth hormone release – thus, no other hormones are significantly affected by it.
Research studies report a short, 2 hour half-life of Ipamorelin peptide, making it a convenient contestant for studying and investigating the advantages of growth hormone stimulation relative to other, particular physiological experiences such as metabolism, stress response, etc. Based on the aspect being studied and the question at hand, this peptide’s time of impact may vary between hours and even months.
A study investigating blood sugar levels and concentrations of insulin movement reported present effects just minutes after administering Ipamorelin. On the other hand, research studying how Ipamorelin affects synaptic density, bone density, or muscle size may need months to show results. While Ipamorelin appears to manifest action in the body’s biochemistry immediately, the biochemical changes may not be observable for quite some time – it depends on the speed of the particular pathway. Neurogenesis, for example, is a very gradual process. Therefore, the entirety of the impact won’t be visible until the growth’s gradual process is complete, despite the prompt impact that Ipamorelin has on dendrite growth.
To be able to estimate how long it will take to know whether or not the experiment was successful, the researchers must consider the rate of change that a specific organism is able to sustain. As far as the location of the action’s mechanism is concerned, Growth Hormone is formed within the pituitary gland, which moderates and supervises the endocrine system. The endocrine system is what’s behind the production and distribution of the body’s hormones.
Ipamorelin Peptide and Anti-Aging Research
Researchers have investigated Ipamorelin for anti-aging properties. Aging is associated with many undesirable, physiological changes such as muscle atrophy, cognitive decline, and loss in bone density. As the body loses its ability to recreate particular hormones, a variety of biochemical pathways start to decay. If Ipamorelin can fighting this degeneration, it may aid in the slowing of aging exhibitions in the test subject..
Ipamorelin Peptide and Bone Density
With regard to bone density, aging is linked to an increase in osteoclast activity. Osteoclasts are responsible for the breakdown of bones, and can also aid in the bones’ ability to restructure itself during prolonged stress or after being injured. Too many of these cells indicates that bone deteriorates faster than it is formed, so there is an overall decrease in bone density. Initial research suggests Ipamorelin peptide may aid in the restoration of balancing the bone cycle, which would help to ensure that the decay and removal take place at just the right pace to guarantee healthy bone strength and function.
Ipamorelin Peptide and Weight Loss
Ipamorelin has been reported by researchers to act as a versatile peptide. Though it is better researched for its potential anti-aging properties, researchers have reported certain lipogenic, or weight loss properties. Mice studies present that Ipamorelin may speed up the process of lipolysis, the organized deterioration of fat. A large part of this impact can be attributed to Ipamorelin’s potential to stimulate the release of human growth hormone, though non-human studies provide results that suggests there exists a secondary mechanism.
During rat studies, Ipamorelin has been suggested to facilitate the release of insulin. As an anabolic hormone, insulin likes to store glucose in various ways, as in fat, muscle, and the liver. Seemingly, it is a contradiction that Ipamorelin may boost weight loss if it also stimulates insulin release. Researchers post that when guiding glucose, insulin usually takes the least resistant course. Therefore, if muscle is more easily receiving glucose, it will then be stored there favorably. By facilitating insulin and human growth hormone release at the same time, Ipamorelin may aid in securing and allotting more calories to building muscle than burning fat. In combination with a proper diet, an overall shift in body composition may be achieved.
Ipamorelin has been widely researched for its potential to:
- Increase skin, hair, and nail health
- Reduce stress
- Reduce blood pressure
- Increase in lean muscle mass
- Increase in bone density
- Improve memory and learning
- Reduce Pain
- Improve sleep cycle
Ipamorelin Peptide and Cognitive Functions
The ghrelin receptor has been associated with learning and memory processes. GHS-R activation was found to promote the long-term facilitation of these processes, as well as the density of their dendritic spine. Long-term facilitation reinforces neural connections, while dendritic spine density assesses the number of connections made between neurons. By exciting the ghrelin receptor, Ipamorelin may enhance both accounts and has therefore been suggested to adequately improve cognitive functioning.
Ipamorelin Peptide and Sleep
Drawing from its impact on cognition, some research study results suggest that Ipamorelin and other human growth hormone enhancers may have an advantageous effect on sleep. Sleep is a vital mediator process of learning and is an important aspect in the aging of tissue altogether. Enhanced sleep has been found to positively affect learning, mood, concentration, memory, and health in general. Proper sleep is also linked to better immune function and an improved body composition, e.g. reduced body fat and increased lean muscle.
Ipamorelin Safety Profile
So far, research indicates that Ipamorelin has no obvious drawbacks in non-human studies, as opposed to other ghrelin receptor agonists. The administration of the peptide in small animals has been reported to be challenging, more studies exist in larger animal models. Generally, Ipamorelin has presented an adequately safe outline. However the peptide has only been studies in research settings and its affects in humans has not been identified or adequately tested.
Researchers can buy Ipamorelin and other high quality peptides for research by checking out Core Peptides. It is available strictly for research purposes as is not approved for human use.
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Dr. Marinov (MD, Ph.D.) is a researcher and chief assistant professor in Preventative Medicine & Public Health. Prior to his professorship, Dr. Marinov practiced preventative, evidence-based medicine with an emphasis on Nutrition and Dietetics. He is widely published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and specializes in peptide therapy research.