Ipamorelin
Selective growth-hormone secretagogue. Raises GH; downstream benefits less proven.
What it is
A pentapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue that stimulates the pituitary with relatively little effect on cortisol or prolactin.
What it does
Binds the ghrelin receptor to trigger pulsatile growth-hormone release.
Does it work?
That it raises growth hormone is well established. Whether that translates into the body-composition, recovery and anti-ageing outcomes claimed for it is much less certain — raising a hormone is not the same as producing an outcome.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Increases growth hormone release | supported |
| Produces meaningful muscle gain alone | weak evidence |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
112 publications indexed, but only 2 randomised controlled trials and 2 registered interventional studies. Human evidence exists but is thin.
query: "Ipamorelin" · checked 2026-08-07
Most-cited literature
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Ghrelin
Müller TD, Nogueiras R, Andermann ML, Andrews ZB, Anker SD, Argente J, · Mol Metab 2015 · 778 citations
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Strategic approaches to optimizing peptide ADME properties
Di L. · AAPS J 2015 · 455 citations
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From Belly to Brain: Targeting the Ghrelin Receptor in Appetite and Food Intake Regulation
Howick K, Griffin BT, Cryan JF, Schellekens H. · Int J Mol Sci 2017 · 112 citations
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Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRP) and their major metabolites in human urine for doping controls by means of liquid chromatography mass spectromet
Thomas A, Höppner S, Geyer H, Schänzer W, Petrou M, Kwiatkowska D, Pok · Anal Bioanal Chem 2011 · 66 citations
Regulatory status
Formal, dated regulatory actions.
WADA — Prohibited List 2026
Prohibited in sport — WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances)
Common questions
Does ipamorelin really raise growth hormone?
Yes, that much is well established pharmacology. The open question is whether the rise translates into body-composition or recovery outcomes.
Why is it preferred over other secretagogues?
Selectivity. It stimulates GH with relatively little effect on cortisol and prolactin, which older secretagogues also raised.
Is it allowed in sport?
No. Growth-hormone secretagogues are prohibited under WADA rules.
Related compounds
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
GHRH analogue, usually stacked with a secretagogue.
Sermorelin
GHRH fragment with a long clinical history, once used diagnostically.
Tesamorelin
Approved GHRH analogue for HIV-associated lipodystrophy — a narrow, real indication.
Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin blend
GHRH plus secretagogue stack. Components studied separately, not together.