Ipamorelin: what the research shows
A peptide that nudges the body to release its own growth hormone.
At a glance
Tested in small human trials but not approved. Banned in sport by WADA, along with other growth-hormone-releasing peptides.
What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a lab-made peptide that copies one job of ghrelin, the “hunger hormone”: telling the pituitary gland at the base of the brain to release growth hormone.
How does Ipamorelin work?
It switches on the ghrelin receptor. In early studies it caused bursts of growth hormone without also raising stress hormones such as cortisol, which earlier drugs of this type did.
What does the research show?
- A 1998 study described it as the first “selective” growth-hormone releaser, based on lab and animal tests.
- In a 2014 trial of 114 people recovering from bowel surgery, it did not clearly speed up recovery. The first meal they could keep down came at 25.3 hours on ipamorelin versus 32.6 hours on placebo, a difference that could have been down to chance.
Known risks and side effects
- The long-term effects of raising growth hormone this way haven’t been studied.
- Products sold online are unregulated.
Is Ipamorelin approved?
Tested in people, but not approved as a medicine.
Tested in small human trials but not approved. Banned in sport by WADA, along with other growth-hormone-releasing peptides.
From the community
Watch: Ipamorelin and related science
Start with the compound discussion, then use the background lesson to understand its biology. Each card explains its connection. Recordings may predate later findings or regulatory changes.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA compounding meeting: ipamorelin and kisspeptin-10
Full advisory meeting covering ipamorelin and kisspeptin-10 among other substances. This is a historical regulatory discussion, not an approval.
Official FDA recording · October 29, 2024
Official regulatory recording
Historical FDA discussion from October 2024. Kisspeptin-10 and ipamorelin are covered; other forms and later decisions may differ.
khanacademymedicine
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland
How the hypothalamus and pituitary coordinate hormone release, including growth and reproductive hormones.
Khan Academy · endocrine physiology
Related biology
Background on hypothalamus and pituitary signalling for understanding Ipamorelin. It does not demonstrate benefits of this compound or formulation.
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
Patient guide to growth hormone deficiency
An overview of growth hormone deficiency and specialist care. It does not establish anti-ageing benefits or benefits of growth-hormone-releasing research peptides.
Professional endocrinology association
Related biology
Explains diagnosed growth hormone deficiency. This is different from claims about anti-ageing or unapproved growth-hormone-releasing compounds.
Sources and references
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogueRaun et al. · European Journal of Endocrinology · 1998
- Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for postoperative ileusBeck et al. · International Journal of Colorectal Disease · 2014
VETUD Learn explains published research in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
In the research shop
Check the catalog for related laboratory research materials. These products are separate from the approved medicines and clinical trial formulations discussed here.
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