Growth hormone peptides for muscle: what the evidence says
Growth hormone peptides like CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are popular for muscle, fat loss, sleep and "anti-aging." They work by making your body release more of its own growth hormone.
This page has not yet been reviewed by a credentialed medical professional. It is educational and is not medical advice.
Several of these peptides do raise growth hormone and IGF-1 in short human studies. None has been shown in a controlled trial to build muscle in healthy adults, and all are prohibited in tested sport.
What people use, ranked by evidence
Strongest evidence first. The numbers come live from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Tesamorelin
FDA-approvedWhat people use it for: Reducing abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy (the approved use); promoted off-label for body composition.
What the evidence says: FDA-approved as Egrifta for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Clinical trials demonstrate selective visceral fat reduction without lowering subcutaneous fat.
21 randomized trials 24 registered trials Approved for: Excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy Sport: ProhibitedTesamorelin profile → -
Sermorelin
FDA-approvedWhat people use it for: Stimulating growth hormone release; offered by "anti-aging" and hormone clinics.
What the evidence says: Once approved, now sold mainly through compounding. Evidence for adult anti-aging use is limited.
0 randomized trials 27 registered trials Approved for: Previously approved for pediatric growth hormone deficiency; the brand is no longer marketed in the US Sport: ProhibitedSermorelin profile → -
CJC-1295
Human trialsWhat people use it for: Raising growth hormone for "anti-aging", body composition and sleep.
What the evidence says: Small controlled trials in healthy volunteers showed it raises GH and IGF-1. No trial has shown it improves muscle, fat loss, recovery or aging.
1 randomized trial 1 registered trial Not approved as a medicine Sport: ProhibitedCJC-1295 profile → -
Ipamorelin
Human trialsWhat people use it for: A growth hormone secretagogue, usually taken with CJC-1295 for body composition and recovery.
What the evidence says: Phase 1 pharmacology in volunteers and one phase 2 trial in post-surgical ileus that did not meet its primary endpoint. Nothing on muscle, fat or anti-aging.
2 randomized trials 3 registered trials Not approved as a medicine Sport: ProhibitedIpamorelin profile → -
GHRP-6
Human trialsWhat people use it for: Raising growth hormone; known for increasing appetite.
What the evidence says: Studied in small human physiology trials; no approved use.
19 randomized trials 0 registered trials Not approved as a medicine Sport: ProhibitedGHRP-6 profile →
Common questions
Does CJC-1295 build muscle?
It raised growth hormone 2- to 10-fold and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold in healthy adults in 2006 trials, but those trials measured hormone levels, not muscle. No controlled trial has shown muscle gain.
Is CJC-1295 with ipamorelin proven?
No controlled trial has tested that combination for any outcome.
Which growth hormone peptide is approved?
Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is FDA-approved, but only to reduce abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Sermorelin was once approved for children with growth hormone deficiency.
Go deeper
Other goals
"What people use it for" describes common claims, not recommendations. Educational only, not medical advice.