Ipamorelin is a fascinating new muscle building discovery that is getting a lot of attention in the bodybuilding world. Like the GHRP-6 peptide (growth hormone releasing hexapeptide), it is a synthetic peptide that has powerful Growth Hormone releasing properties. And these GH releasing properties are what is of interest to athletes and bodybuilders since they can make a tremendous difference in the amount of muscle you can grow and how quickly you burn fat.

Whereas GHRP-6 is a hexapeptide, Ipamorelin is a penta-peptide. (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D- Phe-Lys-NH2) And, the strength it displays may very well make regular old Growth Hormone (GH) obsolete. But what athletes and bodybuilders really want to know is what is this wonder peptide capable of doing, how is it used, and how does it compare to the other GHRP peptides?

Athletes are taking Ipamorelin in a 200mcg -300mcg dosage, two or three times daily, using a tiny insulin needle to inject. They usually start with the lower dose since side effects can include headaches or what feels like a head-rush. Ipamorelin can be taken at anytime but taking it about 30-45 minutes before a workout would seem ideal because of the pulse in Growth Hormone (GH) it creates allowing for maximum growth.

Studies on the effects of Ipamorelin on bone growth, body weight, and GH release showed some interesting conclusions.

In one experiment, various doses were administered over the course of 15 days to test the group's reactions.

There was a distinct and dose-dependent effect on body weight gain however, the treatment group did not show a change in total IGF-I levels. Nor did the treatment group produce serum markers of bone development. For example, the number of cells in the wide portion of the tibia (the shinbone) did not change significantly. This is a good thing because it suggests muscle growth with less potential for deformity of bone or cartilage.

The reaction of the pituitary to an aggressive i.v. dose of Ipamorelin showed that plasma GH levels were notably reduced whereas they were unchanged after a comparable dose of GHRH. This is actually a good thing as it suggests that Ipamorelin may not decrease your body's natural GH production - further demonstrating that Ipamorelin is a selective GH releaser.

Unlike GHRP-6, Ipamorelin does not induce hunger making it advantageous to those on a restricted calorie diet. And obviously, Ipamorelin's side-effects are enhanced when combined with anabolic steroids since they too influence Growth Hormone/Insulin Growth Factor release and production.

In another study in rats, Ipamorelin released GH from rat pituitary cells as effectively as GHRP-6.

Another document states that in healthy swine, Ipamorelin released GH with a consistency that is very comparable to GHRP-6. Also noteworthy was that none of the GH releasers tested affected FSH, LH, PRL or TSH blood serum plasma levels.

Ipamorelin in theory may increase Acetylchloine or Cortisol when used in higher dosages. However, and increase in Acetylchloine or Cortisol is even more likely with GHRP-2 and GHRP-6. In fact, in the case of Ipamorelin, there was little to no rise in Acetylcholine and Cortisol blood plasma levels even at injections more than 200 times higher than the effective dosage for comparable GH release.

This clearly proves that Ipamorelin is the first successful GHRP receptor agonist or chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell with a specific selectivity for the promotion of GH release by itself.

Another advantage to Ipamorelin is that it doesn't cause sudden spikes in prolactin or cortisol as does GHRP-2 and GHRP-6. Ipamorelin is slower in its delivery unlike GHRP's which spike GH levels at a more rapid rate. The slower release is more natural and has a more sustained effect.

All in all it looks as if Ipamorelin is the new wave in GH releasing peptides. It appear to be more potent, longer lasting and potentially safer to use in the long run. More studies are being conducted all the time but as it stands, Ipamorelin looks like a serious contender in the arsenal of anabolic advancement.