How does it work?
Ipamorelin activates the ghrelin receptor, which can influence the pituitary gland's release of growth hormone. Unlike pure GHRH analogues, this class acts via the GHSR system. Much recent literature is analytical and regulatory, because the substance is also relevant to doping control.
Technical mechanism
Selective growth hormone-releasing peptide/ghrelin receptor agonist. Research investigates GH response, GHSR signalling and analytical detection.
What is being researched?
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in healthy volunteers
- GH response after exposure to the GHRP class
- Metabolites and detection in urine
- Ghrelin receptor-related research models
About the evidence: There are human data on GH response, but no large modern clinical efficacy programme. Use in sport and doping contexts means that much of the literature concerns identification, metabolites and misuse potential.
Research profile
Studies and sources
The links go to independent research databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, ClinicalTrials.gov). The studies are in English and open in a new tab.
GH response and pharmacokinetics
The most direct human study modelled ipamorelin concentration and GH response in healthy volunteers.
- Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers Clinical (human)PubMed· 1999
This study investigated different infusion rates of ipamorelin in healthy male volunteers and measured both peptide concentrations and growth hormone response. The study is relevant to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, but is small and older.
Analytics and misuse control
Several studies describe how ipamorelin and related GHRP substances can be detected.
- Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin Clinical (human)PubMed· 2015
This anti-doping study investigated metabolites of several GHRP substances, including ipamorelin, in urine after administration to volunteers. The work shows that the substance is relevant to analysis and misuse control, not as treatment documentation.
- Structure-activity relationship for peptídic growth hormone secretagogues ReviewPubMed· 2017
This article reviews structure-activity relationships for peptide-based growth hormone secretagogues and why they are relevant to doping control. Ipamorelin is included as part of the broader GHRP class.