Deficient growth hormone (GH) levels in adults can lead to significant changes in the body’s appearance, physiological functions, cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and quality of life (QoL). Alterations in health markers include impaired immunity, lipid profile changes, cardiovascular risks, insulin and glucose concerns, decreased bone mass, and increased mortality.
Not only do men and women with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) feel less healthy and tired, but they look years older than expected. Sexual decline, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia can take a toll on daily activities and QoL.
While the most common treatment of GHD in adults is human growth hormone (HGH) therapy, another option exists for many people – sermorelin.
Understanding the difference between the two treatments and when sermorelin is a better choice than HGH can provide superior results at a reduced cost. Although sermorelin does not work for everyone with GHD, many adults will see significant improvements. Others may find that the doctor recommends a dual treatment, combining sermorelin with HGH for a while.
We examine the causes of declining GH levels, the pros and cons of sermorelin, and the difference between that treatment and HGH therapy.
Causes of Declined Levels of GH
Growth hormone deficiency can be congenital, acquired, or idiopathic. Congenital GHD is often diagnosed during childhood as the youngster does not grow at a rate like their peers. Idiopathic GHD has no known cause and, in most cases, goes without identifying why it occurred. Acquired growth hormone deficiency occurs later in life and can result from numerous causes.
Some of the most common causes of declining GH levels include:
- Age: GH production begins decreasing when most people are in their twenties. Age-related GH decline is one of the more common causes for older adults.
- Lifestyle habits: certain habits can interfere with and decrease GH production, including:
- Lack of sleep: getting less than seven hours of sleep each night can reduce growth hormone production and increase cortisol levels, which opposes GH. Other hormones, such as ghrelin and leptin, that help regulate hunger can suffer, causing weight gain, insulin resistance, and other problems that impede GH production. The maximal release of growth hormone occurs during sleep during slow-wave sleep.
- Lack of exercise: a sedentary lifestyle decreases GH output while increasing fat retention and insulin resistance.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: too much alcohol interferes with hormonal balance and organ functions, including the liver. That is especially problematic because the liver secretes insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in response to GH signals.
- Poor dietary choices: the body needs a variety of healthy foods, especially lean protein, whole grains, heart-healthy fats, fruit, and vegetables, for hormone production and regulation. Too much sugar and fatty or fried foods can inhibit hormone release.
- Chronic stress: excessive stress causes cortisol levels to rise, slowing GH production and interfering with sleep, metabolism, and energy.
- Smoking: nicotine and other compounds in cigarettes cause higher cortisol levels and hinder proper GH hormone release.
- Endocrine disruptors: chemicals found in cleaners and products we use every day interfere with the workings of the endocrine system. BPA is a serious concern as it is in many plastic and canned food items.
- Brain injury: traumatic brain injury can cause damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, interfering with hormone output.
- Problems with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland: along with tumors and injuries, other disorders and problems can influence hormone secretion by these glands, including bleeding and certain medications.
- Brain tumor or treatment for a tumor: tumors that interfere with hypothalamic or pituitary functions can impede hormone production. Surgery or radiation can damage these glands and lead to hormonal imbalance.
- Decreased blood flow to the brain: impaired blood flow to the brain, such as with a stroke or artery blockage, can hinder proper hormone release by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.
- Central nervous system infection: chronic and acute CNS infections, including tubercular meningitis, can cause adverse effects in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, resulting in low GH levels.
- Other serious medical concerns: some diseases, including autoimmune disease, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis, can interfere with GH production.
What Is Sermorelin?
Understanding sermorelin begins with learning how the pituitary gland manufactures and secretes growth hormone. The hypothalamus measures blood hormone levels, determining when they are high or low. In the case of GH, the hypothalamus secretes growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) into the bloodstream to signal the somatotrophs (cells in the anterior pituitary gland) to produce GH. Sermorelin is a bioidentical version of the peptide hormone GHRH.
What is sermorelin, and why do doctors prescribe it while you are dealing with the early symptoms of growth hormone deficiency?
Sermorelin is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication that acts on the somatotrophs the same way as GHRH. It signals the somatotropic cells to increase GH production. In the early stages of GHD, sermorelin can help the body increase GH levels for optimum functions before symptoms become too intrusive.
Some of the earliest symptoms of adult GHD include:
- Reduced feeling of well-being
- Trouble sleeping
- Lack of energy
- Depression
- High LDL and low HDL cholesterol levels
- Muscle loss
- Weight gain
- Impaired sexual desire and functions
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory loss
- Circulatory or heart problems
- Joint pains
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Dry, aging skin
- Social isolation
Once many of these symptoms appear, growth hormone levels may be too low to benefit directly from sermorelin treatment. At that time, HGH therapy, which provides direct dosing of human growth hormone into the bloodstream, might be the optimum treatment. It works much quicker than sermorelin, which can take a few months to produce noticeable results.
Sermorelin works best when GH levels are only slightly lower than average. It can also be used in combination with HGH therapy. When administered this way, sermorelin helps increase natural production, while HGH provides an immediate boost. Many people who receive this treatment can stop HGH sooner and continue with sermorelin when they reach their ideal state.
Benefits of Sermorelin
Because sermorelin increases growth hormone levels, its benefits are similar to those of HGH therapy – the only difference is that it takes longer for sermorelin to work. Remember, you are not directly increasing GH levels. Instead, you are helping the body naturally produce more growth hormones. Most people report seeing or feeling differences and improvements by the third month of treatment.
Sermorelin has many benefits for the body, as it naturally stimulates growth hormone production, which is crucial for the following:
- Regeneration of cells (crucial for maintaining healthy skin structure, hair growth, lean muscle mass, internal organ structure, bone density, nails, and blood cell production)
- Immune system functions and wound healing (white blood cell production)
- Cognitive functions (focus, learning, retention, processing, memory)
- Reduced pain and stiffness (better muscle tone and bone density)
- Hormone regulation (lowers cortisol to improve sleep, stimulates sex hormones, increases insulin growth factor 1 production)
- Metabolic functions (processing of carbohydrates, lipids, and protein; insulin sensitivity; cholesterol regulation; fat burning and weight loss; energy increase)
- Emotional well-being (reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and irritability)
- Sexual functions (stimulates sexual desire, supports vaginal secretion and erectile functions)
- Appearance (reduced wrinkles, firmer skin, thicker hair, better nail growth, improved body composition)
- Heart health (positive effects on left ventricular mass and posterior wall thickness, stroke volume, left ventricular ejection diastolic diameters, circulation, nitric oxide production, and exercise capacity)
Many women report a reversal in symptoms associated with PMS and menopause, including night sweats and hot flashes. Sermorelin can be used long-term without any concern for serious side effects.
Important: Sermorelin is available only with a doctor’s prescription. Discover where to find Sermorelin for sale and how to contact a qualified HRT specialist for a sermorelin prescription.
Side Effects of Sermorelin
The potential for side effects is significantly greater with HGH than with sermorelin because growth hormone levels can become too high if too much HGH enters the body. With sermorelin, the pituitary gland will not overproduce growth hormone because the hypothalamus will sense higher levels and send somatostatin (growth hormone-inhibiting hormone) to the pituitary gland to decrease GH release.
As you can see in the comparison chart below, the potential side effects of HGH far outweigh those of sermorelin. Do remember that when medically prescribed and supervised by a hormone doctor, the risk of side effects of either treatment is extremely low. HGH therapy side effects are more common in cases of HGH abuse or misuse.
| Comparison of Sermorelin vs. HGH Therapy Side Effects | ||
| Side Effect | Sermorelin | HGH Therapy |
| Joint pain | X | |
| Muscle pain | X | |
| Swelling in extremities (edema) | X | |
| Headaches | X | |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | X | |
| Insulin resistance | X | |
| Increased scoliosis | X | |
| Acromegaly | X | |
| Tingling and numbness in the skin | X | |
| High cholesterol | X | |
| Male breast enlargement | X | |
| Liver damage | X | |
| Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching) | X | X |
| Allergic reactions (hives, rash, shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue, throat, lips, mouth, or face) | X | X |
| Sleepiness/insomnia | X | |
| Changes in taste | X | |
| Restlessness | X | |
| Dizziness | X | |
| Nausea | X | |
Conclusion
Sermorelin provides significant value to adult bodies when they begin to decrease natural growth hormone production. There are fewer side effects and risks with sermorelin, and the treatment is far less expensive than HGH therapy. Sermorelin can help improve mood, appearance, health, and quality of life in adults who struggle with declining GH production.
It is important to remember that people with widespread symptoms of growth hormone deficiency who have blood tests that show significantly low GH levels may require HGH therapy for optimum relief. Combining HGH with sermorelin can give the body the immediate boost it needs while helping improve natural GH secretion simultaneously.
Speak with a hormone specialist to learn more about how sermorelin can help you.
