Sermorelin for Growth Hormone Deficiency:

Major advances in medicine are often met with fervent opposition because
the approaching paradigm shift has economic, political and social
ramifications that are a threat to the status quo. The birth of anti-aging
medicine has been no different as sensationalistic tabloid style propaganda
serves to drown out the voice of scientific, evidence based medicine.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has risen as the primary scapegoat in anti-
aging medicine…it is now illegal to prescribe HGH for anti-aging purposes!

There really isn’t much compelling evidence that mainstream anti-aging

medicine can extend lifespan appreciably. However, there is plenty of
evidence that it can extend “healthspan” so that a patient can enjoy lifelong
health. In other words, the last 20-40 years of life can be vibrant and active
instead of a continuous downhill slide full of pain, misery, and diminishing
function. Maximum Life is not about living longer; it is about living better
longer.

Utilization of HGH has been a cornerstone of the anti-aging movement, but

law-abiding physicians can no longer view this wonderful naturally
occurring substance as a weapon to be prescribed in the fight against aging.
Congress and the FDA have increased the stakes…now our challenge is to
find ways to encourage your own body to increase production of growth
hormone. Proper nutrition, exercise, and REM sleep all have been proven to
increase growth hormone production. Unfortunately, the aging pituitary
gland (site of HGH production) becomes less responsive to these stimuli and
thus growth hormone levels fall. This leads to a cascade of negative events
that can best be described as aging.

Fortunately, the pituitary gland can respond to a chemical “signal” from the
brain that tells it to produce more growth hormone. Unfortunately, this part
of the brain also falls victim to the aging process and therefore as we get
older the intensity of this “signal” fades. Now for the really good news…we
can mimic the brain “signal” utilizing Sermorelin (a growth hormone
releasing factor). Sermorelin is an identical replicate of the active portion
(the first 29 amino acids) of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
that is normally produced in the hypothalamus (brain). GHRH serves to
“signal” the pituitary gland to produce and release more growth hormone.
Sermorelin can provide this signal in identical fashion (Walker, 2006).
Sermorelin has an excellent safety profile, ultimately produces the same end
organ effects as HGH (because its’ only mechanism of action is through
HGH production), preserves feedback mechanisms that regulate the pituitary
gland (making overdose less likely), and can be used legally in anti-aging
medicine (Merriam et al., 2001).

By the age of 50, most of us are functioning with 50% of the HGH levels we
enjoyed in our twenties with even greater declines ahead. In a HGH
deficient patient, the correction of low HGH levels can have a profound and
far-reaching impact on all areas of life including:
--Body composition (reduced body fat / increased lean muscle mass)
--Lipid profiles
--Cardiovascular capacity, endurance, energy, peak exercise capability
--Improved mood / memory / cognitive function
--Improved sleep / bone density / immune function / sexual function
….and the list goes on and on.

If your HGH levels are symptomatically low, the best practice of medicine is
going to find a way to normalize them legally and responsibly. Sermorelin
is a powerful tool in this quest. The “Great Hormone Debate” continues
(Landsmann, 2006).
 References

Landsmann, M.A. (2006). Forever Young? What role does HGH play in the aging
process? The question is rife with controversy. ADVANCE for Healthy Aging 2, 54-61.

Merriam, G.R., Barness, S., Buchner, D. (2001). Growth hormone releasing hormone
treatment in normal aging. Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine 4, 331-343.

Walker, R.F. (2006). Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth

hormone insufficiency? Clinical Interventions in Aging, 1(4)1-2.