Sermorelin · research summary

Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?

Clinical interventions in aging · 2006. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Review and proposal for a clinical protocol
“In the interim, the value of rhGH in GHRT will continue to be debated; unfortunately based more upon personal prejudice than objective information.”

Subjects

Aging adults and practitioners in age management
“Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) using recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been embraced by many age management practitioners as one of the most effective methods for opposing somatic senescence currently available.”

Reported findings

Sermorelin is proposed as an alternative to rhGH because it stimulates endogenous growth hormone release via the pituitary gland rather than providing exogenous hormone.
“Sermorelin simulates the patients own pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to increase production and secretion of endogenous hGH.”
Sermorelin is associated with physiological advantages over rhGH, including regulation by negative feedback and avoidance of tachyphylaxis due to episodic release.
“Tachphylaxis is avoided because sermorelin-induced release of pituitary hGH is not “square wave”, but instead simulates more normal physiology”
The off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law, unlike rhGH which has specific legal restrictions.
“Unlike rhGH which has legal restrictions on its clinical use, the off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law.”

Limitations stated by the authors

The text notes that concerns regarding rhGH risks are speculative and lack sufficient scientific evidence, and that sermorelin failed as a growth-promoting agent in children.
“Of course, all these concerns are speculative and will not be resolved until sufficient scientific evidence for or against GHRT eventually accumulate.”

Source: PubMed 18046908 · DOI 10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.307 · all study summaries

Reported findings

Sermorelin is proposed as an alternative to rhGH because it stimulates endogenous growth hormone release via the pituitary gland rather than providing exogenous hormone.

“Sermorelin simulates the patients own pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to increase production and secretion of endogenous hGH.”

Sermorelin is associated with physiological advantages over rhGH, including regulation by negative feedback and avoidance of tachyphylaxis due to episodic release.

“Tachphylaxis is avoided because sermorelin-induced release of pituitary hGH is not “square wave”, but instead simulates more normal physiology”

The off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law, unlike rhGH which has specific legal restrictions.

“Unlike rhGH which has legal restrictions on its clinical use, the off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law.”

Limitations stated by the authors

The text notes that concerns regarding rhGH risks are speculative and lack sufficient scientific evidence, and that sermorelin failed as a growth-promoting agent in children.

“Of course, all these concerns are speculative and will not be resolved until sufficient scientific evidence for or against GHRT eventually accumulate.”