Sermorelin -- Side Effects and Information

In my recent studies of human growth hormone, or HGH, I came across a new supplement called sermorelin. Sermorelin is what's known as a growth hormone releasing factor, or GRF, which means that it accelerates the secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. GRF that's produced by the brain is a protein of 44 amino acids that, when released, causes the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone. Sermorelin is a string of 29 amino acids that acts on the pituitary gland in a similar fashion.

So why not just take growth hormone instead of artificially stimulating the body to release it? When the body is deficient in a specific complex chemical like dopamine or serotonin, you ordinarily just ingest that hormone in pill form to make up for the lack like you could with a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Instead, the body is generally either given the building blocks with which to synthesize the chemical naturally, or in the case of sermorelin, a chemical that stimulates the release of the chemical.

In the case of human growth hormone, prescription medication exists, things like human growth hormone injections that a person actually injects intravenously. But in the case of growth hormone supplements that are sold over the counter without a prescription, they are known as secretagogues, which means that they somehow stimulate the pituitary gland to release growth hormone.  But these are generally fairly simple chemicals that have a general stimulating effect on the pituitary gland, unlike sermorelin which contains the essential string of 29 amino acids that directly stimulates the pituitary gland.

Many persons who use Sermorelin develop anti-GRF antibodies at some point during their treatments. But these antibodies don't always have an adverse reaction and often diminish and disappear naturally on their own. Because Sermorelin is a local injection, there may be some pain, redness, and swelling in the area where the injection was administered. In less than 1% of the persons given Sermorelin in clinical trials, symptoms like hyperactivity, dizzy spells, headaches, flushing, dysphagia, somnolence, and urticaria appeared.

Another thing that isn't generally considered a side effect, but rather a drawback is that Sermorelin doesn't actually produce HGH in the body, but rather, stimulates its release from the pituitary gland. This means that if there are natural factors which are causing low levels of HGH to be produced in the body, those need to be addressed as well or the problem will most like never be righted. There are many things that can cause a growth hormone deficiency in the body. Genetics, poor habits, poor diet, infection, and brain tumors are among the leading causes of HGH deficiency. If the growth hormone deficiency is caused by poor habits and poor eating, then those problems could be addressed in order to help the body produce and release the chemical on its own.

**This article is meant to enhance your general knowledge and should not be taken as medical advice or a medical diagnosis

Growth hormone is one of the many chemicals that decreases in production in the body with age, which is too bad, because it's a pretty amazing chemical to have floating around in your bloodstream.  Growth hormone not only speeds the burning of fat into energy, it also instructs the body to build more muscle.  Adults naturally see a decline in growth hormone with age, along with a host of other chemicals, things like digestive enzymes, testosterone for men, etc.  It's natural to see a decline.  In children and young adults however, a deficiency in growth hormone isn't natural, nor healthy.  If that's your case, then Sermorelin is a good choice to help make up for the lack.  Still, look at the tips below to see if there are ways to increase growth hormone naturally without having to resort to artificial medication.

1) Exercise and a Balanced Diet

• Even though it sounds like the same old song, a balanced diet and good exercise is absolutely essential to proper levels of growth hormone, especially in children.  Foods that have a high glycemic index, meaning that they're high in sugars, can actually cause the body to decrease the amount of HGH it produces.  If you combine a lack of exercise with a diet filled with sugary soda and other sweets, you better believe you're going to start seeing an effect on growth hormone production.  So before you go running to artificial medication, make sure these two essential factors are met.  In children, make sure they're getting enough outdoor play time, and drinking plenty of water.  If all they're ever doing is sitting in front of a video game with a soda in hand, it's no wonder that internal body chemistry is starting to go haywire.

2)  Sleep

• Sleep is essential not only for HGH production, but for a host of other essential bodily chemicals, especially in children.  Many kids, myself included when I was younger, have a lot of difficulty getting a full night's sleep.  When I was in Junior High and early High School, I would sometimes have so much energy that I couldn't fall asleep until 4am-5am on school nights.  Many children experience similar problems.  The only thing that worked for me was to exercise and wear myself out on a regular basis.  If I spent my energy on play, sports, or exercise, I was able to get a full nights rest.