Growth hormone

Somatropin · HGH · S-tier (Dr. Alex Tatem) · Strong evidence

Not a peptide secretagogue. It’s the real thing, included because it’s the benchmark every GH-releasing peptide below is trying to imitate. Dr. Tatem’s view is that none of them come close.

Dr. Tatem’s take

Rated S “unopposed”: “simply the gold standard.” It beats every secretagogue and IGF-1 for fat loss, muscle and recovery. On Diary of a CEO he listed insulin resistance, acromegaly, possible worsening of existing cancer and hand numbness as the real risks.

In Dr. Tatem’s tier list

• “One of the OG peptides.” It was first harvested from the pituitary glands of cadavers — truly revolutionary, because it let GH-deficient children be treated for the first time.
• Then the plot thickened: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (a prion disease, related to “mad cow”) was transmitted through cadaver-derived GH, and cadaveric production was shut down.
• That pushed scientists to develop recombinant (lab-grown) growth hormone.
• Today quality GH has never been easier to get or cheaper. It beats tesamorelin, every secretagogue, and IGF-1 / IGF-1 LR3 — it’s backed by “tons and tons of scientific literature” on fat loss, muscle, recovery, collagen and joint repair.
• Verdict: an “absolutely unopposed S-tier ranking.” Disclaimer from him: he doesn’t recommend injecting anything not prescribed by a doctor.

History & background

Human growth hormone was first extracted from cadaver pituitary glands in the 1950s (Maurice Raben treated the first child in 1958). From the 1960s the US National Hormone and Pituitary Program supplied it to thousands of children.

In 1985 several young adults treated as children died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease traced to contaminated pituitary GH, and distribution stopped that spring. FDA approved Genentech’s recombinant GH (Protropin) in October 1985, ending dependence on cadavers. In 1988 Congress made distributing GH for unapproved uses (such as anti-aging or bodybuilding) a specific federal crime.

Benefits

• Most reliable effect on fat loss, lean mass and recovery of anything in the GH family.
• Pharmaceutical-grade product is made by recombinant technology and is widely manufactured.

Risks

• Insulin resistance and higher blood sugar.
• Fluid retention, joint pain, hand numbness or carpal tunnel.
• Acromegaly-like changes with excess dosing.
• Could speed up the growth of an existing cancer.

Dosing protocols (informational, labeled by evidence)

• Clinical trial / label: Adult GHD replacement (Endocrine Society) — Start 0.2–0.4 mg/day if <60 y; 0.1–0.2 mg/day if >60 y; titrate to IGF-1, SubQ, Daily (evening), Chronic, IGF-1 checked every 1–2 months during titration
• Physician / clinic: 'Replacement-ish' anti-aging — 1–2 IU/day (~0.33–0.67 mg), SubQ, Daily, Ongoing
• Community (bro science): Body-composition practitioner/community use — 4–8 IU/day, SubQ, Daily, Varies

Status: FDA-approved for GH deficiency and several other conditions. US law specifically restricts distributing HGH for anti-aging or bodybuilding.

Grade and commentary: Dr. Alex Tatem. Watch: The Truth About Popular Peptides (What Works, What’s Overhyped) | Peptide Tier List pt.1, Peptide Expert: What Do Peptides Actually Do? (EXPLAINED) - Dr Alex Tatem. Subscribe: @DrAlexTatem.