Peptides researched for
Sarcopenia / muscle loss
Holding on to muscle as you age
3 peptides · 5 studies
What people research this for
Losing muscle with age or illness makes everyday things harder, like climbing stairs or carrying groceries. People want to stay strong and independent. A few peptides have been studied for muscle, and none is approved for age-related muscle loss.
Researched for
- Muscle loss with age
- Staying strong
- Muscle loss from illness
What the studies say so far
Tesamorelin studies in people with HIV found more muscle area and less fat inside the muscle on scans. That finding comes from one specific group and may not carry over to others. Follistatin research centers on blocking myostatin, a protein that limits muscle growth. The idea has strong support in lab and animal work, and use in people is limited to specialist research. Ipamorelin papers discuss a growth marker called IGF-1 and body composition in men with low testosterone.
Peptides studied
Each peptide below has been studied in this area. The label shows how far that research has gone.
Tesamorelin
Small early studies in peopleObservational study in people · 2 studies
Study note. Tesamorelin HIV analyses report increased muscle area and reduced muscle fat, population-specific, not a general sarcopenia approval.
- The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV. (opens in a new tab)
Adrian S, Scherzinger A, Sanyal A · The Journal of frailty & aging · 2019 · PubMed
- Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity. (opens in a new tab)
Lake JE, La K, Erlandson KM · AIDS (London, England) · 2021 · PubMed
- The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV. (opens in a new tab)
Follistatin
Early lab and animal researchResearch review · 1 study
Study note. Myostatin inhibition / follistatin reviews outline a muscle-disease rationale, clinical translation remains specialized.
- Inhibition of myostatin with emphasis on follistatin as a therapy for muscle disease. (opens in a new tab)
Rodino-Klapac LR, Haidet AM, Kota J · Muscle & nerve · 2009 · PubMed
- Inhibition of myostatin with emphasis on follistatin as a therapy for muscle disease. (opens in a new tab)
Ipamorelin
Small early studies in peopleObservational study in people · 2 studies
Study note. GH secretagogue papers discuss IGF-1 and composition endpoints relevant to muscle-loss research contexts.
- Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels. (opens in a new tab)
Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW, Allison A · American journal of men's health · 2017 · PubMed
- Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males. (opens in a new tab)
Sinha DK, Balasubramanian A, Tatem AJ · Translational andrology and urology · 2020 · PubMed
- Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels. (opens in a new tab)
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