Anti-Aging, Human Growth Hormone and Unleashing the Fountain of Youth Part 2

To Re-Cap:

Peptides are short chains of amino acids found in food. Basically, peptides are proteins. Peptides are a new and exciting therapy with many health benefits; including anti-aging and better fitness/ exercise performance among others. We are using peptides ourselves and are impressed with the results we are seeing. We wrote more about peptide therapy here.

What is CJC-1295?

To answer this question, let’s talk a bit about the body’s physiology. In order for the body to release this magical hormone (HGH), the brain needs to be stimulated to release it. Normally the brain is stimulated to release human growth hormone by releasing another compound called growth hormone releasing hormone. When growth hormone releasing hormone is secreted, the brain is stimulated to release human growth hormone.

Part of the problem with aging is that the body still makes HGH, but it is not stimulated to release it anymore. Therefore, peptide therapy involves using the protein molecules that actually stimulate the brain to release the human growth hormone again.

The peptide that helps with this is called CJC-1295. CJC-1295 is essentially growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It is designed to stimulate the brain to release human growth hormone (HGH) (Teichman SL, 2006). It was invented by the pharmaceutical company Conju Chem Biotechnologies, hence the CJC in the name.

Human Growth Hormone or HGH is a hormone that promotes growth. It is crucial for growth and development from childhood into adulthood. It also helps with tissue repair, which is why it is associated with anti-aging.

In our youth, HGH is naturally produced by the pituitary gland (part of the brain), in a pulsating manner. It is secreted, or pulsed, in regular intervals during a continuous 24-hour time period (Ionescu M, 2006). The use of human growth hormone releasing peptide (aka CJC-1295) leads to the increase of HGH secretion and IGF-I production while maintaining its pulsed quality (Ionescu M, 2006), which is how human growth hormone works. The increase in HGH levels by continuous stimulation is important in increasing IGF-I (Ionescu M, 2006). IGF-1 has many different functions also related to growth and repair that we talk about in a different article.

In summary, the use of CJC-1295 leads to the release of the body’s natural stores of human growth hormone in a way that mimics how we released human growth hormone naturally in our youth. This is the magic of this therapy. It is basically stimulating our body to better utilize what we already have!

As a result of this improved stimulation and release of HGH, clinical results of CJC-1295 include fat loss, increase in lean muscle mass, better lipid profiles, better deep wave sleep and increased repair and recovery.

Study on CJC-1295

A single injection dose of CJC-1295 led to sustained increases in HGH and IGF-I levels in normal healthy people, for nearly 2 weeks (Teichman SL, 2006). A weekly or biweekly dose of CJC-1295 resulted in stimulation and increase of HGH and IGF-I for at least 7 days (Teichman SL, 2006). Both single and multiple doses of CJC-1295 over a 2-week period were safe and generally well tolerated (Teichman SL, 2006).  While most people use CJC-1295 on a daily basis (most frequently at bedtime), studies show that the results of this peptide are long lasting.

What is Ipamorelin?

We also mentioned Ipamorelin at the beginning of this article. Ipamorelin is another peptide (protein molecule) that assists with the release of our own stores of human growth hormone. Unlike CJC-1295, Ipamorelin works via a different mechanism. Because Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 work on different mechanisms to release HGH, when they are combined, the effect of releasing HGH is improved. Let’s talk about the mechanism through which Ipamorelin helps to improve HGH levels.

Normally the brain makes another hormone called somatostatin. Somatostatin’s job is to block the release of HGH. Therefore, if we give CJC-1295 which is telling the body to release HGH, but somatostatin is high, the CJC’s action may be blocked. Ipamorelin works to reduce the somatostatin level in the brain.

Think of it like this: If we were trying to get a car to move, CJC-1295 is like pushing on the gas pedal. While this good, it is ineffective if the car is still in park. The car being in park blocks the effect of the gas being able to move the car. Somatostatin is basically the car in park. Ipamorelin is essentially taking the car out of park, so the gas can work. This is why combining Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 works so well.

This is how Ipamorelin induces the release of HGH at all dose levels (Gobburu JV, 1999). Benefits include decreased body fat, increased lean muscle mass, improved sleep and increased collagen production.

The Combination of CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin

CJC-1295 (growth hormone releasing hormone) is often used in combination with Ipamorelin (growth hormone releasing peptide). The combination raises HGH and IGF-1, and works better together than individually. It is truly like taking the car out of park and stepping on the gas, which works much better to move the car than doing either one of these alone.

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs) stimulate the release of HGH. Combining a GHRH and a GHRP causes an increased, synergistic HGH release (Yan M, 2004). When combined, a GHRH (like CJC-1295) with a GHRP (Ipamorelin) can pulse larger amounts of HGH than if HGH was just used alone. The combination can also negate potential side effects from using HGH alone.

With the CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin combination, anecdotal evidence reports that people experience better sleep and overall recovery. Some people also experience fat loss. Follow up labs show increased and healthier IGF-1 levels. No negative lab levels were reported.

What are the Benefits of HGH and IGF-1?

Clearly, the main reason to use a CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin combo is to increase your HGH and IGF-1 levels. The benefits of doing this are manifold:

• HGH causes the release of IGF-1 from the liver, helping to build muscle (USADA, 2019). IGF-1 stimulates the growth of bones, muscle and other tissues (USADA, 2019).
• HGH decreases body fat, maintains muscle mass and strength (Lu M, 2019).
• HGH enhances athletic performance through increasing growth, development and muscle strength (Maréchal L, 2018).
• HGH affects the immune system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system and aging (Lu M, 2019).
• Its use in adults with HGH deficiency results in reduced body fat, increased lean body mass and increased fitness and strength (Heuberger JAA, 2018).
• HGH induces bone growth and regulates metabolism and electrolyte balance (Lu M, 2019).
• HGH helps with wound healing and lowers inflammation (Granata, 2016).
• It has a protective influence on cells, due to its ability to reduce inflammation and prevent cell death (Berlanga-Acosta J, 2017).
• In a study on postmenopausal women, it increases physical performance, improves body composition by reducing abdominal visceral fat (which is the unhealthy belly fat) and improves physical performance (Veldhuis JD, 2005).

What are the Side Effects of CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin?

In one clinical trial on CJC-1295, no participants experienced negative effects from higher HGH or IGF-I (Ionescu M, 2006). This may have been due to the short duration of the study but may also reflect a protective effect of CJC-1295 to limit the extent of HGH secretion (Ionescu M, 2006). Recall that CJC-1295 largely mimics the way that HGH is released. Therefore, due to the way that CJC-1295 affects the body, you should get a very healthy level of HGH being released. Based on this observation, the use of CJC-1295 or other GHRH agents may have an advantage over HGH alone, in people with a functioning pituitary gland and HGH secretion capacity (Ionescu M, 2006).

What does this mean? Some people will directly take human growth hormone. When this is done, the body gets a big bolus of HGH. This big bolus does not mimic the natural pulsatile fashion of HGH in the body and can increase the likelihood of side effects.

Another study found that injected CJC-1295 led to sustained increases in HGH and IGF-I levels in healthy adults and was safe and relatively well tolerated (Teichman SL, 2006). There was a cumulative effect after multiple doses, supporting the use of CJC-1295 as a therapeutic agent (Teichman SL, 2006) that can be taken over time.

One study looking for side effects of Ipamorelin found that Ipamorelin injected twice daily for up to 7 days was well tolerated (Beck DE, 2014). There were no significant differences between Ipamorelin and placebo in terms of side effects (Beck DE, 2014).

We recommend always working with a qualified functional medicine practitioner when using peptides. This will ensure you are supervised to get the best results and avoid any unnecessary adverse effects.

If you are looking to feel younger, get fitter, have more energy and exercise better, then peptide therapy may be for you!

** Please stay tuned for our next blog on another peptide, BPC 157 **