Learn more about oral and sublingual sermorelin medications including absorption and potential benefits.
As people age, their bodies naturally produce less growth hormone, which can affect everything from energy levels to muscle mass. This decline has led many to explore growth hormone replacement therapies, with oral sermorelin emerging as a potential option. But how does this treatment work, and what should you know about its absorption and effectiveness?
In this article, we will explore the science behind oral sermorelin, examine how well your body can absorb it, and discuss what research tells us about its potential benefits. Understanding these factors can help you make an informed decision about whether this treatment might be right for your health goals.
Sermorelin is a synthetic version of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), a naturally occurring peptide that tells your pituitary gland to produce growth hormone. Unlike direct growth hormone injections, sermorelin works with your body's existing mechanisms to stimulate natural hormone production.
Originally developed as a treatment option, sermorelin represents a different approach to addressing growth hormone insufficiency. Rather than replacing growth hormone directly, it encourages your pituitary gland to function more like it did when you were younger. This approach may help maintain more natural hormone patterns throughout the day.
When it comes to taking sermorelin by mouth, absorption becomes a critical factor. Peptides like sermorelin face significant challenges when taken orally in capsule form because digestive enzymes can break them down before they reach your bloodstream.
Bioavailability of oral sermorelin can be low due to components being lost during the digestive process. This means that only a small percentage of the sermorelin you take orally may actually reach your bloodstream in active form. Because of this, oral sermorelin in the form of, say, a capsule, is not recommended as an effective treatment option due to its rapid degradation by digestive enzymes, resulting in extremely poor bioavailability.
The digestive system presents multiple barriers to peptide absorption in an oral capsule. Stomach acid can denature the peptide structure, while digestive enzymes break down the molecular bonds. Even if some sermorelin survives these challenges, it must still cross the intestinal barrier to enter circulation.
Because of this, some practitioners have explored sublingual sermorelin as an alternative to overcome digestive challenges. This method involves placing the dissolvable lozenge medication under your tongue, where it can absorb more directly into your bloodstream through the mucous membranes. This way, sublingual lozenges work differently from a swallowed oral capsule.
Bioavailability is much better than an oral capsule that you swallow, but it can be variable, ranging between 15–30% in small pilot studies. However, this is still a significant improvement over oral absorption, avoids first-pass metabolism, and may provide a way for people to use sermorelin when injection isn’t possible or an oral option is wanted.
If you want to understand sermorelin's effectiveness, it's important to compare different delivery methods. Injectable sermorelin has the highest bioavailability, typically estimated at around 90–95%, which ensures consistent secretion of GH pulses in the body.
Injectable sermorelin demonstrates superior bioavailability, with studies showing that a single injection may maintain elevated growth hormone levels for up to six hours. This difference in absorption rates explains why most clinical studies have focused on injectable forms of the medication.
The higher bioavailability of injections means that more of the active ingredient reaches your system, potentially leading to more predictable and measurable effects. While sublingual sermorelin lozenges offer convenience and some level of effect. Oral capsules or other routes that are swallowed entirely should be avoided, as these are unlikely to have any substantial bioavailability.
While injection is best, if someone wanted to avoid the injection route and still try out sermorelin, sublingual sermorelin is a strong option. It is recommended to avoid strictly oral routes like capsules altogether due to the potential for almost zero effective absorption.
Injection and sublingual sermorelin lozenges are available through Strut Health, if you are a good candidate for treatment. To get started, simply complete a free online questionnaire-based consultation in under 5 minutes. If approved, your medication will be shipped to your front door with our fast and free shipping.
According to studies, most research on sermorelin has focused on injectable forms rather than oral or sublingual preparations. One 1996 study reported that a daily injection of sermorelin increased growth rate in 74% of children after just 6 months.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that subcutaneous Sermorelin injections lead to measurable increases in serum GH and IGF-1 levels, with a dose-responsive pulsatile pattern similar to endogenous GH secretion. The research consistently shows that injectable forms produce measurable physiological responses.
Some studies show that sermorelin may help with various aspects of aging-related hormone decline, but the evidence is primarily based on injectable forms. Sublingual methods of delivery are less studied, and more work needs to be done to confirm the exact comparative effectiveness.
Oral sermorelin offers convenience, but the absorption challenges may impact what benefits you might see. If you do want an oral sermorelin option, go with a sublingual product. The potential benefits associated with sermorelin therapy include improved energy levels, better sleep quality, enhanced muscle mass, and reduced body fat.
Before starting any sermorelin regimen, it's crucial to speak with your healthcare team about the most appropriate delivery method for your situation. In clinical studies, the incidence of hypothyroidism during Sermorelin therapy was 6.5%, highlighting the importance of proper medical supervision regardless of delivery method.
Your healthcare provider can help evaluate whether the potential benefits of oral sermorelin align with your health goals. They can also discuss alternative approaches that might be more effective for your specific needs.
Oral sermorelin represents an appealing concept for those seeking convenient hormone therapy options. The scientific evidence indicates that injection options have superior absorption. If injections are not an option or preference, it is best to go with a sublingual form, which provides much better absorption than a capsule or other formulations that are swallowed.
If you're considering sermorelin therapy, working with a qualified healthcare provider can help you understand all available options and choose the approach most likely to meet your health objectives. Convenience, preference, effectiveness, and safety should be considerations in any treatment decision.