All of us as kids have fantasized to have those big and bulky muscles when we grow up, no?
While gymming could possibly help you develop the body shape and optimal growth that you have always wished for, you definitely need a head-start, and this is where peptides help you climb up!
The growing use of peptide therapy in the recent past with phenomenal results has made it apparent that peptides are here to aid you in your optimal living.
Peptides almost cover all that men want, be it muscle growth, the right body composition, or enhanced overall health.
So all the men waiting for a headstart in their journey to the desired physical life, read my guide on the 5 best peptides you can practically use to achieve results.
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Key Takeaways
- 5 of the best peptides for men, especially for optimal muscle growth, include CJC 1295, Sermorelin, TB 500, Semaglutide, and Hexarelin.
- Most of these peptides work by stimulating human growth hormone levels released from the anterior pituitary gland.
- These help boost muscle growth, weight loss, and recovery and improve the immune system.
What are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve numerous fundamental functions of our body (1). With their rapid absorption and concise structure, they’re efficient in what they do.
Peptides are potent supplements for muscle bulking, fat loss, and improved endurance. Besides this, new synthetic peptides are being tested for their potential role in age-reversing and rapid wound healing. Peptides also contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory attributes that can aid in boosting the immune system.
#1 Peptide for Growth Hormone Release: Sermorelin
Sermorelin is a 29 amino acid containing synthetic peptides. The peptide is one of the potent analogs of the human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Therefore, Sermorelin mediates its effects by binding to the receptors of GHRH in the anterior pituitary gland. This, in turn, stimulates the release of human growth hormone from the somatotropic cells (2).
Sermorelin is indeed one of the best peptides for gaining muscle mass. The peptide stimulates the growth of the muscle cells via modulating the growth hormone levels; besides this, the peptide also improves sleep quality and efficient wound recovery.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin, an acetate salt, is a synthetic peptide containing 29 Amino acids. This artificial peptide (GRF 1-29 NH2) mimics the action of naturally occurring growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) composed of 44 Amino acid residues.
The growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors (GHRHr) are located in the anterior pituitary gland. Sermorelin binds with these receptors to trigger the increased production and secretion of growth hormone (GH) by somatotroph cells.
As feedback mechanisms maintain the hormonal levels, the increased serum concentration of growth hormone (GH) stimulates another endogenous hormone called somatostatin, also known as growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH).
Growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH) initiates a negative feedback mechanism to stop the secretion of any more growth hormone (GH) by the somatotroph cells so that hormonal levels don’t overshoot.
Thus, sermorelin makes sure to keep the entire homeostatic coordination of the hypothalamus-pituitary-somatostatin intact.
Apart from this, sermorelin also improves the sleep-related circadian rhythm by reducing the production of stress hormones. This further amplifies the release of growth hormone (GH).
Sermorelin Overview
⭐️ Top Benefits: Increases natural HGH production
🧪 Form: Injectable liquid
⌛️ Max Time Used: Up to 3 months
💰 Average Cost: $42.99
❤️🩹 Side Effects: Insulin resistance
☢️ Dangers: Not really
📚 Best Peptide Stack: HGH / IGF-1 / GHRP / CJC-1295
⚤ Men/Women: Men and women
➡️ Go to the Full review
- Enhanced muscle growth
- Efficient healing of wounds
- Reduces body fat
- Better sleep quality
- Improves brain functioning
- Cardiovascular growth
- Injection site pain
- Insulin resistance
- might experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, flushing, allergic reactions, loss of taste, hyperactivity, and paleness of skin
#2 Peptide for Increasing Muscle Growth: CJC 1295
Like sermorelin, CJC 1295 is also a potential analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone. The peptide works by stimulating the anterior pituitary gland. This enhances the natural production of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (3).
With higher levels, Human growth hormone and IGF-1 can benefit bones, muscles, and cartilage. The peptide increases protein synthesis in muscle cells, amplifying muscle mass (4). CJC 1295 also plays a minor role in reducing subcutaneous fat, thereby improving your lipid profile.
CJC 1295
CJC 1295 is considered one of the potent growth hormone secretagogues (GHS).
The peptide was first developed to stimulate the natural production of growth hormone and IGF-1 from the anterior pituitary gland. CJC 1295 also provides an inhibitory effect on the release of somatostatin, an inhibitor of growth hormone.
These hormones aid in increasing lean body mass, endurance, and strength. Researchers also believe that CJC 1295 is capable enough to regulate sleep cycles. Evidence suggests that growth hormone secretagogues such as CJC 1295 play an important role in maintaining and improving cardiovascular function, wound healing and repair, increased protein synthesis, and much more.
For bodybuilders, it is recommended to stack CJC 1295 with Ipamorelin to gain maximized benefits. Nonetheless, if you’re a beginner, you might experience unpleasant side effects such as vertigo, increased body temperature, and mood swings.
CJC 1295 Overview
⭐️ Top Benefits: Increase lean muscle mass, Enhanced endurance
🧪 Form: Injectable
💉 Typical Dosage: 250 mcg to 300 mcg
⌛️ Typical cycle duration: 60 to 90 days
💰 Average Cost: $49
✅ Availability: Easily available
❤️🩹 Side Effects and Dangers: Vertigo, Increased body temperature
📚 Best Peptide Stack: CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin, CJC-1295 / GHRP-2
🔄 See before and after
➡️ Go to the Full review
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased muscle strength
- Cardioprotective effects
- Vertigo
- Mood swings
- Increased body temperature
#3 Peptide For Rapid Healing: TB 500
TB 500, also known as Thymosin Beta 4, is a 43 amino acid peptide. TB 500 works in a unique way, unlike others. The peptide works by increasing the body’s reception towards actin filaments. This enhances cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation, specifically in keratinocytes and endothelial cells (5).
This, in turn, increases lean muscle mass and endurance. Besides this, the peptide is also reported to promote angiogenesis. This aids in efficient blood supply to wounds and thus promotes rapid recovery. Nonetheless, the peptide also improves cognitive brain function, cardiovascular health and enhances hair growth.
TB-500
Thymosin beta-4 is a small peptide with G actin-sequestering action. It is associated with the induction of angiogenesis and accelerated wound healing (10).
TB-500 is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring peptide LKKTETQ. The peptide segment (17)LKKTETQ(23) is the active site within the protein thymosin β(4) responsible for actin binding, cell migration and wound healing
Muscle fibers are made up of actin and myosin, which are contractile filaments. These filaments allow our muscles to contract and relax for mobility and carry out efficient metabolism and cell signaling.
TB-500 increases our body’s response to actin by increased reception of the protein by the peptide segment (17)LKKTETQ(23). This upregulation promotes increased cell growth, healthy cell proliferation, healing effects, and cell migration, particularly keratinocytes and endothelial cells.
TB-500 promotes angiogenesis which is the formation of new blood vessels. It builds up new blood vessel pathways for efficient blood supply to the wounds for increased healing. It also augments beneficial inflammation at the site of injuries.
TB-500 Overview
⭐️ Top Benefit: Rapid recovery from injuries
🧪 Form: Injectable liquid, Capsules, Transdermal patches
💉 Typical Dosage: 7.66 mg/week
⌛️ Typical cycle duration: 14 weeks
💰 Average Cost: $69.99
✅ Availability: Easily available
❤️🩹 Side Effects and Dangers: Headaches and stomach discomfort
📚 Best Peptide Stack: BPC-157 / TB-500
➡️ Go to the Full review
- Rapid wound healing
- Heals ligament and joint injuries
- Helps build endurance
- Injection site pain
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
#4 Peptide For Optimal Energy Levels: Hexarelin
Hexarelin is a growth hormone secretagogue comprising six amino acids (6). The peptide works by stimulating the phospholipid-dependent protein kinase pathway leading to amplified growth hormone secretion. This is, in turn, accompanied by enhanced muscle growth and strength.
Interestingly, Hexarelin is also reported to mimic the action of a naturally occurring hormone, ghrelin. In this way, the peptide is known to regulate blood glucose homeostasis. Research also indicates a protective role in maintaining cardiovascular health and the musculoskeletal system.
Hexarelin
The primary function of Hexarelin is to trigger the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland. Hexarelin follows multiple courses of action to achieve this purpose.
Hexarelin mimics the action of a naturally occurring hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is mainly synthesized in the stomach, and it travels via the bloodstream to bind with the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) located in the hippocampus.
This subsequent binding stimulates a wide array of physiological pathways such as the release of growth hormone (GH), protecting cardiomyocytes, regulating body weight, and development of the musculoskeletal system.
Hexarelin also binds with the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) similar to ghrelin to initiate a phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) signaling pathway. This leads to the amplified release of growth hormone (GH) due to the coordinated action of the hypothalamus as well as the pituitary gland.
Hexarelin is also known to limit the release of somatostatin, also sometimes referred to as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH). This leads to higher serum levels of growth hormone (GH).
Hexarelin Overview
⭐️ Top Benefits: Increases natural HGH production
🧪 Form: Injectable liquid
⌛️ Max Time Used: Up to 3 months
💰 Average Cost: $42.99
❤️🩹 Side Effects: Insulin resistance
☢️ Dangers: Not really
📚 Best Peptide Stack: HGH / IGF-1 / GHRP / CJC-1295
⚤ Men/Women: Men and women
➡️ Go to the Full review
- Muscle gain
- Fat Loss
- Increased bone density
- Injection site pain
- Insulin resistance
- Higher cortisol levels
- Increased prolactin levels
- Insulin desensitization
- Low libido
- Fatigue and lethargy
#5 Best For Weight Loss: Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist and is more of an anti-obesity peptide. The peptide helps regulate the average blood glucose levels by modulating the release of pancreatic insulin in a controlled manner. The peptide also slows the gastric emptying time, making you feel more full and therefore decreased appetite (7).
Nonetheless, when it comes to the cutting phase of your bodybuilding regimen, Semaglutide would be the one to go for. The starting dose for bodybuilding is around 0.25 mg per week. As weeks follow, you can dose up or down according to your requirement.
Semaglutide (GLP-1)
Semaglutide gets grouped with other Peptides but is more commonly known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the action of human incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
This is something that you would want when trying to lose weight, and this is why Semaglutide is being used as an anti-obesity medication (combined with a good diet and training plan). It is simply a method of glycemic control. [1,2]
When trying to lose weight or even trying to increase weight dramatically (bulking), glycemic control could help a tremendous amount.
Semaglutide will help your pancreas release the right amount of insulin when your blood sugar is high. So, it helps your body produce the correct amount of insulin needed.
This can help you avoid chronically high levels of blood sugar, which can have some severe impacts on your health. Fitness fanatics will also know that elevated blood sugar levels are one of the major causes of inflammation, fat gain, and heart disease.
Semaglutide Overview
⭐️ Top Benefits: Increases glycaemic control and decreases hunger
🧪 Form: Injectable liquid
⌛️ Max Time Used: 6 – 8 Weeks
💰 Average Cost: $119.99
❤️🩹 Side Effects: Allergic reaction
☢️ Dangers: Allergic reaction
📚 Best Peptide Stack: HGH / IGF-1 / HGH-Frag
⚤ Men/Women: Men and women
➡️ Go to the Full review
- Increases insulin control
- Decreases hunger
- Pain at the injection site
- Allergic reaction
How Do Peptides Work?
It’s essential to know how different supplements work in the body. With this, you can better judge whether the product is best for your health. As far as peptides are concerned, they work in quite a simple way.
Most of these peptides act as growth hormone-releasing hormone analogs or growth hormone secretagogues. Either way, the peptides increase serum growth hormone levels and insulin-like growth factor-1. These hormones, in turn, increase protein synthesis, specifically in the skeletal muscle cells leading to rapid bulking.
Therefore, one can also consider these peptides as performance-enhancing drugs as these are often used among bodybuilders and athletes.
How To Use Peptides?
Peptides are often available in liquid, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, topical creams, or injections.
While peptides are available in many forms, the injectable form is the most potent and effective way to administer peptides.
As far as injectable peptides are concerned, you must be very cautious. You must first reconstitute a lyophilized version of the peptide to use them. To do so, carefully add drops of bacteriostatic water into the vial according to the advised dosage.
Are Peptides Legal?
Regarding peptide legality, they’re yet to be approved by the Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the United States.
Are Peptides Safe?
To be frank, with the limited data available from human-based clinical trials, one can’t say for sure whether these peptides impose any significant harm on the human body or not.
However, animal studies, as well as user experiences, show very promising results when it comes to peptide therapy and is definitely regarded as a far safer option than its counterparts available in the market, such as SARMs and anabolic steroids.
FAQs
Are peptides Safe?
Peptides are considered very safe for human consumption when taken within the recommended doses.
What are the best peptides for men?
Some of the best peptides for men include CJC 1295, TB 500, Semaglutide, Hexarelin, and Sermorelin.
Can peptides cause serious side effects?
Besides mild headaches, nausea, and slight abdominal discomfort, there are no reported adverse effects.