the research deskevery row graded in a published reportreviewed 24 aug 2026not medical advice
The answer, first
The answer, first. No peptide sold for muscle growth holds a randomized human trial with a muscle endpoint.
The GH-axis compounds move a body-composition scan, and when a trial measured what the extra mass was, it was noncontractile protein and water while strength gains matched placebo. The two interventions with real evidence for this goal are resistance training and adequate protein.
How we graded
One ladder for the whole field. A peptide sits on it beside a habit, a procedure and an approved drug, and is graded on the same terms.
gradewhat it means
ARandomized human evidence with the endpoint in question, replicated or regulator-accepted
BRandomized human evidence with a related or intermediate endpoint
CHuman evidence that is uncontrolled, underpowered, or in a population that does not transfer
DAnimal, mechanistic or community evidence only
ENo human outcome data exists yet
The ranked field
Every grade below was assigned in a report already published on this site, and every row links to it. No grade is created on this page.
#intervention · type · gradewhat the best evidence actually shows
01Structured resistance trainingHabit · muscle protein synthesis, strengthgradeAThe intervention every trial on this page used as its baseline. In the randomized GH study, training alone produced the same strength gains as training plus growth hormone. Read the report →
02A GH secretagogue for lean body massOral · ghrelin-receptor agonistgradeB395 adults aged 65 to 84, randomized. Lean body mass rose 1.4 kg against 0.3 kg, two function measures improved, and fasting glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and insulin-resistance indices all rose. Stopped early. Read the report →
03CJC-1295 for raising GH and IGF-1Injectable · GHRH analoguegradeBA randomized double-blind study confirmed prolonged GH and IGF-I elevation. The endpoints were hormone concentrations. Muscle was not measured. Read the report →
04Growth hormone on top of resistance trainingInjectable · recombinant GHgradeB, negativeFat-free mass and total body water rose more on GH. Muscle protein synthesis, creatinine excretion and strength gains were identical. Attributed to noncontractile protein and fluid retention. Read the report →
05Ipamorelin, at its one randomized endpointInjectable · ghrelin mimeticgradeB, negative114 bowel-resection patients, randomized and placebo-controlled, testing gut motility. No significant difference from placebo. Nobody has run the body-composition trial. Read the report →
06Tesamorelin for muscle in the labelled populationInjectable · GHRH analoguegradeCAn exploratory secondary analysis in adults with HIV found reduced muscle fat and increased muscle area among responders. It selected responders and tested no performance outcome. Read the report →
07CJC-1295 with ipamorelin for muscle gainInjectable · combinationgradeDNo trial of the combination exists. The community label covers at least three different molecules, which prevents aggregation before product quality is considered. Read the report →
08BPC-157 and TB-500 for tissue repairInjectable · research peptidesgradeDGraded D on the whole-field ladder. No published randomised human trial for any indication. Read the report →
09MOTS-c for muscle in humansInjectable · mitochondrial-derived peptidegradeEThe founding work is a mouse study. The first registered human phase 2a has posted no results. Read the report →
What this page is
A doorway, not a recommendation.
Most people arrive at this market with a goal rather than a compound name. This page exists so that arriving with a goal does not mean arriving at a sales page.
Everything on it is ranked by what the published human record supports for that goal specifically, which is why habits and approved drugs finish above research peptides on most of these lists.
Nothing here is a recommendation to obtain or use any compound, and no dose appears anywhere on this site. Where a grade is low it is because the file is thin, and a thin file is a reason to be careful rather than a reason to try harder.
This page is for research and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified clinician before making any decision about your health.