MK-677 Dosage Guide | Bodybuilding, Cycling, and Safety

Daniel Louwrens

Last Updated December 18, 2022

Daniel Louwrens

 December 18, 2022

Curious about the best MK-677 dosage? Then you’re in the right place, as we detail all dosing and cycling protocols for MK-677 below. Whether you’re looking to put on muscle mass or lean up, the ideal MK-677 dose for bodybuilders is found below.

MK-677 has been researched for quite some time, so whether you’re looking to put on muscle mass or lean up, the ideal MK-677 dose for bodybuilders is detailed right here.

Disclaimer: The contents of Testosterone.org are for informational and educational purposes. We do not provide legal advice. Likewise, we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician prior to consuming any over-the-counter supplements, like a natural testosterone booster, and/or getting a prescription for a pharmaceutical medication. Your access to Testosterone.org is subject to our full disclaimer and terms of use.


MK-677 Dosage Calculator

MK-677 (aka Ibutamoren Mesylate) is a chemical that has been studied using research subjects to see if it boosts athletic performance. MK-677 is a non-peptide agonist of the Ghrelin Receptor, and acts as a growth hormone secretagogue, increasing the release of hormones such as growth hormone and insulin growth like factor 1 (IGF-1). This could aid in muscle gain and fat loss. The optimal MK-677 dosage is going to vary for each person, depending on their current bodyweight and goals.

Researchers have found that dosages of MK-677 as low as 10mg per day have positive effects on growth hormone levels [1]. The researchers also found increasing benefits up to an MK-677 dosage of 50 mg of MK-677. However, doses higher than 50 mg have not been sufficiently researched.

If you’re interested in learning whether MK-677 can raise GH or IGF-1 levels and boost athletic performance, then you’re in luck. A recent study found that 10mg of MK-677 per day can increase research subect’s IGF-1 levels by 50% and your GH levels by 79% above baseline [1].

Researchers have also looked at higher dosing protocols. One study showed that 25 mg of MK-677 increased GH levels by 83% and IGF-1 levels by 29% in the first 8 days [2]. You may have noticed that IGF-1 levels were increased more with the 10 mg dose vs the 25 mg dose. This has led some researchers to conclude that 10-25mg per day seems to be the sweet spot before seeing diminishing returns. Keep in mind this study placed trial subjects in a caloric deficit whilst taking MK-677 which could have lowered IGF-1 levels.

However, 50mg of MK-677 has also been tested. This large dosage yielded an 82% increase in GH from baseline, and a 79% increase from baseline for IGF-1 levels [1].

Thus, studies show that a daily MK-677 dosage of 10 – 25 mg may be optimal for increasing athletic performance in research subjects. However, future studies may reveal that doses as high as 50 mg provide additional benefits.


What is MK-677?

MK-677 was first patented in 1995 as a growth hormone secretagogue to help individuals suffering from growth hormone deficiency. MK-677 is often confused with or lumped together with a group of chemicals called SARMs. SARMs are known as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, and were developed to replace Steroids in the medical industry. They would still help individuals suffering from muscle wastage disease without having the same adverse effects. So, is MK-677 a SARM? Nope.

MK-677 is technically a non-peptide agonist of the Ghrelin Receptor, increasing somatotrophe secretion of GH [3]. This means that MK-677 can increase the amount of growth hormone the pituitary gland secretes, which in turn will also increase IGF-1 levels within the body.

This is important because increased GH and IGF levels can aid in muscle growth as well as fat loss [4]. Another benefit of MK-677 over other secretagogues is the ability to raise GH levels without raising cortisol levels, allowing for a greater increase in fat-free mass.


MK-677


MK-677 Cycle Guide

Taking MK-677 is no small decision and requires a lot of thought and preparation. That being said, what would a typical cycle look like for this performance enhancing substance in research studies?

First off, MK-677 has not been tested in research subjects for longer than 12 weeks at a time. Longer cycles may have negative side effects on subjects and should be avoided at all costs. While there is no minimum requirement for MK-677 time usage, the scientific literature shows enhanced performance in research subjects with 8 – 12 weeks of usage. Studies have shown that usage up and until 9 weeks didn’t yield major adverse effects compared to the positive outcomes [5].

Taking MK-677 for longer than 12 weeks can lead to increase risk of adverse effects.


How to Take MK-677 | What You MUST Know

Of course, the mechanism of dosage is also another choice you can take a look at. Currently, there are quite a few options available:

  • Powdered MK-677
  • Injectable MK-677
  • Oral Liquid Mk-677
  • Oral Capsule MK-677

All of these options have been studied in the scientific literature, and they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it comes down to preference. It should also be noted that 8-12 week cycles of MK-677 are associated with negative side effects, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and fluid retention [5, 6].

Currently, it is not clear if any test subjects performed more than 1 cycle of MK-677 in a year. In order to limit negative side effects, it may be wise for research subjects to perform no more than 1-2 cycles per year, and to not exceed 50 mg per day during the study. It may also be a good idea for researchers to conduct regular blood tests during the course of their study, to make sure that their subjects’ cholesterol and blood pressure levels remain within the normal, healthy range.


Best MK-677 Supplements | 2023 Edition

The current best MK-677 we can recommend is the MK-677 from Chemyo. Dosed at 25mg per ml, this Oral Liquid is also third-party tested for its identity, purity, and concentration. This ensures researchers get a clean and fully dosed product. It also comes in a 50ml bottle which is considerably larger than competing companies.

Not only does Chemyo offer the reports from these third-party testers, they also offer free US shipping on orders above $150. Chemyo, which is based in the States, aims to provide a good quality product to its consumers and has a very open approach to quality control. They also provide a great variety of payment options to make the purchasing experience as smooth as possible for consumers.

Order MK-677 from our top-rated USA vendor...


MK-677 Benefits

MK-677 was designed to be administered to patients suffering from either a growth hormone deficiency or muscle wastage [7]. As a remedy, MK-677 will increase the secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, and as a result of the increased growth hormone levels, IGF-1 levels will increase. Overall, the main benefits from MK-677 usage include [3]:

  • Increased Growth Hormone levels leading to increased fat loss and muscle gain
  • Increased IGF-1 leads to increased muscle gain
  • Increased bone density which could aid strength training

The majority of the benefits of MK-677 stem from the fact that it increases the production of growth hormones. Growth hormone has been dubbed “the youth hormone” on social media as it can lead to better life quality, better skin, increased muscle mass, and reduced body fat [8]. Unlike taking exogenous growth hormone, a secretagogue like MK-677 will not downregulate the endogenous production of your own growth hormone..


MK-677


Is MK-677 Safe?

The next logical question is how bad the adverse effects of this wonder product are. While there isn’t a ton of research on MK-677, there are some studies we can look at. The negative side effects of MK-677 include:

Increase in Insulin Resistance

This is due to growth hormone-inducing lipolysis, releasing free fatty acids (FFA) from adipose tissue. An increase of FFA in the blood has been shown to increase insulin resistance [9]. This can be avoided in research subjects by increasing activity levels as well as following a calorie deficit diet.

Increase in Water Retention

Another side effect of increased growth hormone levels, as it has been founded that a drastic increase in growth hormone levels can cause sodium retention [10]. This same study found no change in blood pressure.

Increased Apatite

Since MK-677 is a Ghrelin mimic, and Ghrelin will increase hunger, inducing MK-677 will result in an increase in hunger [1].

Other than these small adverse effects, research hasn’t really found anything other than outliers experiencing abdominal pain. It would make MK-677 relatively safe for consumption, as human studies have been executed frequently. That being said, it cannot be sold for human consumption, and can only be sold as a research chemical.


MK-677 Dose | Overall

The world of enhanced fitness can be saturated with dangerous products or products that don’t even work. There are plenty of studies to reflect the effectiveness of MK-677 to increase fat-free mass as well as aiding in muscle retention when combined with a caloric deficit.

Due to the potential for side effects, there are risks associated with studies using large doses of MK-677 for long periods of time. However, studies have shown doses in the 10-25 mg/day range have produced significant results in research subjects with minimal side effects. Ensuring good health control via blood tests is also greatly advised for any future studies.


References

  1. Ian M. Chapman, Ora H. Pescovitz, Gail Murphy, Theresa Treep, Kristine A. Cerchio, David Krupa, Barry Gertz, William J. Polvino, Emily H. Skiles, Suzan S. Pezzoli, Michael O. Thorner, Oral Administration of Growth Hormone (GH) Releasing Peptide-Mimetic MK-677 Stimulates the GH/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Axis in Selected GH-Deficient Adults, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 82, Issue 10, 1 October 1997, Pages 3455–3463, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.82.10.4297
  2. M. G. Murphy, L. M. Plunkett, B. J. Gertz, W. He, J. Wittreich, W. M. Polvino, D. R. Clemmons, MK-677, an Orally Active Growth Hormone Secretagogue, Reverses Diet-Induced Catabolism, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 83, Issue 2, 1 February 1998, Pages 320–325, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.83.2.4551
  3. Nass R, Pezzoli SS, Oliveri MC, et al. Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(9):601-611. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-149-9-200811040-00003
  4. Ishida, J., Saitoh, M., Ebner, N., Springer, J., Anker, S. D., and von Haehling, S. (2020) Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development. JCSM Rapid Communications, 3: 25– 37. https://doi.org/10.1002/rco2.9.
  5. Murphy, M.G., Bach, M.A., Plotkin, D., Bolognese, J., Ng, J., Krupa, D., Cerchio, K. and Gertz, B.J. (1999), Oral Administration of the Growth Hormone Secretagogue MK-677 Increases Markers of Bone Turnover in Healthy and Functionally Impaired Elderly Adults. J Bone Miner Res, 14: 1182-1188. https://doi.org/10.1359/jbmr.1999.14.7.1182
  6. M. G. Murphy, S. Weiss, M. McClung, T. Schnitzer, K. Cerchio, J. Connor, D. Krupa, B. J. Gertz, Effect of Alendronate and MK-677 (a Growth Hormone Secretagogue), Individually and in Combination, on Markers of Bone Turnover and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 86, Issue 3, 1 March 2001, Pages 1116–1125, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.86.3.7294
  7. Dr. Idiberto Jose Zotarelli Filho, MSc, Ph.D. MAJOR APPROACHES THE USE OF GH SECRETAGOGUE (MK-677) FOR MUSCLE MASS GAIN IN ELDERLY: A BRIEF SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Authorea. May 26, 2020.
  8. Devesa J, Almengló C, Devesa P. Multiple Effects of Growth Hormone in the Body: Is it Really the Hormone for Growth?. Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2016;9:47-71. Published 2016 Oct 12. doi:10.4137/CMED.S38201
  9. Kim SH, Park MJ. Effects of growth hormone on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in human. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2017;22(3):145-152. doi:10.6065/apem.2017.22.3.145
  10. Hoffman DM, Crampton L, Sernia C, Nguyen TV, Ho KK. Short-term growth hormone (GH) treatment of GH-deficient adults increases body sodium and extracellular water, but not blood pressure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996 Mar;81(3):1123-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem.81.3.8772586. PMID: 8772586.
Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents