ModerateCaution
Berberine
Berberine may lower glucose while MK-677 can worsen insulin resistance and increase appetite.
Recommendation: Do not use berberine to mask investigational-drug glucose effects; monitor glucose medically.
MK-677 (Ibutamoren)
Other ·Insufficient evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
MK-677, or ibutamoren, is an orally active non-peptide ghrelin receptor agonist commonly grouped with research peptides because it stimulates GH and IGF-1. It is not FDA-approved for any indication and is sold in many settings as a research chemical; anti-aging, muscle gain, sleep, and fat-loss uses are not approved and have limited clinical outcome evidence. Major concerns include increased appetite, edema, insulin resistance or higher glucose, lethargy, carpal-tunnel-like symptoms, and potential risk in malignancy or heart failure-prone users.
What it's good for
What to watch for
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Edema
- Active malignancy or high tumor concern
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
The bottom line
Evidence rating insufficient. Most-documented uses: raises gh and igf-1 in trials, increased fat-free mass in one older-adult trial without broad functional improvement, can increase appetite as a pharmacologic effect. 3 sources indexed (2008–2025), with 3 interaction records on file.
The science
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
MK-677 activates the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, increasing pulsatile GH secretion and IGF-1 without being a peptide. Ghrelin receptor activation also increases hunger and can alter sleep architecture, fluid balance, insulin sensitivity, and weight. Longer trials show target engagement but not consistent functional benefit, and glucose or edema adverse effects are clinically important.2,1
Class
Non-peptide oral GH secretagogue research chemical
Found in food
None
Low-status signs
No MK-677 deficiency exists
Dosing
Dosing & protocol.
Common range
No FDA-approved dose; clinical trials commonly used 25 mg/day orally under supervision, but this is not a supplement dose
Recommended form
Not recommended as a supplement; investigational oral drug only
Orally active small molecule. Product identity and purity are major concerns in research-chemical markets.
Forms
Forms & what to buy.
Ranked by evidence and value.
Investigational Oral MK-677 Tablet
Used in clinical trials under protocol and monitoring. Orally active.
Research Chemical Liquid or Capsule Recommended
Identity, dose, contaminants, and labeling cannot be assumed. Avoid non-prescription products.
Cost
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Research chemical oral product.
BudgetBest value
$30 /mo
$1.00 per dose
Mid
$75 /mo
$2.50 per dose
Premium
$180 /mo
$6.00 per dose
Research-market products are not approved medicines and are not appropriate for self-treatment. Updated 2026-06-04.
Goals
Goal-based dosing.
GH/IGF-1 Research
Dose: Protocol-specific; trials often used 25 mg/day
Timing: Research protocol only
Target engagement does not equal clinical benefit.
Muscle or Anti-Aging
Dose: No FDA-approved dose
Timing: Not applicable
Functional benefits are unproven and risks include glucose intolerance and edema.
Sleep or Appetite Claims
Dose: No approved dose
Timing: Not applicable
Appetite and sleep changes are pharmacologic effects and may be adverse.
Lab work
Markers to track.
What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 IGF-1
Expected to increase in responsive users.2
Optimal
80–250 ng/mL
Conventional
50–300 ng/mL
Responds in
2-8 weeks
50optimal300
High IGF-1 does not prove clinical benefit and may increase risk.
Fasting glucoseHbA1cIGFBP-3
Hemoglobin A1c HbA1c
May worsen with reduced insulin sensitivity.
Optimal
4.8–5.4 %
Conventional
4–5.6 %
Responds in
8-12 weeks
4optimal5.6
Monitor fasting glucose earlier because A1c lags.
Fasting glucoseFasting insulinIGF-1
Why people use it
Symptoms it's matched to.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Low IGF-1 on labs
18% relevance
Raises GH and IGF-1 in trials, but not approved for treatment.3
HormoneInsufficient evidenceNot recommended
Needs endocrine evaluation.
Low appetite
14% relevance
Ghrelin receptor agonism increases appetite, but this is not an approved use.1,3
DigestiveInsufficient evidenceNot recommended
May worsen weight and glucose control.
Poor muscle recovery
10% relevance
Recovery claims are extrapolated from GH/IGF-1 changes.
AthleticInsufficient evidenceNot recommended
WADA-prohibited and not FDA-approved.
Safety
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Edema
- Lethargy
- Joint pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Carpal-tunnel-like symptoms
- Increased fasting glucose
- Insulin resistance
Contraindications
- Active malignancy or high tumor concern
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Diabetes or uncontrolled prediabetes without specialist supervision
- Heart failure, significant edema, or uncontrolled hypertension
- Competitive athletes subject to anti-doping rules
- Non-FDA-approved human use and research-chemical products3
Interactions
Interaction records.
ModerateCaution
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid may change glucose readings while MK-677 can impair glucose tolerance.
Recommendation: Use fasting glucose and A1c monitoring in any medically supervised context; avoid self-experimentation.
ModerateCaution
Creatine
Both can increase scale weight or water retention signals; MK-677 edema can be clinically important.
Recommendation: Watch for ankle swelling, numbness, blood pressure changes, and shortness of breath, not just weight gain.
Sources
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
2- 1Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trialNeeds sourceNo linkNass R et al. · Annals of Internal Medicine · 2008
MK-677 increased fat-free mass and IGF-1 but did not produce broad functional improvement.
- 2Growth hormone secretagogue MK-677: no clinical effect on AD progression in a randomized trialNeeds sourceNo linkSevigny JJ et al. · Neurology · 2008
MK-677 increased IGF-1 but did not slow Alzheimer disease progression.
Reference material
1- 3The 2026 Prohibited List: International StandardNeeds sourceNo linkWorld Anti-Doping Agency · World Anti-Doping Agency · 2025
Non-approved substances and GH secretagogues are prohibited in sport.
Keep exploring
Deep dives & adjacent profiles.
This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
Use this with your stack
MK-677 (Ibutamoren) in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.