Can I take “secretagogues” that contain amino acids to boost my hormone levels instead of natural hormone replacement?
Amino acids may modestly increase biomarker levels of growth hormone but what is usually required is at least a 100% increase. Most patients will not have significant gains with these products. Two of the most powerful stimulants for growth hormone release are resistance exercise and a good night’s sleep. However, as you age the hypothalamus becomes resistant to these powerful stimulants and so it is very unlikely that secretagoges which are weaker stimulants would be effective.
