Alpha GPC, popularly known as gpc choline, alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, alfa gpc, l-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, choline alphoscerate and α-gpc, is a nootropic, and its main benefit is for cognitive improvement and brain health, good for memory, learning, attention, thinking, etc. For more alpha GPC information, you may visit our alpha GPC  ingredient page.

alpha GPC growth hormone benefits

However, today, we are talking about another benefit-growth hormone. And this is why so many bodybuilding and fitness fans are interested in alpha GPC in their sports nutrition supplements for pre-workout. Does alpha GPC really grow male growth hormone in a natural way?

What is growth hormone?

Before we come to the mechanism of action of alpha GPC on growth hormones, let’s first look at what growth hormone is.

Growth hormone, known as somatotropin, somatropin and Human Growth Hormone, is often abbreviated as GH or HGH. As the name indicates, growth hormone is a kind of hormone that stimulates growth and regulates cellular growth in the human. Put it simple: growth hormone increases new muscle mass and bone density by promoting the synthesis of new protein tissues in the cell. Growth hormone is anabolic and great for muscle growth and repair.Does alpha GPC really enhance growth hormones for bodybuilders and athletes?

The answer is definitely yes. More and more experiments and studies verify alpha GPC’s benefits on HGH level.

A recent experiment conducted at the Faculty of Sport and Health Science of Ritsumeikan University in Shiga, Japan, yielded quite interesting results with respect to the endocrine and metabolic short-term effects of 1,000mg of GPC in 8 healthy male (25+/1y) subjects (Kawamura. 2012).

19x more growth hormone 60 min after the ingestion of 1,000 mg GPC, but just 6.88x more GH production over 2 hours. Obviously as a bodybuilder, you know how beneficial this can be for muscle growth.

alpha GPC growth hormone

So what’s the mechanism of action of alpha GPC growth hormone?

Alpha GPC raises GH levels by stimulating the release of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH). GHRH is activated via the glutamate pathways in the brain. This stimulation is believed to be completed during the Acetylcholine conversion.With increasing serum choline levels, the influx of choline into the brain increases as well. This will augment the synthesis of acetylcholine, which, in turn, has been found to decrease the concentration of somatotropin release-inhibiting factors right at the hypothalamic level and thus release the production of growth hormone

Alpha GPC is reliable at increasing GH. However, because of the rapid normalization of these increased GH levels, the practical advantages are diminished. In order to convey the physical benefits of increased GH levels, Alpha GPC would have to elevate GH and keep it elevated for a while so that supplementation could be limited to daily or even twice daily.

There are other supplements that increase acetylcholine levels but do not increase growth hormone levels, and that’s why alpha GPC is so unique compared with other coline sources such as CDP choline.