What is AOD9604?
AOD9604 is a synthetic peptide that mimics a part of the human growth hormone. A peptide is a short sequence of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Naturally, we get peptides through our diet as a result of digesting proteins.
Besides their nutritional function, peptides also fulfil a variety of other physiological roles, including some functions of the immune system, act as neurotransmitters, cell-to-cell signalling, and functions in growth and development.
AOD9604 consists of 16 amino acids, which are a part of the human growth hormone. The human growth hormone itself is an ubiquitous hormone with many roles, including the development of children and adolescents by increasing muscle mass.
Another of the growth hormone's functions is to regulate fat metabolism. The hormone signals to release stored fat into the bloodstream, which can be then used to generate energy, thus contributing to a favourable lipid profile in the body.
Peptide supplementation
Peptide supplementation has been found to be beneficial in various health contexts. For instance, it has been shown to improve nitrogen absorption, utilization, and insulin secretion, especially in critically ill patients with impaired gastrointestinal absorption due to hypoalbuminemia [2]. Peptide supplementation is also commonly used to increase protein intake in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, an age-related disease [3].
In terms of parenteral nutrition, dipeptide solutions can provide selected amino acids that may be indispensable under certain clinical conditions [4]. Moreover, peptide supplementation can improve protein digestion and postprandial plasma amino acid availability [5].
In the context of resistance training in elderly subjects with sarcopenia, collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training has been shown to further improve body composition by increasing fat-free mass, muscle strength, and reducing fat mass [6].
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of peptide supplementation can depend on various factors, including the type of peptides used, the individual's health status, and the presence of other interventions.
What is the role of peptides in the body
Peptides play a crucial role in various physiological processes in the body. They function as chemical signals between cells, acting as hormones, neuromodulators, and growth factors [2]. They are involved in nutritional functions by supplying amino acids and have bioregulatory functions in various physiological activities, including anticancer actions, lowering blood pressure, enhancing immunity, and promoting calcium absorption [3].
Peptides also play a significant role in the immune system. For instance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) protect the body against microbial infections due to their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities [4]. They also regulate autophagy, which in turn regulates the immune system response [5].
Furthermore, peptides are involved in the regulation of nerve functions and can modulate the activity of digestive enzymes in the intestinal tract, thereby modulating nutrient absorption [6]. They also play a role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, such as cognition, blood pressure, feeding behavior, water balance, glucose metabolism, pain, and response to stress [7].
Lastly, peptides have been associated with geroprotective properties, helping to maintain homeostasis in the body and regulate mechanisms underlying aging [8].
What is the usage regimen of AOD9604
AOD9604 is a peptide that mimics the lipolytic properties of growth hormone without the diabetogenic side effects. It is used as a performance-enhancing drug and is banned by the World Anti-doping Agency. The specific usage regimen of AOD9604 is not detailed in the provided articles. However, for detection of its abuse in athletes, a solid-phase extraction method was validated in urine with a limit of detection of 50 pg/mL [2].
What is solid-phase extraction
Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a sample preparation technique used in various fields such as analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental examination. It involves a physical extraction process where a target analyte is separated from a complex sample matrix prior to quantitative or qualitative determination. The purpose of this treatment is to eliminate matrix constituents that could interfere with the detection process or damage analytical equipment, and to enrich the analyte in the sample so that it is readily available for detection [3], [2].
SPE can be applied directly in gas-solid phase and liquid-solid phase, or indirectly to solid samples. It is an effective tool for the preconcentration of trace elements and their separation from various sample constituents [4]. The heart of the SPE technique is the sorbent material, which directly influences the selectivity, sorptive capacity, and the format or the configuration of the resultant SPE device [5].
SPE has many advantages over traditional methods like liquid/liquid extraction, including the use of less solvent, shorter operation time, fewer procedure steps, and lower cost [6].
Why is AOD9604 not commonly used in human medicine?
AOD9604 is a peptide that mimics the lipolytic properties of growth hormone without the diabetogenic side effects. However, it is banned by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and may be used as a performance-enhancing drug. This could potentially limit its use in human medicine. Furthermore, the detection of AOD9604 abuse in athletes requires a solid-phase extraction method, which has been validated in urine with a limit of detection of 50 pg/mL. This method has good linearity, precision, specificity, and recovery, but it also indicates the need for careful monitoring and regulation of its use [2].
What is AOD9604
AOD9604 is a peptide that consists of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone from amino acids 177-191 with an additional tyrosine residue at the N-terminus of the peptide. It is reported to mimic the lipolytic properties of growth hormone without the diabetogenic side effects. This peptide may be used as a performance-enhancing drug and is banned by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). The peptide is available on several Internet websites and was recently identified in confiscated vials in the USA. To detect abuse of the peptide in athletes, a solid-phase extraction method was validated in urine with a limit of detection of 50 pg/mL [2].
What is the AOD9604 peptide used for?
The AOD9604 peptide s used as a supplement to reduce body fat. The 16 amino acids found in AOD9604 are the domain of the growth hormone that signals to the fat deposits to release fat.
AOD9604 gained popularity in the fitness community, following some anecdotal evidence that AOD9604 can function in a targeted manner, with a preference to areas of the body where fat accumulation is common, such as the waistline and hips. Additionally, AOD9604 does not exert diabetogenic (leading to development of diabetes) side effects.
AOD9604 is administered either orally as a tablet or as an injection, with no scientifically validated evidence on dosing and usage being available. It is important to note that laws may prohibit individuals from using AOD9604 in the UK and the USA, as well as other jurisdictions. Additionally, it is also banned by the World Anti-doping agency (WADA). There is a standardised test from urine available through a method called solid-phase extraction method, with more than 50 pg/mL (picograms per millilitre) being a positive sample [1].
Supplementing with peptides, comes with risks. We explored some of these in our blogs about the cancer side effects of MK-677, the effects of CJC 1295 on the heart, or the effect of thymosin beta 4 (TB-500) on tumor growth.
Is AOD9604 safe and effective?
AOD9604 is not used in human medicine. To date, there were six clinical trials investigating its use, with approximately 900 people enrolled in total. Most trials were performed on obese, but otherwise healthy adults, mostly men. The outcomes of these trials was largely positive, with the key findings being that treatment with AOD9604 was safer and better tolerated than supplementation with whole human growth hormone molecule. Adverse effects were very mild and non-specific, including pain at the injection site and headaches. However, in these trials, the drug was not proven effective at significantly reducing weight of the obese individuals, supported by robust statistical analysis.