Does MK677 increase bone density? Real study

MK677 is a powerful GH secretagogue that supports your natural Growth Hormone. There have been many benefits of MK677 and it has become extremely popular among bodybuilders. This article will talk about bone density and MK677 that was tested on elderly people. We cite the abstract of the study below.

Ibutamoren is often marketed as a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) but it’s actually not a SARM at all. It’s a chemical compound which can boost your body’s natural hormone levels so you can speed up muscle growth for bigger, denser muscles, more mass, greater strength, and an easier time when you next try to lean down.

MK-677 is a growth hormone secretagogue; a substance that causes growth hormone and IGF-1 to be secreted in your body. It does this by imitating ghrelin, binding to ghrelin receptors in the brain, and encouraging your natural production of GH and IGF-1. Using Ibutamoren boosts your body’s own levels of these anabolic hormones without disturbing other hormones like testosterone or cortisol. This means it is safe for long-term use and doesn’t require any form of PCT.

IBUTAMOREN & BODYBUILDING

As mentioned, Ibutamoren boosts your body’s levels of the anabolic hormones GH (growth hormone) and IGF-1. This means it has impressive anabolic properties but without the side effects associated with actual anabolic steroids.

Ibutamoren is taken orally and can help you increase muscle mass, boost muscle size and improve your strength in training too (which will obviously also lead to better gains). It can also help you lose more body fat during a cutting diet or a body recomposition phase.

This 1998 double-blind, randomised human study shows impressive results in a group of males given Ibutamoren MK-677 – they showed increased lean mass, GH secretion, and even energy expenditure in just two months. That same study showed that serum IGF-I increased by approximately 40% with Ibutamoren MK-677 treatment.

Is MK677 good for bone density?

Abstract of the study

Growth hormone (GH) stimulates osteoblasts in vitro and increases bone turnover and stimulates osteoblast activity when given to elderly subjects. Probably a major effect of GH on bone is mediated through stimulation of either circulating or locally produced insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I). We determined the effect of chronic administration of the GH secretagogue, MK‐677, on serum IGF‐I and markers of bone turnover in 187 elderly adults (65 years or older) enrolled in three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical studies lasting 2–9 weeks. Urine was collected for determination of N‐telopeptide cross‐links (NTXs), a marker of bone resorption, and blood was collected for determination of serum osteocalcin and bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), as bone formation markers, and serum IGF‐I levels pre‐ and post‐treatment. Dose response data were initially obtained in healthy elderly subjects who received oral doses of 10 mg or 25 mg of MK‐677 or placebo for 2 weeks (n = 10–12/group). Treatment with 10 mg and 25 mg of MK‐677 for 2 weeks increased mean urine NTXs 10% and 17%, respectively (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Additionally, 50 healthy elderly subjects received either placebo (n = 20) for 4 weeks or 25 mg of MK‐677 (n = 30) daily for 2 weeks followed by 50 mg daily for 2 weeks. MK‐677 increased mean serum osteocalcin by 8% (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). In both studies, MK‐677 increased serum IGF‐I levels significantly (55–94%). Subsequently, the biological effects of MK‐677 were studied in 105 elderly subjects who met objective criteria for functional impairment. Subjects were randomized to receive oral doses of placebo for 9 weeks or either 5, 10, or 25 mg of MK‐677 daily for an initial 2 weeks followed by 25 mg of MK‐677 daily for the next 7 weeks(n = 63 on MK‐677 and n = 28 on placebo completed 9 weeks of therapy). Treatment with MK‐677 (all MK‐677 groups combined) for 9 weeks increased mean serum osteocalcin by 29.4% and BSAP by 10.4% (p < 0.001 vs. placebo) and mean urinary NTX excretion by 22.6% (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). The change from baseline serum osteocalcin correlated with the change from baseline serum IGF‐I in the MK‐677 group (r = 0.37; p < 0.01). In conclusion, once daily dosing with MK‐677, an orally active GH secretagogue, stimulates bone turnover in elderly subjects based on elevations in biochemical markers of bone resorption and formation.

So, what does it mean?

Ibutamoren (mk677) was shown to increase the bone density in the elderly group of people compared to placebo by 29% which is crazy. The group was taking on average about 20mg every day over a few weeks.

What is bone density?

Bone density, or bone mineral density (BMD), is the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue. The concept is of a mass of mineral per volume of bone (relating to density in the physics sense), although clinically it is measured by proxy according to optical density per square centimetre of the bone surface upon imaging. Bone density measurement is used in clinical medicine as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk. 

This means it is very important to have bone density at normal levels to be healthy. Especially, older people might have problems with it.

Summary

Whether MK677 helps with bone density or not, it is totally up to you as we cannot say (disclaimer). We have just provided information that is easily found on the internet, so you can make your own decision.