Ibutamoren may be beneficial for growth hormone deficiency and has been designated as an orphan drug (meaning the drug is allowed to be studied for a rare disease but is not yet approved) for growth hormone deficiency by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).[1][2] Ibutamoren may have modest metabolic benefits. For example, a randomized controlled trial in older adults without known health conditions taking 25 mg of ibutamoren daily for 12 months showed a slight decrease in LDL cholesterol (−5.4 mg/dL) and a small increase in fat free mass (+1.1 kg) compared to taking a placebo. However, neither strength nor physical function were improved, and the small metabolic benefits did not last after ibutamoren was stopped.[3] A randomized study of older adults recovering from hip fractures showed that taking 25 mg of ibutamoren daily for 24 weeks resulted in a slightly improved gait speed but did not improve any other measures of functional performance compared to a placebo.[4] There is also interest in ibutamoren for improving bone mass, but there’s no evidence to support this effect in people without growth hormone deficiency.[5]
What are ibutamoren’s main benefits?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Ibutamoren may benefit people with growth hormone deficiency and has been designated as an orphan drug for this condition by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. It may also provide modest metabolic benefits, such as slight improvements in LDL cholesterol and fat-free mass, but does not enhance strength or physical function, and its effects do not persist after discontinuation.