AICAR vs GHRP-6
Head-to-head comparison of AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine)) and GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
| Property | AICAR | GHRP-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Performance |
| Full Name | 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide (Acadesine) | Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6 |
| Molecular Weight | 338.21 g/mol | 873.01 Da |
| Half-Life | ~2-3 hours | ~15-60 minutes |
| Amino Acids | Nucleoside analog | 6 |
| Typical Dose | — | 100-300 mcg |
| Route | — | SC / IV |
| Purity | >99% | — |
| Studies Count | 180 | 186 |
| Research Status | Active Research | Clinical Trials |
AICAR Benefits
- ✓Increases endurance capacity, enhances fatty acid oxidation, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves glucose uptake, cardioprotective effects
GHRP-6 Benefits
- ✓Potent GH release stimulation
- ✓Muscle growth and strength
- ✓Appetite stimulation (ghrelin pathway)
- ✓Improved body composition
- ✓Enhanced recovery from training
AICAR Dosing
Research doses: 50-150 mg subcutaneously. Typically administered 30-60 minutes before physical activity in research settings.
GHRP-6 Dosing
Standard: 100-300 mcg SC 2-3 times daily|Pre-workout: 100 mcg 30 min before training|Pre-bed: 100-200 mcg for overnight GH pulse
AICAR Side Effects
- ⚠Potential hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis at high doses, injection site reactions. Banned by WADA as a metabolic modulator.
GHRP-6 Side Effects
- ⚠Common: Increased appetite (significant), water retention, tingling
- ⚠Moderate: Cortisol elevation (dose-dependent), lethargy
- ⚠Rare: Elevated prolactin at high doses
Research Overview
AICAR
Salk Institute researchers demonstrated AICAR could increase endurance in sedentary mice by 44% without exercise training. Activates AMPK, triggering PGC-1α expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation.
GHRP-6
GHRP-6 has solid pre-clinical and clinical evidence for GH stimulation. Well-characterized pharmacology. More appetite stimulation than Ipamorelin due to ghrelin receptor activation.
Ready to buy?
Find both peptides from our verified, lab-tested vendors with purity certificates and third-party testing.