According to the World Health Organization, one in six people globally will be 60 years or older by 2030. Today, there are more people aged 60 or older than there are children under five years.
Aging is a major concern for many people. And we are always looking for the next anti-aging miracle cure. The latest product in the lineup is a dietary supplement known as SeroVital.
SeroVital can allegedly combat the signs of aging by boosting natural levels of human growth hormone (HGH). This, in turn, can lead to better skin and sleep, weight loss, and even muscle gains. SeroVital classifies itself as an HGH-boosting dietary supplement that helps visibly reduce dark spots, and future dark spots, and promotes youthful skin.
But does SeroVital really work? We are doing a deep dive into that very question today. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about why SeroVital may not work and what you can do to boost HGH levels instead.
What Is SeroVital?
SeroVital is an HGH supplement marketed toward women. It comes in three forms: SeroVital Renewal Complex, SeroVital Advanced, and SeroVital Rapid Dissolve Powder. The former two are oral pills, while the last one is a powder.
In marketing materials, the supplement manufacturer (Sierra Research Group) has claimed that its products can increase natural HGH levels by as much as 682%. But how is that even possible?
SeroVital contains amino acids touted to stimulate HGH production. These amino acids include L-lysine, L-arginine, and L-glutamine. All SeroVital products also include the following ingredients that are supposed to boost HGH:
- Amino acid derivatives called oxo-proline and N-acetylcysteine
- An herb-derived compound called schizonepeta powder
- Gelatin
- Riboflavin
- Rice flour
- Stearic acid
- Magnesium stearate
- Preservatives
All of these ingredients come in a convenient oral pill format. But as you can see, this supplement does not actually contain HGH. And as we will show, SeroVital most likely does not increase levels of naturally-occurring HGH either.
What Is HGH?
HGH stands for human growth hormone. As its name suggests, HGH is a type of hormone. A brain region known as the pituitary gland produces most hormones, including human growth hormone.
The primary role of HGH is also in the name — this hormone helps us grow during adolescence and childhood. The pituitary gland releases high levels of HGH during childhood development.
HGH impacts the growth of our bones and muscles. But that is not all. Human growth hormone is also associated with the regulation of body fluids, fat metabolism, and even cardiovascular function.
Plus, HGH may provide aesthetic benefits for the body. We are talking about some of these aesthetic benefits next.
Why Would You Want to Boost HGH Levels?
The reason so many people want to increase their HGH levels is because of the following benefits:
- Anti-aging
- Muscle growth
- Improving the look of skin
- Boosting energy levels
- Increasing sleep quantity and quality
- Regulating immune system function
- Burning fat cells
However, prescription HGH is more commonly used for HGH deficiencies in children and adults.
Human Growth Hormone Deficiencies
Childhood HGH deficiencies can lead to stunted growth, delayed puberty, and a youthful appearance. The condition Turner’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that reduces levels of HGH in young girls.
Adults who have damage to their pituitary glands often experience HGH deficiencies. Damage to the pituitary gland can occur due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), radiation, brain tumors, and certain infections like meningitis.
HGH deficiencies in adults lead to many different symptoms than in children. These problems include but are not limited to:
- Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression
- Fat gain
- A higher risk for cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack and stroke
- Weakened heart tissue, muscles, and bones
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Brain fog
Additionally, HGH is medically used to treat short bowel syndrome and muscle wasting from HIV/AIDS in adults. And it can combat Prader-Willi syndrome and chronic kidney disease in children.
Is SeroVital a Way to Increase HGH Naturally?
SeroVital does not have any scientific evidence to support the manufacturer’s claims. Further, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved SeroVital HGH supplements for use.
What is more, the general consensus among medical professionals is that the only way to increase HGH levels in the body is to use HGH injections. SeroVital is an oral supplement, and it does not come in injectable form.
Why does the drug format matter, you may wonder? The way a drug gets into our system can impact its potency and, therefore, its efficacy. Injections deliver HGH straight into the bloodstream, which is why they work so well.
Oral products, on the other hand, must go through the digestive system. A phenomenon called first-pass metabolism in the gut breaks down the active ingredients, resulting in a reduced concentration of the drug.
Injectable HGH does not experience first-pass metabolism because it does not have to be digested. And this is why you should always consider HGH injections over any oral products claiming to boost growth hormone production.
What About SeroVital Advanced?
SeroVital Advanced is similar to the regular SeroVital HGH products. However, it claims to offer even better results in much less time. For example, SeroVital’s website claims the pill can help women lose up to eight pounds and nearly three inches around the waist, equalling about 5% of their total body weight.
The reason SeroVital Advanced is so, well, advanced? The company claims its faster benefits come from its added ingredients, which include:
- Vitamins C and D
- The minerals selenium, zinc, and copper
- Hyaluronic acid
- Keratin and collagen peptides
- Natural extracts, including chlorella, coffee bean, olive lead, Lady’s mantle, cumin seed, konjac, Triticum aestivum, and wild mint leaf
The company states that SeroVital Advanced’s additional ingredients are particularly suited for skin, metabolism, and mood.
But as with SeroVital’s other products, there just is not any research to support the company’s claims. And again, this product is for oral use only. It is not an injection and, therefore, likely will not boost levels of human growth hormone.
Does Research Support the Use of SeroVital?
To date, there have only been two research articles published on SeroVital. It is important to keep in mind that the manufacturers of SeroVital, Sierra Research Group, funded both of the studies, either in full or in part.
When a manufacturer funds studies of its own drugs, this creates a major conflict of interest for the researchers who carry out the work. After all, the manufacturer will pay for the study and for the researcher’s time.
Still, we will discuss the findings of the first article and its significant limitations below. The second article has yet to be published in full, so we will not be discussing it here today.
SeroVital Research Has Major Limitations
SeroVital funded a 2020 research study on its product. The goal of the study was to investigate whether this oral supplement could, in fact, increase HGH levels in the body and, if so, by how much.
After administering one SeroVital supplement to healthy men and women, the researchers claimed that HGH levels increased. Not only that, researchers alleged that this increase was significantly greater than the placebo’s effects.
Let’s evaluate that claim.
First of all, let’s talk about some of the good aspects of the study. These aspects include that the study was double-blind and placebo controlled. These aspects are important because they can help reduce participant bias.
However, that is about where the positives of this study end. Aside from funding bias, the most glaring issue with the study is that the participant pool was so small. Only 16 people took part in the study.
The study also had a significant gender bias. 12 in 16 (75%) of the study’s participants were men. And this is especially problematic because SeroVital’s primary target market is women, not anti-aging for men.
Finally, the researchers stated that the participants were healthy. Healthy people are not the primary market for HGH drugs. That means there is no evidence that SeroVital can help people with HGH deficiencies.
What About SeroVital Ingredients? Do They Work?
Some of the ingredients in SeroVital have high-quality scholarly articles published looking at their efficacy. However, what researchers have actually learned is that we just do not know if these ingredients actually work.
For example, studies have found that the amino acid arginine may increase HGH production upon supplementation. However, similar studies have argued the exact opposite — this ingredient has no effect on HGH.
What these studies do agree on is that even if amino acids can spike HGH production, the spike is extremely short-lived. Experts suggest that amino acid-related HGH increases only last a few hours. And a few hours is not enough time to provide the benefits SeroVital claims to have.
Is SeroVital Even Safe?
Sierra Research Group has yet to release information about SeroVital safety. That means there is no solid evidence about whether or not SeroVital supplements are safe for human consumption.
The few biased studies that have assessed the drug’s safety only looked at its side effects. Side effects of SeroVital include:
- Possible allergic reaction
- Bloating
- Constipation in some and diarrhea in others
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Decreased blood pressure
None of these side effects address SeroVital’s potential or lack of potential to damage the liver or other body tissues. Until the company releases more scientific proof of its supplement’s safety, we recommend steering clear.
SeroVital Legal Issues
These days, it is hard not to come across an advertisement for SeroVital when you are browsing the internet. However, just because this brand is well-marketed does not mean it is trustworthy.
In fact, lawsuits have started to arise out of Sierra Research Group’s unbacked claims about its SeroVital products. These lawsuits allege that the company uses advertising that isn’t backed by scientific evidence to market its products.
One plaintiff (i.e., the person suing the makers of SeroVital) said they never experienced the benefits this supplement claims to offer. This is yet another reason why you should save your money and get HGH injections instead.
HGH Injections: The Only Proven Way to Boost HGH
In conclusion, SeroVital is most likely not an effective supplement. And even if it does have some impact on HGH levels in the bloodstream, an oral supplement just can not compete with prescription HGH injections.
HGH injections not only have research supporting their efficacy, but they are also FDA-approved. And because HGH injections use a drug that is virtually identical to natural human growth hormone, it has very few side effects.
And you do not have to take our word for it. You can read the dozens, if not hundreds, of studies that support the benefits of HGH injections.
For example, a study published just a few months ago looked at the benefits of HGH injections for idiopathic short stature (ISS) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children.
The study concluded that HGH injections could significantly improve both syndromes. And this study is just one of many that prove prescription HGH injections are the superior way to improve human growth hormone levels in the body.
Get HGH Therapy at Vallarta Clinic
SeroVital is an amino acid supplement claiming to boost the production of human growth hormone (HGH). But this product is backed by more PR hype than it is scientific evidence.
That is because the only research-proven method to significantly increase levels of bodily HGH is to use prescription HGH injections.
Are you looking for prescription HGH injections for yourself or your child? HGH Vallarta Clinic can help you get the doctor-prescribed help you need. Click the link to find out how to get HGH online with a prescription!