Nugenix GH-Boost

Medically Reviewed by Anthony Dugarte, M.D., C.S.C.S

What Is Nugenix GH-Boost?

Nugenix GH-Boost is a supplement that allegedly boosts your growth hormone production through a blend of amino acids and sleep-supporting ingredients.

Most men experience a decline in growth hormone when they hit their 40s, which leads to a decrease in energy and a slow degeneration of muscle strength. Supplements like Nugenix GH-Boost market themselves as a solution for those men.

Sleep is key to growth hormone production. About 70% of your growth hormone is produced in slow-wave sleep. However, that production decreases by 200% to 300% between the ages of 30 and 40 which may result in a reduction in energy and muscle strength.

You’ll take one packet of GH-Boost mixed with water before bed on an empty stomach. By doing so, Nugenix says you’ll boost your body’s ability to produce growth hormones.

Ingredients and Efficacy

This section evaluates the ingredients and their efficacy present in this supplement.

GABA

“GABA” stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. This chemical operates in your brain. It binds to certain parts of your nervous system to calm you down, which leads to better sleep. This purpose meshes with Nugenix’s claim that GH-Boost can help you sleep better.

However, when taken in supplement form, GABA can’t provide the same results as the GABA already present in your body because supplemental GABA can’t cross over from your blood vessels to your brain.

Therefore, you’re most likely to notice little if any effect of Nugenix GH-Boost’s GABA on your mood and sleep habits.

One study found that GABA can boost your growth hormone levels up to 400% 90 minutes after taking 3,000 mg of GABA. When mixed with the amino acid theanine, GABA improved the duration and quality of sleep in mice.

In those treated with 300mg daily for 4-weeks, subjective and objective sleep quality improved.

Nugenix GH-Boost contains 5,000 mg of GABA in each serving, greatly exceeding what was used in the aforementioned studies. However, keep in mind the study was done on 18 to 30-year-olds – this does not guarantee the same results for other populations.

L-Arginine

This ingredient is an amino acid you get in high doses from dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish.

In some older studies, pairing arginine with lysine demonstrated an ability to promote HGH secretion, though this was not corroborated by a recent study examining elderly female heart failure patients.

When part of an amino acid blend, arginine increased HGH levels 8-fold from baseline measurements in just 2-hours when compared to placebo, This study simply illustrated the ability of this supplement to boost HGH; we do not know if this results in the proposed benefits.

L-Glutamine

This amino acid is thought to support immunity, digestion, and muscle. Glutamine and HGH have been thought to work in concert for some time, though glutamines role in boosting HGH has been challenging to prove.

In less than 90 minutes, 2g of glutamine increased HGH in 8 of 9 subjects, though further evidence supporting this action is lacking.

L-Lysine

L-lysine is an amino acid that’s often present in the foods you eat.

The chemical is best known for preventing the onset of herpes sores and, if a sore appears, healing them quicker than they’d heal without treatment.

There are conflicting results from studies linking L-lysine to growth hormone production.

Lysine-containing amino acid mixes were shown to boost HGH secretion in early studies. This was not corroborated in elderly heart failure patients.

L-Ornithine

This chemical is an amino acid your body makes. It’s used to boost athletic performance and, in some cases, to aid sleep.

Ornithine and arginine increased HGH in athletes, as well as in rats. Support for this effect is otherwise limited, particularly regarding any benefit for sleep quality or sleep length.

Glycine

Glycine is an amino acid, too. Unlike the other amino acids in this supplement, glycine has multiple studies indicating that taking at least 3 grams of glycine can improve sleep quality.

Keep in mind, these doses are more than 30x what is included in Nugenix GH-Boost.

The Takeaway

Nugenix has formulated their supplement with ingredients that, in theory, provide good sleep (GABA) and amino acids that stimulate growth hormone production.

The arginine studies emphasized the importance of exercise. Physical exercise boosts your growth hormone production more than arginine and arginine paired with exercise.

If your goal is to increase your growth hormone, you need to exercise. You may not have the energy at first because of your growth hormone decline. However, over time you should see measurable increases in your energy.

Side Effects

Four of the six main ingredients in GH-Boost have reported side effects:

L-arginine can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and low blood pressure. Doses at 3.6 g/kg body-weight/day are safe in rats. Long-term studies are needed to characterize the effects of chronic use in humans.

L-glutamine can cause constipation, cough, head pain, intense abdominal pain, nausea. Doses (>40g/day) may be problematic and associated with adverse effects related to digestion, liver, and kidney function.

L-lysine can cause stomach pain and diarrhea. Use is generally safe, even at doses up to 17,500mg/day.

Glycine can cause soft stool, nausea, vomiting and stomach upset. Glycine is generally safe, even at doses greater than 60g/day only being associated with gastrointestinal issues.

Pricing

One box of Nugenix GH-Boost costs $79.99 from the company website and GNC.

If purchased directly from the company, you can make a return only if you haven’t opened the supplements box.

If there’s any evidence the box was opened, you won’t get a refund.

The Bottom Line

Your body gets the bulk of its slow-wave sleep in the first half of your night.

Gaba and glycine seem to have the most support for their roles in sleep, though studies offered much larger glycine doses than what is in Nugenix GH-Boost. The remaining ingredients have weak to mixed literature supporting their roles in boosting HGH or improving sleep.

Prepare yourself for sleep by doing some physical activity during the day, ceasing screen time about 30 minutes to an hour before bed, and making sure your room is between 60 and 67 degrees, if possible.

You may find the most success with this supplement if you exercise, create a sleep environment that will help you maximize your slow-wave sleep.