GenF20 Plus Reviews
We’ll tell you how this GH booster works, whether it’s a good value, and if it might be right for you.
Human growth hormone is naturally produced in the body by the pituitary gland. This hormone contributes to growth in childhood and helps sustain organs and tissues as you get older. When you reach middle age, growth hormone (GH) production slows, leading some to believe that supplementing with GH can reverse aging and increase vitality.1 But there isn’t any conclusive evidence that taking real or synthetic GH has anti-aging effects or increases muscle mass, and its use can lead to joint and muscle pain, edema, and even diabetes.2
GenF20 Plus is a dietary supplement that aims to stimulate your pituitary gland to produce more GH. In theory, its ingredients might prove to be a safe alternative compared to direct GH supplementation, so we dove into the science to discover its true potential.
Our Findings
Pros
- A clinical trial showed increased IGF-1 levels in adults
- Does not contain real or synthetic GH but stimulates GH production in your body
- Several ingredients appear at clinically relevant doses
- 67-day money-back guarantee
- Ships quickly and discreetly
- Free shipping on all orders
Cons
- Weight loss and other physical factors were inconclusive after a 12-week clinical trial
- Some ingredients have questionable effectiveness, according to research
- Missing one of three essential amino acids
- Company’s claims about side effects are misleading — its own trial produced several
- Contains milk and soybean (potential allergens)
GenF20 Plus may exert a positive influence on growth hormone levels, as evidenced by studies of its individual ingredients. The study looking at its exact formula is compelling but ultimately unreliable due to funding bias. The company’s claims are surely overblown, but that doesn’t mean it won’t necessarily work for some people, especially those who could generally benefit from an increased exogenous supply of amino acids. But in that case, a dedicated amino acid supplement may be superior.
In this Review
Why you should trust us
Our research team has spent thousands of hours poring over scientific literature around fitness topics, with a close focus on many of the ingredients present in GenF20 Plus. For this review alone, we read and analyzed the findings of nearly 50 research papers and studies. We’ve also spoken with several experts in the field, including ACE-certified nutritionist and registered dietitian Reda Elmardi, snippets of whose interview you’ll find throughout this review.
Like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy. We’ll continue to monitor developments with GenF20 Plus and the fitness landscape as a whole to keep this article up-to-date.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
How we evaluated GenF20 Plus
Our evaluation criteria help us provide a comprehensive view of any product or service, but they don’t all share equal weight in our final value assessment. When evaluating GenF20 Plus, we considered:
- Effectiveness
- Safety
- Cost
- Convenience
Effectiveness bore the most weight in our determination, with safety close behind it. Cost and convenience were less influential but still important, as the pricing and customer experiences in this wellness niche are similar across most products.
Let’s take a look at how GenF20 performs in each category:
Effectiveness
A GH booster like GenF20 Plus does not contain GH but, instead, contains botanical ingredients, minerals, and amino acids that some studies show can help your body produce more GH. Typically, if someone needs more growth hormone, a doctor prescribes human growth hormone injections, which are clinically shown to increase levels of GH. But GH supplements have not had that kind of success in any clinical trial.3 GenF20 Plus’ amino acid profile may prove beneficial, however; amino acid supplementation has elevated GH levels in studies.4 Doses used in such studies are typically much higher than those found in GenF20 Plus.
GenF20 Plus is one of the only GH releasers to undergo a clinical trial. This is very helpful, but it’s important to remember that Leading Edge Health, GenF20 Plus’ parent company, funded the trial. Whether and how this may have introduced any bias is unclear, but this kind of vested interest usually disqualifies scientific research from serious consideration.
Still, we believe it’s worth looking at the trial, if for no other reason than to see what Leading Edge Health considers a best-case scenario in internally funded research. If the results were absurdly positive, we would ignore them entirely. But the trial rather soberly resulted in a statistically insignificant difference between GenF20 Plus and a placebo group in all but one analysis of the data. Specifically, it increased the level of the hormone IGF-1 in a cohort of patients over age 40. (IGF-1 is a more reliable biomarker to measure than actual serum GH, as GH levels pulsate at varying frequencies among individuals. IGF-1 levels rise concurrently with GH levels but remain steady longer, providing a more accurate assessment of GH activity.) The conclusion of the study was that more studies would be valuable, particularly focusing on the longer-term effects of GenF20 Plus on people over age 40.
With only partially reliable data from the GenF20 Plus study, we turned to studies examining its individual ingredients’ potential to increase GH. These studies bear mixed results, though several offer compelling evidence in animal models that there’s promise in several ingredients.
It’s also possible that some of the muscle-building potential that GenF20 Plus offers comes from its inclusion of botanical ingredients typically associated with male enhancement. These ingredients are used in such supplements to improve blood flow, which may enhance exercise performance. And those male enhancement products typically lack the kind of amino acid profile GenF20 Plus contains. But that profile pales in comparison to dedicated amino acid supplements, which are likely more effective than GenF20 Plus at stimulating GH release.
Safety
If you glance at the Leading Edge Health website or the site dedicated to GenF20 Plus specifically, you’d be forgiven for assuming that there are no known side effects associated with the supplement. In fact, the parent company’s website states that there are no unwanted or dangerous side effects. Nothing “dangerous?” That seems generally true, though there are contraindications, as is almost always the case. But “unwanted?” Evidence from the parent company’s self-funded clinical studies indicates otherwise.
The Leading Edge Health study looking at GenF20 Plus saw 12 incidents of adverse effects, seven of which were among men treated with the supplement — not a placebo.39 They included cases of moderate abdominal pain, mild hyperacidity, headache, and “skin eruptions just below the eyes.” All of these events resolved themselves with or without intervention by the study’s end. Which events the team deemed associated with GenF20 Plus and which they didn’t are not mentioned.
These were mild-to-moderate side effects, and our research into GenF20 Plus’ individual ingredients showed similar safety reports. But that’s not exactly “no unwanted side effects,” as the Leading Edge Health site claims, unless skin eruptions sound desirable to you.
Still, one potentially serious concern is that we don’t know how some of these ingredients, or all of them in combination, will affect an individual over the long term. And there is clear evidence of some of the ingredients bearing specific contraindications — like L-arginine and its interaction with blood thinners — which rules out a small subset of men from taking them.
Another safety issue we discovered in our research is a slight discrepancy between the ingredients as described on the website and as listed on the box. If you go by the website alone, you might not realize that GenF20 Plus contains Tribulus terrestris — a relatively common ingredient in male enhancement products. We had to confer with a Leading Edge Health representative to confirm its presence based on a picture of the box we saw online. Tribulus isn’t known to have many dangerous side effects, but we’d like to see more direct transparency in supplement marketing and labeling.5
To its credit, GenF20 Plus is manufactured in a facility that follows Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), a set of regulations created by the FDA to ensure quality, safety, and effectiveness standards. While dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA (like food and prescription drugs are), meeting cGMP standards is a way for supplement companies to show an effort toward customer safety.
Cost
GenF20 Plus has a relatively high price tag compared to other popular GH-boosting supplements. A one-month supply (120 tablets) costs $69.95. The company offers bulk savings discounts that can bring the monthly cost down to $58, but that’s still pricier than some alternative GH boosters and several amino acid supplements that provide superior amino doses.
Several of the most commonly reviewed GH boosters on the market are made by Leading Edge Health, the manufacturer that makes GenF20 Plus. We’ve reviewed a large number of the company's supplements, and its products range from likely safe and effective to moderately suspicious. It’s not uncommon for Leading Edge Health to produce several supplements that advertise the same essential benefits, including things like male enhancement and GH release. And the similarities among its formulas are occasionally striking. For example, GenF20 Plus and HyperGH 14X — both GH releasers sold by Leading Edge Health — have completely identical formulas. Whereas GenF20 Plus is advertised as a way to fight aging and enhance memory, HyperGH 14X is advertised as a muscle builder. Both products cost the same.
Here is how GenF20 Plus compares to other comparable GH boosters and amino acid supplements. Leading Edge Health is the only company in the space to offer a 67-day money-back guarantee. If you see 67 days listed in this chart, you can be sure Leading Edge is the manufacturer.
| 1-month supply | Amino acid content | Money-back guarantee length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GenF20 Plus | $70 | 2.6g | 67 days |
| HyperGH 14X | $70 | 2.6g | 67 days |
| Provacyl | $69 | 360mg | 67 days |
| HGH-X2 | $65 | 20mg | 60 days |
| GenFX | $50 | 1.2g | 67 days |
| RevSci Regains | $27 | 1.2g | 90 days |
| Naked Nutrition EAAs | $40 | 9.3g | N/A |
| Rule 1 EA9 | $30 | 7.5g | N/A |
As you can see, dedicated amino acid supplements can offer much higher doses for less money. The main differences are that these supplements often don’t provide the kind of money-back guarantees you see in the supplements designed as GH boosters. They also don’t contain additional botanical ingredients or many vitamins or minerals. Still, amino acid supplementation boasts more credible science illustrating its ability to influence GH levels compared to these other ingredient types. It may be the better path to take.
Convenience
Our convenience consideration includes everything from the website design and ordering process to dosage and pill size. GenF20 Plus’ website lacks detailed dose information; you have to visit Leading Edge Health’s separate site to obtain it. Still, it is easy to order, and the product ships quickly. Leading Edge Health sends a confirmation email after each purchase and a follow-up email with tracking info once the product ships.
Our testers received the product within four days with standard shipping. It arrives in discreet packaging that does not indicate where the product originated. Also included in the package is a brochure that lists other supplements produced by the company and info on its 67-day money-back guarantee. Our testers also reached out to Leading Edge Health customer care via chat and received a response within five minutes (note that the chat feature is available on the Leading Edge Health website and not on the GenF20 Plus site).
The supplement is somewhat easy to take, but you must have a good memory or set a reminder to take it at specific times of the day. The package instructions indicate that you should take two tablets one hour before lunch and two tablets one hour before dinner. This may not be easy for those with irregular meal times or a particularly hectic schedule.
What is GenF20 Plus?
GenF20 Plus is a nutritional supplement designed to increase GH production and help fight the aging process. It contains a moderately dosed amino acid profile, including two out of three branched-chain amino acids. It also contains a selection of botanical ingredients associated with things like improved blood flow and increased testosterone production. The product’s parent company, Leading Edge Health, produces several GH boosters advertised for specific goals like fighting aging or building muscle.
Like many products of its kind, GenF20 Plus is intended as a daily supplement and can be obtained as a one-, three-, or six-month supply. Leading Edge Health offers bulk-purchasing discounts that can reduce your monthly cost if you have the capital to spend more up-front. Other GH boosters on the market are priced similarly and contain ingredients and doses comparable to GenF20 Plus.
Here’s a quick look at GenF20 Plus’ ingredients. We’ll take a deeper dive into each below:
Who could benefit from GenF20 Plus and who should look elsewhere?
Increasing GH production may influence things like energy levels, fat burning, and muscle growth. It can also positively impact memory.6 A close look at the ingredients in GenF20 Plus reveals a supplement that might increase GH production in individuals who don’t get enough amino acids in their diets. Its amino acid doses aren’t quite large enough to act as powerfully as a common amino acid supplement would, particularly in those with sufficient dietary intake.
Despite a decent medical understanding of growth hormone’s role in musculoskeletal development, there is limited evidence to suggest that supplementally increased GH levels can combine with resistance training to produce greater gains than resistance training on its own. But even the studies that seem to refute this potential have limited sample sizes and use very specific ingredient doses. It seems likely that increased serum GH would improve muscle development. We’re still waiting on the scientific community to prove it, though.
As a result, we can’t quite recommend supplementing toward increased GH levels as a way to improve muscle growth if you’re trying to make gains in the gym. It doesn’t seem to have many significant downsides, but you’ll probably have better results in the gym taking a pre-workout that contains a large amino acid dose than you would by taking a daily GH booster like GenF20 Plus.
If all you’re looking to do is slow down some aspects of the aging clock, improve memory, and reduce fatigue, there might be enough amino acids and blood flow-enhancing ingredients in GenF20 Plus that it would do the trick. That’s especially true if you’re a man over 40, as that was the group that saw the most benefit in the GenF20 Plus trial.
How GenF20 Plus works
Many of GenF20 Plus’ ingredients have been used in scientific research examining their ability to influence GH levels. Often these studies were conducted on animals, and a lot more clinical evidence is needed before we can say that these components can successfully boost GH in humans. Compared to HGH injections, which we know work, this may be disappointing to some.
To gain a little more insight, we spoke with Reda Elmardi, a registered dietician and certified nutritionist who owns the website The Gym Goat, about the differences between a GH supplement and GH injections. He says, “GH boosters are not as effective as HGH injections, but they can still help you achieve your goals if you use them correctly. There are many different types of GH supplements that claim to work just like human growth hormone injections, but they don’t have the same effect.”
Elmardi advises those that want to use a GH supplement to pay attention to clinical testing and included ingredients to find the best product. Making sure a supplement delivers what it claims can help you feel confident in your purchase. Elmardi recommends GH supplements with ingredients like “L-arginine, L-glutamine, zinc, and vitamin B6. All of these ingredients work together to create a synergistic effect that helps to stimulate the production of GH naturally.”
If GH supplementation is successful, it can have several benefits for the body, including:
- Improved bone density
- Reversed effects of aging7
- Weight and fat loss
- Better recovery and healing8
- Increased sex drive and sexual performance
- Improved mental health9
- Improved energy and stamina
- Better memory
- Increased lean muscle mass10
The odds of a GH supplement doing all of these things for you are admittedly slim. But this list can serve as a reference point for you if you happen to notice any of these effects in yourself. If none of these effects present themselves, you may want to try a supplement with a different formula, or GH supplementation may not be for you. Seeking out a high-dose amino acid supplement may be a good alternative in this case, but you’d be wise to speak with your physician to rule out any other underlying causes.
What ingredients are in GenF20 Plus?
GenF20 Plus includes quite a few ingredients, and understanding the potential of each helps us determine if the supplement could be right for you.
Studies in humans indicate that chromium helps individuals with Type 2 diabetes improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control, similar to how insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) affects glucose metabolism.11 But rat studies indicate an increase in IGF-1 expression only in the presence of insulin, calling chromium’s glucose-regulating mechanism of action into question.12 Those same rat studies illustrate increased amino acid uptake by muscle tissue, which may help users looking to improve workout performance, but much more study is needed.
Several studies show that arginine can dramatically increase GH levels, especially when combined with physical activity.13 Some studies also speak to its potential when combined with other amino acids; for instance, one study from 2010 did so by using a combination with L-ornithine, which is also included in GenF20 Plus.14 It’s worth noting that these studies tend to use massive doses of L-arginine compared to what’s in GenF20 Plus.
A small-scale study using nine male participants found an increase in circulating GH among men who took a 2g dose of glutamine and were measured 30, 60, and 90 minutes afterward.15 Obviously, that sample size is too small to draw any firm conclusions. There are known benefits to glutamine supplementation, including improvements in strength training, but its effect on growth hormone is still unclear.16
L-Tyrosine appears to play a significant role in the suppression of somatostatin — a peptide largely responsible for inhibiting growth hormone release.19 How tyrosine supplementation may or may not impact this activity remains unresolved, with too few studies offering the same growth hormone insights we see with other amino acids.
One of the more promising studies looking into L-lysine’s potential to boost GH included a combination of lysine and arginine (also found in GenF20 Plus).20 But the study used 1,200mg each, as opposed to the respective 400mg and 520mg doses in GenF20 Plus, and that study is now over 40 years old. A more recent review of studies examining lysine, arginine, and ornithine as potential GH boosters found those three to be largely ineffective.4
Tribulus terrestris is often found in testosterone boosters, where it has some clinical support for its potential to increase T levels in deficient men. While some studies point toward its potential to increase IGF-1,21 others only find that it can mitigate muscle damage after intense workouts without evidence of a growth hormone effect.22 GenF20 Plus’ Tribulus dose is closer to what we’ve seen in testosterone boosters than what studies use for GH.
While a recent rat study doesn’t make a firm conclusion that their attribution of animal growth to increased IGF-1 levels is a direct indication of increased GH, the implication is clear.23 After all, IGF-1 levels are typically linked with circulating growth hormone. An older study sought to isolate compounds from Astragalus root that could contribute to growth and found reliable growth inducement from four of them.24 Both studies, spanning nearly two decades, still call for more research, but what’s out there appears largely positive.
GenF20 Plus includes bovine colostrum, a milky substance produced by cows close to or a few days after giving birth.25 You could think of it as supercharged breast milk designed to give new calves a jumpstart in nutrition. Colostrum contains IGF-1, a hormone produced by the body when GH is released, but studies show that consuming it does not increase IGF-1 in the blood.26 It may provide health benefits outside of increasing growth, but its effect on GH appears nonexistent.
Unfortunately, this is not a clever name for a botanical ingredient like baby’s breath or sneezewort. Deer antler velvet is literally the velvety surface coating on the antlers of mature deer. Studies have obliquely linked it to cardiovascular health and the management of uterine fibroids, just to name a couple of things.27 28 A study looking directly at the effects of a similar velvet harvested from elk found no meaningful difference between it and a placebo for hormone levels or exercise performance among a group of trained rowers.29
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) offers several health benefits, but one small study of 11 volunteers found significant increases in GH at rest and after exercise.30 However, the study used 3g doses, more than 10 times what’s in GenF20 Plus.
L-Isoleucine is one of three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) that are consistently utilized before and after workouts to increase exercise performance and improve recovery. A fascinating study on protein-restricted pigs saw a restoration of growth and improved gut development despite the deficiency when the pigs were given L-isoleucine and L-valine together.31 More research needs to be conducted in humans and animals to determine its potential to influence growth hormones.
Another BCAA, L-valine, was involved in the above-mentioned pig study. Another study combining the two amino acids in broilers saw less promising results, with no detectable influence on muscle protein synthesis.32 Still, it may provide improvements in exercise performance, reducing fatigue during cardiovascular exertion.33
There is in vitro evidence that bovine pituitary extract can provide some antioxidant protection to human prostate cells, but evidence of its influence on the activity of the pituitary gland itself is lacking.34 Malpractice in its harvesting can lead to significant dangers for those taking it.
Animal studies show some health benefits from phosphatidylcholine, such as reduced liver fat.35 But even in studies that link it to IGF-1 activity and glucose metabolism, the connection is superficial, with no evidence to support the idea that it can increase circulating growth hormone.
With many of the ingredients in GenF20 Plus, the implication seems to be that smaller doses of multiple ingredients could have a synergistic effect as powerful as the higher doses used in studies looking at these ingredients individually. GenF20 Plus’ own study is the only evidence we have of the ingredients working together, and its success was limited to men over 40. That said, its approach (more ingredients with smaller doses) is extremely common among nutritional supplements in its space. Even amino acid supplements provide a mixture of components, though they ultimately remain a more streamlined approach with better clinical support.
Is GenF20 Plus safe?
GenF20 Plus claims that it has “no unwanted or dangerous side effects,” but our research into its individual ingredients and the company’s self-funded clinical study indicates that there are potential side effects we believe you would consider unwanted. We want to set the records straight about GenF20 Plus’ safety.
The GenF20 Plus clinical trial saw 11 adverse effects among its relatively small cohort of 70 participants. These included hyperacidity, headache, and abdominal pain. To be fair, mild-to-moderate digestive reactions like these are common among nutritional supplements, and many such effects resolve on their own with time or, in some cases, cessation of treatment.
Due to things like the role of IGF-1 in growth hormone regulation and the known interactions between certain blood flow enhancers and drugs like warfarin, there are a few groups of people who should not take GenF20 Plus for safety reasons.
- Diabetics: while some of the ingredients in GenF20 Plus may have beneficial effects for diabetics, the combination’s overall effect on blood sugar remains unknown.
- Those on blood thinners: L-arginine and other ingredients in GenF20 Plus can act as vasodilators, which may drop your blood pressure. If you’re on any medication that can affect your blood pressure, you might want to avoid GenF20 Plus.
GenF20 Plus and mad cow disease
There is a bit of sloppy reporting out there connecting pituitary extracts like the one found in GenF20 Plus with mad cow disease. That’s resulted in a lot of confusion and questions about the safety of pituitary extracts, in general.
To be clear, GenF20 uses a bovine pituitary powder that is directly extracted from the pituitary glands of dead cows. A similar extract is believed to have been responsible for the outbreak of mad cow disease in the late 20th century when pituitary extracts that contained brain tissue from cows infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) made their way into cattle feed in an attempt to boost growth and profits. That disease spread through legions of cattle, who then passed it on to several dozen humans, resulting in a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD).
How the cows, whose problematic pituitary glands made it into the feed of thousands, were infected in the first place is unclear, but a prevailing theory is that BSE can crop up organically in cattle and go undiagnosed. That means it’s possible, albeit unlikely, that a bovine pituitary extract used in a nutritional supplement can come from an infected cow. Herds used for such extraction are tested regularly, but the disease can take time to develop, and if it eludes detection, it could pass to humans; nvCJD is both untreatable and fatal.
It’s incredibly unlikely that you could get mad cow disease from a nutritional supplement containing a bovine pituitary extract, but the chance is a non-zero number.
How much does GenF20 Plus cost?
GenF20 Plus used to be available in monthly supplies of 1-6 months, but Leading Edge Health has since reduced the available quantities to one, three, and six months. Free shipping was also previously available with orders of three months or more, but it’s now available on all purchases.
| Cost | Cost per month | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-month supply | $69.95 | $69.95 |
| 3-month supply | $199.95 | $66.65 |
| 6-month supply | $349.95 | $58.33 |
When you purchase a monthly supply of GenF20 Plus, you’ll be prompted to add a supply of GenF20 Plus Alpha GPC Oral Spray for an extra $50. The supplement and spray constitute the GenF20 Plus Anti-Aging System, and you would take them together daily. The spray contains mostly the same ingredients as the tablet, but it also includes Alpha GPC, Mucuna pruriens, and moomiyo.
Alpha GPC has been shown to increase the secretion of growth hormones in 1,000mg doses, and the L-dopa in Mucuna pruriens appears capable of influencing growth hormone levels in 500mg doses.37 Unfortunately, Leading Edge Health is not forthcoming with the doses in its GenF20 oral spray, so we cannot recommend it at this time.
As we’ve discussed above, these prices are on the high side among GH supplements, and they’re significantly higher than many amino acid supplements that can give you more clinically relevant doses of amino acids with clinical links to growth hormone production. You’ll miss out on some ancillary botanical ingredients, and you might not get much of a money-back guarantee, but the odds of the supplement working in the first place are likely higher.
GenF20 Plus money-back guarantee
Like most Leading Edge Health products, GenF20 Plus comes with a 67-day money-back guarantee. Compared to other GH-boosting supplements, this is about average among companies that offer them, with the range typically running from 60-90 days. The idea with the extra seven days is that you can try the product for two months and not feel rushed when setting up a return. It’s a considerate policy, and unlike many other supplements that can take 8-12 weeks to start showing results, GH studies often look at serum IGF-1 levels within 90 minutes of consumption. That means you should be able to know whether the supplement is working for you by the two-month point.
Insider Tip: If you can afford the larger dollar amount initially, buying larger quantities makes sense because of the 67-day money-back guarantee. If you buy a larger amount, you’ll end up with more per dollar as long as you’re happy with the results after two months.
GenF20 Plus FAQ
Your alternatives and how GenF20 Plus compares
GenF20 Plus is marketed specifically for its anti-aging benefits, despite other GH boosters with similar ingredients being marketed as muscle-building tools or cardio enhancers. If you’re looking for a GH booster for a specific purpose, it might be worthwhile to consider how GenF20 Plus stacks up to the competition.
It’s also important to know that other supplements not categorized as GH boosters are also marketed as age fighters. If you’re looking for alternative anti-aging supplements, look for products that contain:
- Curcumin
- EGCG
- GABA
- Collagen
- CoQ10
- Arginine
- Saffron
- Vitamins C and E
Let’s take a closer look at some of these product subcategories to see if one might be a better fit for your needs.
Other GH boosters
Supplements intended to boost growth hormone in humans typically contain similar ingredients. Several of the most well-known are all created by Leading Edge Health, GenF20 Plus’ parent company. One under that umbrella even has an identical ingredient list to GenF20 Plus. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of GenF20 Plus’ most direct competition in the GH space:
Provacyl is a GenF20 Plus alternative sold by Leading Edge Health that costs about $10 less per month than GenF20 Plus. It’s also available in a 12-month supply, which brings its monthly cost down to about $32, more than $25 less than the best price you’ll get on GenF20 Plus. It may be superior for general health, as it contains a few vitamins and minerals, and the rest of its formula nearly mirrors GenF20 Plus. But its doses, especially those of its amino acids, are far lower.
This is another product sold by Leading Edge Health, and it’s completely identical to GenF20 Plus in its active ingredients — the same components at the same doses for the same price. Leading Edge Health markets it to men looking for an edge in building muscle.
HGH-X2 is marketed as a legal alternative to steroids by a company called CrazyBulk. HGH-X2 is about $5 less per month than GenF20 Plus, but it only contains four ingredients, at least two of which appear in paltry doses that may have little-to-no effect.
Amino acid supplements
Different amino acid mixtures have endured multiple clinical trials to see how they might affect exercise performance, muscle building and recovery, and serum levels of GH and IGF-1.39 Some combinations and doses have proven more effective than others, but GenF20 Plus puts enough of them together that it might prove to be the most effective aspect of its formula. Still, its doses are far lower than those seen in dedicated amino acid supplements and drinks designed as pre- and post-workout aids.
We already have a guide to the best amino acid supplements, but here’s a short summary of our findings if you’re short on time to go read it.
Naked Nutrition produces some of the cleanest supplements on the market, and its Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) contains nearly ten times the isoleucine and valine found in GenF20 Plus, in addition to the third branched-chain amino acid, leucine. It’s also less expensive than GenF20 Plus, at just $40 for 50 servings. All told, it offers nine amino acids totaling 9.3g, but it doesn’t include L-arginine.
We’d recommend this product to anyone looking for a generous dose of essential amino acids at a low price. It boasts a 10g formula of all nine essential amino acids, but the exact doses of each are obscured by a proprietary blend. That said, you can get about the same quantity you would from Naked for under $23.
Rule 1’s Essential Amino 9 has a slightly lower dose than Naked or Bulk Supplements, but it contains an electrolyte complex that might make it a better choice as a pre- or post-workout drink.
GABA supplements
Another alternative supplement to a GH booster is a product made primarily with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). This neurotransmitter is naturally found in foods like spinach, broccoli, and kale, and it is generally taken to help improve:
- Sleep
- Mood
- Anxiety
- PMS
- ADHD
- Blood pressure
- Fat burning
- Exercise recovery
- Muscle building
Taking GABA may help the body produce more GH, although studies are still inconclusive.40 Even so, GABA supplements are popular and a generally safe alternative to GH supplements. GenF20 Plus contains GABA as one of its components. So if you’re concerned about any of GenF20 Plus’s other components, you can opt for a supplement with GABA as a primary ingredient. Visit our guide to the best GABA supplement for more info and some of our top picks.
GABA supplements are often much more cost-effective than a supplement designed as a GH booster. For example, NOW’s GABA supplement costs only $13.99 for 100 capsules, which could be a 50- or 33-day supply depending on your preferred dose. Each capsule contains 500mg of GABA, compared to 50mg per tablet of GenF20 Plus.
Sources
Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Gou, P., Cheng, X., Leng, J., & Su, N. (2021). A Real-World Study of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in the Treatment of Idiopathic Short Stature and Growth Hormone Deficiency. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 18, 113-124.
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Pokrywka, A., Obmiński, Z., Malczewska-Lenczowska, J., Fijałek, Z., Turek-Lepa, E., & Grucza, R. (2014). Insights into Supplements with Tribulus Terrestris used by Athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics, 41, 99-105.
Wass, J. A., & Reddy, R. (2010). Growth Hormone and Memory. The Journal of Endocrinology, 207(2), 125–126.
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