By mimicking ghrelin, MK-677 thus produces significant physiological benefits:
- it boosts muscle growth and strength, by increasing lean body mass (bigger muscles, increased muscle mass, prevention of loss of muscle during weight loss, etc) , without adding fat mass.
- it combats the muscle-wasting typically seen in older people or those temporarily incapacitated (with hip fractures, for example
- it boosts bone density and renewal (by increasing levels of osteocalcin) .
- it improves sleep quality and duration The rises in levels of certain hormones (in particular growth hormone and prolactin) appear to increase the duration of stage 4 sleep (the deepest of the sleep cycle) as well as that of rapid eye movement (REM), part of paradoxical sleep
- it combats cellular ageing , primarily by compensating for decreased levels of growth hormone.
- it has potential nootropic effects
- it promotes faster wound-healing and recovery as well as increased tolerance to exercise
- it increases lipolysis (fat breakdown)
- it reduces nitrogenous waste
- it lowers blood levels of LDL-cholesterol.