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GenF20 Plus is an amino acid and herbal “HGH releaser” that’s meant to nudge your body into making more of its own growth hormone. It doesn’t contain HGH. In its one published trial, it didn’t raise IGF-1 (the main marker of growth hormone activity) more than a placebo overall. It did in a subgroup of adults over 40, but only after an extra statistical adjustment.
This GenF20 Plus review covers the ingredients and doses, what that study actually found, the side effects, the price and guarantee, and whether it’s legit.
Key takeaways
- An HGH releaser: amino acids and extracts, no actual HGH
- One 70-person trial; IGF-1 rose only in a 40+ subgroup
- No proven effect on energy, sleep, libido or body fat
- Made by Leading Edge Health; 67-day guarantee reported
GenF20 Plus at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| Maker | Leading Edge Health |
| What it is | Tablets (plus an optional Alpha GPC oral spray) |
| Daily dose | 4 tablets: 2 twice a day, before meals |
| Main ingredients | L-arginine, L-glutamine, glycine, L-tyrosine, L-lysine, tribulus, astragalus, colostrum, deer antler velvet, GABA, anterior pituitary powder |
| Clinical evidence | 1 manufacturer-linked trial, 12 weeks, 70 adults |
| Reported price | About $70 for 1 month, less per month on 3- and 6-month packs |
| Guarantee | 67 days, as reported by reviewers (confirm on the official site) |
Best-known HGH releaser
GenF20 Plus
An amino acid and herbal formula from Leading Edge Health with a published 12-week trial and a 67-day guarantee.
- No synthetic hormones or injections
- Fully disclosed tablet doses
- Multi-month packs lower the monthly cost
What is GenF20 Plus?
Human growth hormone (HGH) is made by the pituitary gland. Levels fall steadily with age, which is why “anti-aging” HGH products are popular. Real HGH is a prescription drug given by injection. It’s used for diagnosed growth hormone deficiency, and it isn’t sold as a supplement.
GenF20 Plus takes a different approach. It’s a “secretagogue,” or releaser, made from amino acids and other ingredients that the brand says help your pituitary gland release more of your own growth hormone. It’s sold by Leading Edge Health, the company behind VigRX Plus, Semenax and Testosil. The full system pairs the tablets with an optional Alpha GPC oral spray.
GenF20 Plus ingredients and doses
Innerbody’s review lists these amounts per daily serving of four tablets:
- L-arginine HCl: 520 mg
- L-glutamine: 460 mg
- L-glycine: 460 mg
- L-tyrosine: 400 mg
- L-lysine: 400 mg
- Tribulus terrestris: 320 mg
- Astragalus root extract: 240 mg
- Colostrum: 200 mg
- Deer antler velvet: 200 mg
- GABA: 200 mg
- L-isoleucine and L-valine: 160 mg each
- Anterior pituitary powder: 120 mg
- Phosphatidylcholine: 100 mg
- L-ornithine: 100 mg
- GTF chromium: 0.4 mg (400 mcg)
Unlike many male enhancement pills, the tablet discloses every dose, which we count in its favor. The oral spray is a different story. Reviewers report that it contains Alpha GPC, Mucuna pruriens, moomiyo, B vitamins, GABA and amino acids, but no per-ingredient amounts.
The weak spot is the amino acid doses. Lab studies that raised growth hormone with oral arginine, lysine or ornithine used doses measured in grams. A review on amino acids as growth hormone releasers in athletes concluded that doses large enough to matter tend to cause stomach upset and diarrhea, and it advised athletes not to use them for that purpose. Another study, titled “Oral arginine-lysine does not increase growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-I in old men,” found no effect in older men. GenF20 Plus gives about half a gram of each.
The GenF20 Plus clinical study
GenF20 Plus has something most HGH supplements don’t: a published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It appeared in the Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials in 2015.
- Who: 70 healthy adults aged 35–65 in India, each with at least two age-related complaints (memory, libido, energy or sleep). 61 finished.
- What: two tablets plus 2 mL of the liquid twice a day, or a matching placebo, for 12 weeks.
- Main result: IGF-1 rose by 13.5 ng/mL on GenF20 Plus vs 6.4 ng/mL on placebo, and the difference wasn’t statistically significant.
- The 40+ subgroup: after adjusting for starting levels, IGF-1 rose 22.7 ng/mL on GenF20 Plus and fell 4.3 ng/mL on placebo. That difference was significant. Without the adjustment, it wasn’t.
- Everything else: no difference from placebo for body fat, lean mass, waist size, BMI, memory, libido, energy or sleep.
Who funded it?
The study was run by Vedic Lifesciences, with financial support from DM Contact Management. Two authors work for Vedic Lifesciences, which the paper says developed the product. The authors declared no competing interests, but this is not an independent trial.
The authors call the study exploratory. It had no formal sample-size calculation, and the over-40 cutoff was chosen after looking at the data. A post hoc subgroup finding like that is a hint worth testing, not proof. A modest rise in an IGF-1 blood test also isn’t the same as feeling or looking younger, and the trial didn’t show that.
For a broader look at what helps after 40, see our healthy aging guide.
Does GenF20 Plus work?
The honest answer is that it hasn’t been shown to work for the benefits people buy it for. The trial suggests it may raise IGF-1 a little in adults over 40. It found no measurable improvement in energy, sleep, libido, memory or body composition over 12 weeks.
Some ingredients have their own evidence, but not for growth hormone. Our tribulus review explains why tribulus generally doesn’t raise testosterone. Sleep, strength training and keeping body fat in check are the best-supported natural ways to support growth hormone. If you want an evidence-backed supplement for strength after 40, creatine has far more research behind it.
GenF20 Plus side effects
In the trial, 7 people on GenF20 Plus and 5 on placebo reported side effects. Most were mild: hyperacidity or acid reflux, stomach pain, one headache and one skin rash below the eyes. All of them cleared up, and there were no serious events. The trial only lasted 12 weeks, so long-term safety is unknown.
Other safety points:
- Blood sugar: chromium and some amino acids can affect glucose. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor first.
- Blood pressure: L-arginine can lower blood pressure, so check with your doctor if you take blood pressure drugs, nitrates or blood thinners.
- Allergies: reviewers note it contains milk-derived colostrum and soy.
- Athletes: the anti-doping agency WADA warns that deer antler velvet products may contain IGF-1, which is banned in sport. Tested athletes should avoid it.
- Animal glandulars: it contains anterior pituitary powder from animal glands, which some people may want to avoid.
Don’t use it if you’re under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have cancer or a history of cancer, since growth-factor pathways are involved. Ask your doctor first if you have any chronic condition.
Is GenF20 Plus legit or a scam?
GenF20 Plus is a legitimate product from an established supplement company. It discloses its tablet doses, has a published placebo-controlled trial and comes with a money-back guarantee. That puts it ahead of many HGH products.
The marketing is where you need to be careful. Older promotional material claimed HGH increases “by up to 85%” along with broad anti-aging benefits. The only published trial doesn’t support those claims. Treat GenF20 Plus as a low-evidence supplement that may modestly raise IGF-1 in some older adults, not as an alternative to HGH therapy.
Buy from the official site rather than third-party marketplaces. That’s the only way to be sure you’re getting genuine stock and to qualify for the guarantee.
GenF20 Plus price and guarantee
At the time of Innerbody’s review, GenF20 Plus tablets cost $69.95 for a one-month supply (120 tablets), $199.95 for three months and $349.95 for six months, with free shipping. Adding the oral spray cost about $50 more per month. Reviewers report a 67-day money-back guarantee.
Prices and guarantee terms change, so confirm them on the official site before you order.
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How to take GenF20 Plus
Take two tablets twice a day, before meals; the trial used morning and evening doses. If you buy the spray, it’s used under the tongue alongside each tablet dose. Follow the label, and don’t take more to speed things up. The trial ran for 12 weeks, so that’s a fair minimum before you judge it. Stop if you get ongoing stomach pain or reflux.
Who should consider GenF20 Plus?
GenF20 Plus may suit a healthy adult over 40 who wants to try an HGH releaser with transparent doses and a guarantee, and who accepts that the evidence is limited. It’s a poor fit for athletes in tested sports, people with diabetes, cancer or a hormone-sensitive condition, and anyone hoping for dramatic changes in body fat or energy.
If you’re tired, gaining fat or losing muscle, see a doctor first. Low testosterone, thyroid problems, poor sleep and true growth hormone deficiency can all cause those symptoms, and they have proven treatments. You can compare other options in our supplement reviews.
Our verdict: GenF20 Plus is one of the more transparent HGH releasers. It discloses its doses, has a published trial and comes with a guarantee. But the trial showed only a small IGF-1 rise in adults over 40 and no improvement in how people felt. If you try it, check the guarantee terms first: the reported 67-day window ends before the 12-week trial period would.
GenF20 Plus FAQ
Does GenF20 Plus really work?
In its only published trial, GenF20 Plus didn’t raise IGF-1 more than a placebo overall. It did in adults over 40 after a statistical adjustment, and it showed no benefit for energy, sleep, libido or body fat over 12 weeks.
What are the side effects of GenF20 Plus?
In the trial, side effects were mostly mild acid reflux and stomach pain, plus one headache and one rash. All resolved. Talk to a doctor first if you have diabetes, take blood pressure medicine or have a history of cancer.
Is GenF20 Plus a steroid?
No. It contains no hormones or steroids. It’s a blend of amino acids, herbs, colostrum, deer antler velvet and animal pituitary powder that’s meant to support your body’s own growth hormone release.
How long does it take for GenF20 Plus to work?
The trial lasted 12 weeks, and any IGF-1 change appeared over that period. Give it about three months before you decide. The reported 67-day guarantee is shorter than that, so check the terms before you order.