Hooper’s peptide protocol targets efficiency and restoration.
Final up to date on April fifteenth, 2025
Strongman preparations can take an unlimited bodily and psychological toll on the physique. Reigning three-time Arnold Strongman Traditional champ, Strongest Man on Earth, and 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Mitchell Hooper not too long ago detailed the peptide stack that helps him with day by day efficiency and restoration.
Hooper values these 5 injectables however cautions that peptide use is rarely a “one-size-fits-all strategy.” His protocol was doctor-prescribed primarily based on health, bodily output, household historical past, and blood work.
Hooper’s Efficiency and Restoration Peptide Protocol
- Sermorelin
- Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)
- Methionine
- NAD+
- Glutathione
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Sermorelin
Coping with soreness and muscle fatigue is a large hurdle for strongman rivals to beat. Hooper combats this with Sermorelin, and although he admits it’s not a “magic bullet,” it stimulates the pituitary gland to extend growth hormone secretion. It might probably additionally improve sleep and muscle building. (1)(2)(3)
He favors Sermorelin over progress hormone because it helps the physique’s skill to provide it internally relatively than getting it from exogenous sources.
I discover a distinction once I’m taking it and once I’m not.
—Mitchell Hooper
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)
“That is one thing I take a number of instances day by day,” Hooper defined. Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide can enhance digestion, permitting him to eat bigger portions of meals, a should in strongman. (4)
Research have proven that it helps the comfort of easy muscle mass within the coronary heart or blood vessels. (5) When these are overly constricted, coronary heart assaults and strokes can happen. “This can be a factor that may stem that downside.”
Methionine
This injectable amino acid can elevate glucose metabolism and assist mitochondrial respiration, which is vital for creating power from carbs and fat. (6) He finds Methionine helpful for longer medleys: “I can kick into my cardio state sooner than if I weren’t taking it.”
NAD+
NAD+ is derived from vitamin B3 and assists the mobile course of to create power by ATP. (7) In a sport that straddles the road between well being and efficiency, it is a staple in Hooper’s arsenal for longevity and recovery. (8) (9)
Glutathione
Some analysis has discovered that glutathione helps assist muscle restore. Hooper described it as “The world’s finest buffer for abusing your physique.” (10) Whether or not he’s consuming extreme quantities of meals or breaking by a training plateau, Hooper mentioned, “Merely put, it’s a strong software to assist me prepare onerous frequently.”
Extra Strongman Content material
References
- Devesa P, Gelabert M, Gonźlez-Mosquera T, et al. Development hormone remedy enhances the useful restoration of sciatic nerves after transection and restore. Muscle Nerve. 2012;45(3):385-392. doi:10.1002/mus.22303 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22334173/
- Van Cauter E, Plat L. Physiology of progress hormone secretion throughout sleep. J Pediatr. 1996;128(5 Pt 2):S32-S37. doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(96)70008-2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8627466/
- Welle S, Thornton C, Statt M, McHenry B. Development hormone will increase muscle mass and energy however doesn’t rejuvenate myofibrillar protein synthesis in wholesome topics over 60 years outdated. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996;81(9):3239-3243. doi:10.1210/jcem.81.9.8784075 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8784075/
- Iwasaki M, Akiba Y, Kaunitz JD. Current advances in vasoactive intestinal peptide physiology and pathophysiology: deal with the gastrointestinal system. F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 School Rev-1629. Revealed 2019 Sep 12. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18039.1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31559013/
- Henning RJ, Sawmiller DR. Vasoactive intestinal peptide: cardiovascular results. Cardiovasc Res. 2001;49(1):27-37. doi:10.1016/s0008-6363(00)00229-7 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11121793/
- Tripodi F, Castoldi A, Nicastro R, et al. Methionine supplementation stimulates mitochondrial respiration. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2018;1865(12):1901-1913. doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.09.007 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30290237/
- Camillo L, Zavattaro E, Savoia P. Nicotinamide: A Multifaceted Molecule in Pores and skin Well being and Past. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(2):254. Revealed 2025 Feb 1. doi:10.3390/medicina61020254 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40005371/
- Fang EF, Lautrup S, Hou Y, Demarest TG, Croteau DL, Mattson MP, Bohr VA. NAD+ in Ageing: Molecular Mechanisms and Translational Implications. Tendencies Mol Med. 2017 Oct;23(10):899-916. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.08.001. Epub 2017 Sep 9. PMID: 28899755; PMCID: PMC7494058. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7494058/
- Gindri IM, Ferrari G, Pinto LPS, et al. Analysis of security and effectiveness of NAD in numerous scientific situations: a scientific evaluate. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024;326(4):E417-E427. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00242.2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37971292/
- Aoi W, Ogaya Y, Takami M, Konishi T, Sauchi Y, Park EY, Wada S, Sato Okay, Higashi A. Glutathione supplementation suppresses muscle fatigue induced by extended train by way of improved cardio metabolism. J Int Soc Sports activities Nutr. 2015 Feb 6;12:7. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0067-x. PMID: 25685110; PMCID: PMC4328900. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4328900/
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