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Gp22.5

GHRP-2 Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalLimited safety

8 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most GHRP-2 studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 2010–2023 with a typical study size of 26 participants.

Based on 8 studies · 2 RCTs · 187 total participants

Confidence

Low

By outcome

GH / IGF-1 & lean mass
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Appetite & body weight
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Glucose & insulin sensitivity
Too few graded studies2 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies2 studies

Steady research

1 study in the last 5 years

201020162023

1RCTn=26 · very small study2013

Pulses of GHRH, SST, or saline were infused intravenously... along with either continuous saline or ghrelin analog (GHRP-2).

Norman C, Miles J, Bowers CY, et al. · Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (2013)

Prospectively randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover in 26 healthy older men
Tested how GHRP-2 jointly with GHRH and somatostatin shapes pulsatile GH secretion, and how testosterone modulates it
A short mechanistic biomarker (GH-secretion) study — no clinical outcome

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2RCTn=25 · very small study2011

Peptidyl secretagog controlled the mass, number, and duration of feedback-inhibited GH secretory bursts (each, P < 0.001).

Veldhuis JD, Bowers CY. · Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (2011)

25 healthy men and women studied eight times each under an experimental GH feedback clamp
GHRP-2 (alone and with GHRH) drove escape of pulsatile GH secretion from negative feedback
Sex and sex-steroid status (estradiol/testosterone) modulated the GH response

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3Review2018

To date, few long-term, rigorously controlled studies have examined the efficacy and safety of GHSs.

Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. · Sex Med Rev (2018)

Review of GH secretagogues (GHRPs including GHRP-2, plus ibutamoren/MK-677) in humans
GHSs promote pulsatile, feedback-regulated GH release and may stimulate appetite, improve lean mass in wasting states, and improve sleep
Explicitly notes few long-term controlled trials and concern for decreased insulin sensitivity / raised blood glucose

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4Observationaln=56 · small study2010

The GHRP-2 test was safe and required only one hour or less, and was capable of diagnosing GHD in children.

Asakura Y, Toyota Y, Muroya K, et al. · J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab (2010)

Evaluated the GHRP-2 GH-stimulation test (2 µg/kg IV) in 56 children with growth disorders
Peak GH correlated well with the insulin tolerance test (P < 0.0001) and separated GH-deficient from non-deficient children
Supports the DIAGNOSTIC use of GHRP-2 — its validated, approved application

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5Observationaln=65 · small study2023

The growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) test is relatively safe among endocrine stimulation tests for the elderly.

Teramoto S, Tahara S, Hattori Y, et al. · Growth Horm IGF Res (2023)

65 elderly patients with non-functioning pituitary tumors underwent the GHRP-2 GH-stimulation test before surgery
GH response to GHRP-2 stratified GH-normal vs GH-deficient groups and correlated with adrenocortical function
Reinforces GHRP-2's role as a relatively safe diagnostic GH-stimulation agent in older patients

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6Observationaln=14 · very small study2017

Mean posttreatment IGF-1 level was 239.0 (54.6) ng/mL (p < .0001).

Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW, Allison A, et al. · Am J Mens Health (2017)

Retrospective review of men on testosterone therapy seeking lean-mass gain and fat loss, prescribed GHRP-2/GHRP-6 plus sermorelin three times daily
Only 14 of 105 men met strict compliance/inclusion criteria — small, uncontrolled sample
Serum IGF-1 rose from a baseline of ~160 ng/mL to ~239 ng/mL over a mean ~134 days

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7Observational2010

As a releasing factor for hGH, GHRP-2 belongs to the list of substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Thomas A, Kohler M, Mester J, et al. · Drug Test Anal (2010)

Forensic identification and quantification of GHRP-2 in tablets sold as an over-the-counter 'nutritional supplement'
Documents the grey-market reality: a non-approved, performance-enhancing peptide sold to the public
Confirms GHRP-2 is WADA-prohibited as a GH-releasing factor

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8Case Studyn=1 · very small study2015

GHRP-2 increased the feeling of hunger and food intake, decreased early satiety and improved hypoglycemia.

Haruta I, Fuku Y, Kinoshita K, et al. · J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle (2015)

Single-patient case report: 1 year of pre-meal intranasal GHRP-2 in a severely emaciated anorexia-nervosa patient
Increased hunger and food intake; body weight rose ~6.7 kg (21.1 → 27.8 kg) over 14 months
Illustrates the ghrelin-agonist appetite effect; n=1, no control, not generalizable

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View in Research Library

GHRP-2 Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Differential pulsatile secretagogue control of GH secretion in healthy men.

Regulated recovery of pulsatile growth hormone secretion from negative feedback: a preclinical investigation.

The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues.

Growth hormone response to GH-releasing peptide-2 in children.

Assessment of anterior pituitary reserve capacity based on growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test in the elderly.

Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels.

Identification of the growth-hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in a nutritional supplement.

One-year intranasal application of growth hormone releasing peptide-2 improves body weight and hypoglycemia in a severely emaciated anorexia nervosa patient.