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Gp62.5
GHRP-6 Research
Mostly mechanism / observational
16 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most GHRP-6 studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 1995–2024 with a typical study size of 69 participants.
Based on 16 studies · 8 RCTs · 725 total participants
Confidence
Moderate confidence
By outcome
GH / IGF-1 axis
Mostly mechanism / observational12 studies
Cardio / tissue protection (preclinical)
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Appetite & food intake
Too few graded studies2 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies2 studies
Lean body mass & muscle growthTransient GH elevation (surrogate) with no proven human physique benefit; strong appetite stimulation and cortisol/prolactin rise are trade-offs. · Not established (no outcome data)
Too few graded studies1 study
Slowing down
Only 1 study in the last 5 years
199520092024
1RCT2003
Oliveira JH, Vieira JG, Abucham J, Lengyel AM · J Endocrinol Invest (2003)
In plain English: During administration of GHRP6 no side effects were observed. GHRP6 alone as a provocative test is highly specific, but with limited sensitivity for the diagnosis of GH deficiency in adults.
Alaioubi B, Mann K, Petersenn S. · Horm Metab Res (2009)
49 patients with suspected hypothalamic/pituitary disease plus 20 healthy controls underwent GHRP-6 (1 mcg/kg) testing; patients also had the insulin tolerance test
Mean GH peak was 3.0 mcg/L in the GH-deficient group vs 14.8 mcg/L in the GH-sufficient group; optimal cut-point 3.5 mcg/L (80% sensitivity, 95% specificity)
Demonstrates GHRP-6's transient, GH-raising effect used as a diagnostic provocative stimulus in humans
In plain English: GHRP treatment significantly improved left ventricular function and remodeling in CHF rats... GHRP suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
Xu XB, Pang JJ, Cao JM, Ni C. · Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol (2005)
Pressure-overload chronic-heart-failure rats were treated with one of four GH-releasing peptides (GHRP-1, -2, -6 or hexarelin, 100 mcg/kg) or saline, twice daily for 3 weeks
GHRP treatment improved LV ejection fraction and remodeling, alleviated cardiac cachexia, and suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis
Lowered elevated stress hormones (catecholamines, renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, endothelin-1, ANP) and raised cardiac GHS-receptor mRNA
In plain English: GH and GHRP-6 modulate IGF-I expression in the central nervous system... coincident with activation of intracellular signaling pathways used by IGF-I and increased expression of proteins involved in cell survival or neuroprotection.
In plain English: Intra-VTA delivery of the ghrelin receptor antagonist [Lys-3]-GHRP-6 selectively reduced caloric intake of high-fat chow and reduced body weight gain.
King SJ, Isaacs AM, O'Farrell E, Abizaid A. · Horm Behav (2011)
In rats, ghrelin (the natural GHS-R1a agonist) increased chow intake and body-weight gain and the motivation to work for palatable food
The ghrelin-receptor antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 conversely reduced high-fat caloric intake and body-weight gain
Illustrates the GHS-R1a appetite/reward axis that GHRP-6 (as an agonist) stimulates — i.e. why GHRP-6 increases hunger
In plain English: These ligands have several cardiovascular activities, including a cardioprotective effect against myocardial ischemia, and vasoactive and cardiotropic effects in both experimental models and humans.
Cao JM, Ong H, Chen C. · Trends Endocrinol Metab (2006)
Review of ghrelin and synthetic GH secretagogues (including GHRP-6) and their cardiovascular actions via GHS-R1a and peripheral binding sites
Summarizes cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia plus vasoactive and cardiotropic effects in experimental models
Notes that cardiovascular GHS-receptor signalling pathways are not fully documented
In plain English: EGF + GHRP6 therapy was safe. The functional benefits of treatment in this study supported a Phase III study.
Hernández-Bernal F, Estenoz-García D, Gutiérrez-Ronquillo JH, et al. · Front Neurol (2024)
Multicentric, randomized, open-label, controlled phase I/II trial: 36 acute ischemic stroke patients given EGF + GHRP-6 (3.5 or 5 mg i.v., BID for 7 days) vs standard care
Primary endpoint was safety over 6 months; serious adverse events were not increased vs control (30% and 20% in treated groups vs 56% control)
Treated patients showed a favourable neurological (NIHSS) and functional (Barthel, modified Rankin) recovery signal at 90 and 180 days with a moderate-to-strong effect size