GHRP-6
Evidence: C/DGH Axis / Body Composition
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
C for limited early human endocrine, pharmacology, sleep, and provocative-testing evidence showing acute GH-axis and related hormonal effects; D for therapeutic efficacy, body-composition outcomes, muscle or strength gain, exercise performance, recovery, injury healing, long-term sleep benefit, appetite effects in humans, treatment of growth-hormone deficiency, and long-term safety because adequate controlled clinical outcome evidence is absent.
Regulatory Context
Investigational and not FDA-approved. FDA lists GHRP-6 among compounded bulk substances associated with potential significant safety risks, and WADA prohibits growth-hormone-releasing peptides in sport.
Research Takeaway
GHRP-6 stimulates GH release through growth-hormone-secretagogue/ghrelin-receptor pathways.
See all 11 evidence claims →Quick Summary
GHRP-6 is a synthetic ghrelin-receptor agonist and early growth-hormone-releasing hexapeptide. Human studies demonstrate acute GH stimulation, oral activity in selected settings, diagnostic research, and pharmacokinetics, while much of the tissue-protection and recovery literature is preclinical. No approved therapeutic indication or adequate long-term safety program exists.
Mechanism & Research Overview
GHRP-6 is a ghrelin-receptor agonist and growth-hormone secretagogue. Human endocrine studies indicate that endogenous hypothalamic GHRH contributes to its maximal GH response. Separate cytoprotective, wound-healing, cardiac, and kidney mechanisms have mainly been investigated in animal or cell models and should not be presented as established human benefits.
Evidence Grade Breakdown
A single letter grade can't capture how evidence quality differs across approved use, off-label use, and unsupported claims. The categories below break that down -- none of them grade this compound "overall."
Overall Research Grade
Small, early human endocrine, pharmacology, sleep-endocrine, and provocative-testing studies support the C component of this grade by showing acute GH-axis and related hormonal activity. No adequate controlled human trial establishes therapeutic efficacy, body-composition or performance outcomes, or long-term safety, and preclinical organ-protection, wound-healing, kidney-injury, cardioprotection, and appetite findings do not establish corresponding human outcomes -- together requiring D for any clinical-use interpretation.
CHuman Endocrine/Pharmacology Evidence
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Human Endocrine/Pharmacology Evidence
Nine small human studies evaluated acute GH-axis responses, pharmacokinetics, sleep-related endocrine effects, route dependence, or provocative testing. These studies support short-term biological activity but do not establish therapeutic benefit.
DHuman Therapeutic Outcome Efficacy
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Human Therapeutic Outcome Efficacy
No adequate controlled human trial establishes fat loss, muscle or strength gain, improved exercise performance, accelerated recovery or injury healing, sustained sleep benefit, anti-aging effects, or treatment efficacy for growth-hormone deficiency.
CDiagnostic/Provocative-Testing Evidence
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Diagnostic/Provocative-Testing Evidence
Two adult studies evaluated GHRP-6 alone or with GHRH as a provocative test of growth-hormone reserve. Diagnostic performance does not establish therapeutic efficacy or justify consumer administration.
DSafety Evidence
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Safety Evidence
Safety characterization relies mainly on FDA regulatory review and small short-duration human studies. Dedicated controlled safety trials, long-term safety data, and adequate pediatric safety evidence are absent.
CPreclinical/Mechanistic Evidence
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Preclinical/Mechanistic Evidence
Animal and cell studies support receptor signaling, GHRH dependence, and preclinical organ-protection, wound-healing, kidney-injury, and cardioprotection findings. These results do not establish corresponding human therapeutic outcomes.
DAppetite Evidence
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Appetite Evidence
Direct food-intake evidence is limited to one non-mammalian goldfish study. No human or mammalian-animal GHRP-6 appetite study is present in the approved source set, so human appetite effects remain uncertain.
BRegulatory/Product-Identity Evidence
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Regulatory/Product-Identity Evidence
FDA, PubChem, and WADA records clearly document GHRP-6 identity, investigational and compounding status, significant-safety-risk concerns, and anti-doping restrictions. These records establish regulatory and identity boundaries, not clinical efficacy.
Evidence reviewed
- Regulatory documents
- 4
- Preclinical studies
- 6
- Primary sources reviewed
- 19 of 20
Study counts describe the reviewed evidence base. They do not independently determine evidence quality.
How MitoCore grades evidence
Grade definitions
- A
- Strong and directly applicable evidence, generally including regulatory support or multiple high-quality replicated human trials for the exact claim and population.
- A-
- Strong human evidence with limited uncertainty, narrower applicability, or incomplete replication.
- B+
- Moderately strong evidence with meaningful human support but important scope, duration, safety, or generalizability limitations.
- B
- Credible evidence with notable uncertainty, limited replication, or mixed results.
- C
- Preliminary or inconsistent evidence, usually limited human data or strong indirect evidence.
- D
- Weak, indirect, population-limited, or largely unsupported evidence for the specific use being graded.
- F
- No credible supporting evidence, evidence contradicting the claim, or claims based primarily on speculation or marketing.
Confidence definitions
- High
- The evidence classification is unlikely to change substantially with ordinary additional research.
- Moderate
- The classification is reasonably supported but could change with additional high-quality evidence.
- Low
- The evidence base is sparse, indirect, inconsistent, or dependent on uncertain assumptions.
- Very Low
- The evidence base is extremely limited, speculative, or unsuitable for firm conclusions.
Scope
The grade evaluates the evidence supporting the specific category or claim. A grade does not evaluate product purity, supplier quality, personal suitability, treatment appropriateness, individual outcomes, legality, or medical safety for a specific person.
These grades and confidence levels describe the research evidence itself. They are not medical recommendations, and they do not evaluate any specific product, supplier, or individual's situation.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
GHRP-6 stimulates GH release through growth-hormone-secretagogue/ghrelin-receptor pathways.
Sources: Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide-6 requires endogenous hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone for maximal GH stimulation; Growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP-6) stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human pituitary somatotroph cells
Supported
Human studies evaluated acute GH responses and diagnostic testing rather than long-term therapeutic outcomes.
Sources: Growth hormone-releasing effect of oral growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) administration in children with short stature; GH-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide-6 for diagnostic testing in GH-deficient adults
Supported
A nine-subject study characterized GHRP-6 pharmacokinetics after single intravenous exposures.
Sources: Pharmacokinetic study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in nine male healthy volunteers
Supported
Organ-protection, wound-healing, and kidney-repair claims are supported primarily by preclinical models.
Sources: Use of growth-hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) for the prevention of multiple organ failure; Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 Enhances the Healing Process and Improves the Esthetic Outcome of the Wounds; Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation
Supported
FDA identifies limited safety information plus potential cortisol and glucose/insulin-sensitivity concerns for compounded GHRP-6.
Supported
GHRP-6 is distinct from GHRP-2/pralmorelin, hexarelin/examorelin, ipamorelin, ghrelin, GHRH, CJC-1295, and recombinant human GH; free-base, acetate, TFA, and other salt or formulation forms must not be assumed interchangeable.
Sources: PubChem GHRP-6 Record
Supported
As of FDA's May 14, 2026 list, GHRP-6 is a 503A Category 1 substance under evaluation, which is not FDA approval and does not establish safety or effectiveness. FDA separately places GHRP-6 in 503B Category 2 because of potential significant safety risks, citing immunogenicity from aggregation/impurities, limited safety information, potential cortisol effects, and possible glucose increases through reduced insulin sensitivity.
Sources: FDA 503A Bulk Drug Substances Categories, Updated May 14, 2026; Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks — GHRP-6
Supported
In a small study of normal men, repeated nocturnal intravenous GHRP-6 increased GH, ACTH, and cortisol; stage-2 sleep increased while slow-wave sleep was not improved. GHRP-6 is not established as a sleep treatment.
Sources: Nocturnal GHRP-6 Effects on GH, ACTH, Cortisol, and Sleep
Supported
Other route-comparison studies likewise showed endocrine and sleep effects that depend on the administration route.
Sources: Route-Dependent Endocrine and Sleep Effects of GHRP-6
Supported
GHRP-6, alone or with GHRH, has been studied as a provocative test for GH reserve; some studies report high specificity but limited sensitivity when used alone. Diagnostic-test performance does not establish therapeutic benefit or justify consumer administration.
Sources: GHRP-6 Provocative Testing in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency
Supported
No adequate human trial establishes that GHRP-6 reduces body fat, increases muscle mass or strength, improves exercise performance, accelerates recovery or injury healing, improves long-term sleep, reverses aging, or treats growth-hormone deficiency.
Sources: Growth hormone-releasing effect of oral growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) administration in children with short stature; Nocturnal GHRP-6 Effects on GH, ACTH, Cortisol, and Sleep
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Higher-Priority Safety Consideration
FDA reports available data suggesting potential increases in blood glucose related to decreased insulin sensitivity.Higher-Priority Safety Consideration
FDA highlights aggregation and peptide-related impurity concerns for compounded products.Safety Consideration
FDA identifies a possible effect on cortisol among the available safety concerns.Safety Consideration
GHRP-6 activates ghrelin-receptor signaling, but the only direct food-intake evidence in the current source set comes from a non-mammalian goldfish study. Human appetite magnitude and clinical consequences remain uncertain.Safety Consideration
Nocturnal and route-comparison studies show GHRP-6's endocrine and sleep effects vary by administration route and pattern; it is not established as a proven sleep therapy.Safety Consideration
Cardiomyopathy, wound, kidney, and cytoprotection findings largely come from animal models and cannot establish human outcomes.Safety Consideration
Sterility and endotoxin risk apply to injectable products, and long-term repeated-dose and pediatric safety data remain inadequate.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the GH Axis / Body Composition category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
- Pharmacokinetic study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in nine male healthy volunteers (2013):
- GH-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide-6 for diagnostic testing in GH-deficient adults (2000):
- Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide-6 requires endogenous hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone for maximal GH stimulation (1998):
- Growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing peptide-6 in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (1997):
- Blocked growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP-6)-induced GH secretion in patients with hypothalamopituitary disconnection (1995):
- Growth hormone-releasing effect of oral growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) administration in children with short stature (1995):
- GHRP-6 Provocative Testing in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency ():
- Nocturnal GHRP-6 Effects on GH, ACTH, Cortisol, and Sleep ():
- Route-Dependent Endocrine and Sleep Effects of GHRP-6 ():
Study Tables by Evidence Type
Human Studies & Clinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetic study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in nine male healthy volunteers | 2013 | Nine healthy male volunteers | The study characterized plasma pharmacokinetics across dose levels in healthy volunteers.
| Very small sample and acute exposure; not evidence of long-term safety or clinical benefit. | |
| GH-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide-6 for diagnostic testing in GH-deficient adults | 2000 | Adults evaluated for growth-hormone deficiency | The study evaluated combined GHRH and GHRP-6 as a provocative diagnostic test for adult GH deficiency. | Diagnostic-test performance does not establish therapeutic benefit or repeated-use safety. | |
| Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide-6 requires endogenous hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone for maximal GH stimulation | 1998 | 9 healthy males | GHRH-antagonist pretreatment reduced peak GH response from 33.8 to 6.2 mcg/L, confirming GHRH dependency for maximal effect.
| ||
| Growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing peptide-6 in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus | 1997 | 6 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus + 7 controls | GH response to GHRP-6 was unaltered in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes; synergy with GHRH was preserved. Included here as a neutral finding rather than a cherry-picked positive result.
| ||
| Blocked growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP-6)-induced GH secretion in patients with hypothalamopituitary disconnection | 1995 | 12 patients with hypothalamopituitary disconnection + 11 controls | GHRP-6's action is exerted primarily at the hypothalamic level, not directly at the pituitary.
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| Growth hormone-releasing effect of oral growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) administration in children with short stature | 1995 | 13 prepubertal children with short stature | GH response comparable to GHRH; synergistic effect observed with oral arginine.
| ||
| GHRP-6 Provocative Testing in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency | Adults evaluated for growth-hormone deficiency | GHRP-6, alone or combined with GHRH, studied as a provocative test for GH reserve in adult GHD; used alone it showed high specificity but limited sensitivity. | Diagnostic-test performance does not establish therapeutic benefit or justify consumer administration. | ||
| Nocturnal GHRP-6 Effects on GH, ACTH, Cortisol, and Sleep | Normal men | Repeated nocturnal intravenous GHRP-6 increased GH, ACTH, and cortisol; stage-2 sleep increased while slow-wave sleep was not improved. | |||
| Route-Dependent Endocrine and Sleep Effects of GHRP-6 | Healthy adults (route-comparison design) | Route-comparison study showing that GHRP-6 endocrine and sleep effects depend on the route and pattern of administration. |
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation | 2025 | Mouse acute-kidney-injury model + HK-2 human cells in vitro | Enhanced tubular epithelial cell survival via mTOR-P70 pathway activation. | ||
| Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial and extra-myocardial damages by activating prosurvival mechanisms | 2024 | Wistar rats (n=12/group), doxorubicin cardiomyopathy model | Prevented myocardial fiber loss and ventricular dilation, preserving systolic function. | ||
| Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 Enhances the Healing Process and Improves the Esthetic Outcome of the Wounds | 2016 | Wistar rats and New Zealand rabbits | Prevented 90.5% of hypertrophic scarring in rabbits; accelerated wound closure in rats.
| ||
| GHRP-6 mimics ghrelin-induced stimulation of food intake and suppression of locomotor activity in goldfish | 2012 | Goldfish | Stimulated food intake, equipotent to ghrelin; effect blocked by an NPY Y1-receptor antagonist.
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| Use of growth-hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) for the prevention of multiple organ failure | 2006 | Wistar rats (hepatic ischemia-reperfusion model); IEC-6/HT29 cells in vitro | Reduced hepatic, intestinal, lung, and renal injury by 50-85% in the ischemia-reperfusion model.
| ||
| Growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP-6) stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human pituitary somatotroph cells | 1995 | Cultured human pituitary somatotrophinoma cells | GHRP-6 stimulated phosphatidylinositol turnover and GH secretion in the cultured human pituitary cells, supporting a PKC/Ca2+-linked mechanism. | Cell-study findings do not establish clinical safety or benefit. |
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List | 2026 | Anti-doping regulatory standard | WADA lists growth-hormone-releasing factors and secretagogues, including CJC-1295, sermorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and examorelin/hexarelin, as prohibited in sport. | Anti-doping status is not a clinical safety or efficacy determination. | |
| Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks — GHRP-6 | 2026 | FDA compounding safety summary | FDA identifies limited safety information and immunogenicity/impurity concerns for compounded GHRP-6. | FDA notes potential effects on cortisol and increased blood glucose associated with decreased insulin sensitivity. | |
| FDA 503A Bulk Drug Substances Categories, Updated May 14, 2026 | 2026 | As of the May 14, 2026 list, GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are both Category 1 substances under FDA evaluation for the 503A Bulks List. Category 1 status is not FDA approval and does not establish a finding of safety or effectiveness or automatic authorization to compound. | |||
| PubChem GHRP-6 Record | PubChem identity record for GHRP-6, a synthetic six-amino-acid growth-hormone-releasing peptide containing non-natural D-amino-acid residues and acting as a ghrelin/growth-hormone-secretagogue-receptor agonist. |
Review Articles / Secondary Sources
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptides (GHRPs): A Historical Appraisal of the Evidences Supporting Their Cytoprotective Effects | 2017 | Historical review of GHRP mechanism and cytoprotective evidence | Synthesizes the cytoprotective evidence for GHRP-6 and related compounds across cardiac, neuronal, GI, and hepatic tissue research. |
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Educational research summary only. This page does not provide medical advice, treatment guidance, product-quality assurance, or instructions for human use.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Content pending review. Last updated 2026-07-26.
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