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GHRP-6

Growth-hormone secretagogue hexapeptide

GH-axis physiology
Generic peptide vial illustrationGHRP-6
Entity typePeptide
Evidence reviewed2026-09-18
Canonical recordGHRP6
Page updated2026-09-20
Evidence profileLimited human pharmacology / endocrine evidence; clinical lifestyle efficacy unproven
Human evidenceLimited
Regulatory statusNot FDA-approved
Choose your depthStart simple, then open the evidence or technical detail only if you need it.
Quick answerPlain languageEvidenceOutcomes and studiesStudiesPrimary recordsTechnicalMechanism, route and identifiers

In plain English

30-second evidence answer

What does the evidence mean in simple terms?

GHRP-6 has small human studies showing that it can change growth-hormone and appetite-related signals. That is not the same as proving useful muscle gain, fat loss, recovery, sleep or longevity benefits.

Still uncertain: Clinical benefit for body composition, recovery, sleep, performance or longevity.

New to terms such as “preclinical”, “randomized” or “investigational”? Use the plain-English glossary →

What is it?Growth-hormone secretagogue hexapeptide
Entity typePeptide
Research focusGH-axis physiology
Human evidenceSmall human studies characterize exposure and show route-dependent GH, ACTH/cortisol and sleep effects.
Regulatory statusNot FDA-approved; FDA highlights compounding safety uncertainty.
Main limitationsPerformance, body-composition, recovery, sleep-treatment or longevity benefit.
SafetyFDA notes limited safety information and concerns including cortisol effects and increased blood glucose through reduced insulin sensitivity.
Evidence reviewed2026-09-18
i
Small human studies characterize exposure and show route-dependent GH, ACTH/cortisol and sleep effects.
Outcome-level evidence

Evidence is not one score.

Each record below answers a narrower question about an outcome, population or context. Evidence status and the study finding are shown separately so strong evidence is not mistaken for a positive effect.

How to read this →

GH-axis / performance outcomes

Human evidence
Limited human pharmacology

Context: Healthy volunteers

Finding: Human exposure is documented.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: No established clinical evidence of better muscle gain, recovery, performance or longevity.

Verified 2026-09-18Primary source ↗

Sleep and HPA-axis effects

Human evidence
Small placebo-controlled human physiology evidence

Context: Healthy men

Finding: Human effects extend beyond GH secretion.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: No evidence of a durable insomnia/recovery benefit.

Verified 2026-09-18Primary source ↗

Route dependence

Human evidence
Small placebo-controlled human physiology evidence

Context: Healthy men

Finding: Formulation/route cannot be treated as interchangeable.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: No clinical-outcome benefit established for any tested route.

Verified 2026-09-18Primary source ↗
Evidence rule: an outcome-specific evidence label is not a recommendation, a safety rating or an overall score for the compound.

Evidence synthesis

  • ✓Human exposure is documented.
  • ✓Human effects extend beyond GH secretion.
  • ✓Formulation/route cannot be treated as interchangeable.

Important limitations

  • !Small physiology/PK studies with surrogate endpoints.
  • !Small old study and acute administration.
  • !Old small study with acute endpoints.

Selected study & evidence records

Human pharmacokinetics of GHRP-6

2012 · Healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetic study · n=9

Human exposure and pharmacokinetics were characterized across three IV dose levels.

Study detail → Primary source ↗

GHRP-6 stimulates sleep, GH, ACTH and cortisol release in normal men

1995 · Placebo-controlled sleep/endocrine physiology study · n=Small study

GHRP-6 increased GH, ACTH, cortisol and stage-2 sleep; slow-wave sleep was unchanged.

Study detail → Primary source ↗

Route-dependent sleep/endocrine effects of GHRP-6

1999 · Placebo-controlled route-comparison physiology study · n=Small study

Oral dosing did not change GH/ACTH/cortisol; intranasal dosing increased GH and showed route-dependent endocrine/sleep effects.

Study detail → Primary source ↗

Safety and unknowns

FDA notes limited safety information and concerns including cortisol effects and increased blood glucose through reduced insulin sensitivity.

Endocrine/appetite effects and long-term safety are incompletely characterized; unapproved product quality remains a separate concern.

Technical details

Mechanism / biologyGhrelin/GHS-receptor agonist that stimulates GH and can influence appetite/endocrine signalling.
Route / formulation boundaryPharmacokinetic and hormone responses do not establish clinical benefit.
Identity / data-quality noteUse the canonical compound identity and studied formulation when interpreting evidence.
Study / label regimen evidenceVerified study/label regimen evidence is available. Published human PK regimen. Open descriptive regimen evidence →
Identifiers & alternate namesGHRP6 · GHRP 6

Source depth & provenance

WhichPeps does not rely on a single headline study when the evidence base is broader. Primary research, registries, regulators and supporting records are kept distinct.

3structured study records
3outcome records
7linked source records

How to read these counts: they show evidence coverage, not evidence strength. One large, well-designed study can be more informative than several weak or indirect records.

Show supporting and discovery sources

Study pages above contain the records used for public evidence summaries. The links below include supporting, regulatory and literature-discovery sources; a registry or search result is not treated as proof of benefit.

Evidence rule: WhichPeps keeps human, animal, laboratory, regulatory and product/formulation evidence distinct. Common names help people find the page; they do not change the underlying scientific identity.