Endocrine activities of ghrelin, a natural growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), in humans: comparison and interactions with hexarelin, a nonnatural peptidyl GHS, and GH-releasing hormone

Plain-language guide to PMID 11238504 (2001): placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) and Ghrelin in 7 men.

Key Facts

PMID: 11238504
Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year: 2001
Study type: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Arvat E et al. (13 authors)
DOI: 10.1210/jcem.86.3.7314

What This Study Did, in Plain Language

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) and Ghrelin.

An endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue-receptor (GHS-receptor) has recently been isolated, from both the rat and the human stomach, and named ghrelin.

It is a 28-amino-acid peptide showing a unique structure with an n-octanoyl ester at its third serine residue, which is essential for its potent stimulatory activity on somatotroph secretion.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 7 men were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized and placebo-controlled study.

The men were allocated by chance, so the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

GH levels were assayed at each time point in all sessions; PRL, ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone levels were also assayed after administration of ghrelin and/or HEX.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Aldosterone, Ghrelin, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone, Human Growth Hormone, Hydrocortisone and Oligopeptides.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) and Ghrelin in 7 men.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2001 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) compound page and the Ghrelin compound page, all human trials.

Our Notes on the Compounds

Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over): Constant levels suppress the body's own GHRH, raise somatostatin and dull pituitary response.

Ghrelin: A 28-amino-acid stomach hormone that signals hunger and triggers growth hormone release; studied in human trials as an infusion.

GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone): The 44-amino-acid hypothalamic hormone that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone; sermorelin and tesamorelin are analogs.

Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.