Stimulation of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I axis by daily oral administration of a GH secretogogue (MK-677) in healthy elderly subjects

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at MK-677 (Ibutamoren).

The stimulatory effects on the GH-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis of orally administered MK-677, a GH-releasing peptide mimetic, were investigated.

At baseline and on day 14 of each study period, blood was collected every 20 min for 24 h to measure GH, PRL, and cortisol.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 15 women taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are middle-aged adults, older adults and people over 80, both men and women.

Thirty-two healthy subjects (15 women and 17 men, aged 64-81 yr) were enrolled in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got MK-677 (Ibutamoren) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the women nor the staff measuring them knew who was on MK-677 (Ibutamoren), so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the MK-677 (Ibutamoren) group a baseline to be compared against.

Attributes of pulsatile GH release were assessed by 3 independent algorithms.

What Was Measured

At baseline and on day 14 of each study period, blood was collected every 20 min for 24 h to measure GH, PRL, and cortisol.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Blood Glucose, Growth Hormone, Indoles, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I and Spiro Compounds.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of MK-677 (Ibutamoren) in 15 women.

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 1996 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the MK-677 (Ibutamoren) compound page, all human trials.