What is Hexarelin?

A potent synthetic hexapeptide GH secretagogue, also studied for direct heart effects via the CD36 receptor.

Hexarelin in the library · Growth Hormone Secretagogues · Human Trials · What are peptides?

0 registered trials · 58 indexed papers · 150 human / 127 animal studies

From the PeptideWhiz library entry. "As described" sections summarize claims made in the sources; they are not PeptideWhiz endorsements.

What it is

Hexarelin (examorelin) is described as a synthetic hexapeptide related to GHRP-6, with a methylated tryptophan that makes it one of the strongest GH releasers in its class.

It has been studied in people for GH release, in testing for pseudo-Cushing's states, and for possible cardiac effects.

Mechanism (as described)

  • It acts at the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) and also binds CD36, a receptor found in heart tissue, which is described as the basis for animal studies of cardioprotection independent of GH.
  • Repeated use can blunt the GH response (desensitization); human data on this are mixed (Rahim et al., 1998).

Evidence (as described)

  • Human studies are small and short-term, measuring hormone responses (Massoud et al., 1995; Coiro et al., 2000). It also raises cortisol and prolactin to a degree.

Status

Not approved as a medicine.

Peer-reviewed studies (58)

PaperAuthorsJournalYearType
There are no acute cardiac effects of a single iv dose of human ghrelin in severe growth hormone deficient patientsJanssen JA et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation2004Clinical Trial
Age-related differences in growth hormone (GH) regulation during strenuous exercisede Vries WR et al.Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme2004Clinical Trial
Hexarelin decreases slow-wave sleep and stimulates the secretion of GH, ACTH, cortisol and prolactin during sleep in healthy volunteersFrieboes RM et al.Psychoneuroendocrinology2004Controlled Clinical Trial
Effects of cortistatin-14 and somatostatin-14 on the endocrine response to hexarelin in humansBenso A et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation2003Clinical Trial
GHRP-6 is able to stimulate cortisol and ACTH release in patients with Cushing's disease: comparison with DDAVPOliveira JH et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation2003Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of glucose, free fatty acids or arginine load on the GH-releasing activity of ghrelin in humansBroglio F et al.Clinical endocrinology2002Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of acute hexarelin administration on cardiac performance in patients with coronary artery disease during by-pass surgeryBroglio F et al.European journal of pharmacology2002Controlled Clinical Trial
Impact of two or three daily subcutaneous injections of hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, on 24-h GH, prolactin, adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion in humansMaccario M et al.European journal of endocrinology2002Randomized Controlled Trial
Ghrelin, a natural GH secretagogue produced by the stomach, induces hyperglycemia and reduces insulin secretion in humansBroglio F et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2001Randomized Controlled Trial
Growth hormone-independent cardiotropic activities of growth hormone-releasing peptides in normal subjects, in patients with growth hormone deficiency, and in patients with idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathyBroglio F et al.Endocrine2001Clinical Trial
Recombinant human IGF-I does not modify the ACTH and cortisol responses to hCRH and hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in humansGianotti L et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation2001Randomized Controlled Trial
Endocrine activities of ghrelin, a natural growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), in humans: comparison and interactions with hexarelin, a nonnatural peptidyl GHS, and GH-releasing hormoneArvat E et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2001Randomized Controlled Trial
Interaction between glucagon and hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, on somatotroph and corticotroph secretion in humansArvat E et al.European journal of endocrinology2000Clinical Trial
Endocrine activities of alexamorelin (Ala-His-d-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-d-Phe-Lys-NH2), a synthetic GH secretagogue, in humansBroglio F et al.European journal of endocrinology2000Clinical Trial
Desmopressin and hexarelin tests in alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing's syndromeCoiro V et al.Journal of internal medicine2000Randomized Controlled Trial
Role of food intake in the modulation of hexarelin-induced growth hormone release in normal human subjectsDe Marinis L et al.Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme2000Clinical Trial
The negative GH auto-feedback in childhood: effects of rhGH and/or GHRH on the somatotroph response to GHRH or hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in childrenBellone J et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation2000Controlled Clinical Trial
Effects of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine, on the ACTH-, GH- and PRL-releasing activity of hexarelin, a synthetic peptidyl GH secretagogue (GHS), in patients with simple obesity and in patients with Cushing's diseaseGrottoli S et al.Pituitary1999Clinical Trial
Cardiac effects of hexarelin in hypopituitary adultsBisi G et al.European journal of pharmacology1999Clinical Trial
Corticotropin-releasing effect of hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in normal subjects pretreated with metyrapone or RU-486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and in patients with Addison's diseaseArvat E et al.Neuroendocrinology1999Clinical Trial
The growth hormone secretagogue hexarelin stimulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis via arginine vasopressinKorbonits M et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1999Randomized Controlled Trial
Acute cardiovascular and hormonal effects of GH and hexarelin, a synthetic GH-releasing peptide, in humansBisi G et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation1999Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of chronic hexarelin administration on the pituitary-adrenal axis and prolactinRahim A et al.Clinical endocrinology1999Clinical Trial
The effects of dose, nutrition, and age on hexarelin-induced anterior pituitary hormone secretion in adult patients on maintenance hemodialysisJenkins RC et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1999Clinical Trial
Tyr-Ala-Hexarelin, a synthetic octapeptide, possesses the same endocrine activities of Hexarelin and GHRP-2 in humansArvat E et al.Journal of endocrinological investigation1999Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I administration on growth hormone (GH) secretion, both spontaneous and stimulated by GH-releasing hormone or hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in humansGhigo E et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1999Clinical Trial
Does desensitization to hexarelin occur?Rahim A et al.Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society1998Clinical Trial
Growth hormone response to hexarelin, growth hormone-releasing hormone plus pyridostigmine and arginine plus estrogen in prepubertal and early pubertal short childrenGuzzaloni G et al.Minerva endocrinologica1998Clinical Trial
Adrenocorticotropin and cortisol hyperresponsiveness to hexarelin in patients with Cushing's disease bearing a pituitary microadenoma, but not in those with macroadenomaArvat E et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1998Clinical Trial
The growth hormone response to hexarelin in patients with different hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalitiesMaghnie M et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1998Controlled Clinical Trial

More cited research

Conditions researched

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FAQ

What is Hexarelin?

A potent synthetic hexapeptide GH secretagogue, also studied for direct heart effects via the CD36 receptor.

How many registered human trials study Hexarelin?

The PeptideWhiz trial index lists 0 registered trials for Hexarelin.

How much published research exists on Hexarelin?

The PeptideWhiz paper index links 58 PubMed papers to Hexarelin; by study type, 150 human and 127 animal studies.

Which conditions is Hexarelin researched for?

Anti-aging & longevity, Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease & high blood pressure, Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition, Heart repair: after heart attack, heart failure & enlarged heart, Insulin resistance, prediabetes & type 2 diabetes, Post-surgical inflammation and surgery recovery, Sleep problems (incl. insomnia on peptides).

Research and education only. Not medical advice. No dosing guidance. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov registry and PubMed via the PeptideWhiz index (204,289 studies).

Reported dosing ranges from research