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Hexarelin research

What published studies found for Hexarelin: 8 papers, 5 in humans, with sample sizes and key results.

B
Some human evidence
Why: Small human studies, including a placebo-controlled acute cardiac study in 24 patients, show GH release; 16-week use did not change IGF-I or body composition.

Hexarelin has been given to humans in many small, mostly short-term or uncontrolled studies: it strongly releases GH (and acutely ACTH, cortisol and prolactin), but 16 weeks of use in older adults blunted the GH response and did not change IGF-I or body composition. Cardioprotective effects are supported mainly by animal studies plus one acute human surgical study.

✓ 4 positive✗ 1 negative? 3 inconclusive

Longest published human exposure is about 16 weeks in small groups; tolerance (reduced GH response) develops with continued use and long-term safety is unknown.

US compounding: Not compoundable. Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it. Status for every peptide.

Browse and filter these papersHexarelin prices and vendors

Reported side effects

Human studies

? Inconclusivehuman RCTEur J Endocrinol · 2002

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 humans.

Six normal young menIntermittent s.c. hexarelin schedules (two vs three daily injections) with 24-h hormone sampling24-hour sampling periods

In 6 healthy young men, 2-3 daily injections raised 24-h GH without changing IGF-I, prolactin, ACTH or cortisol over a day, while an IV dose raised GH, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol.

Studied
Six healthy young men
Compared with
Baseline and two vs three injection schedules
Main outcome
24-h GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol secretion
Authors' conclusion
Two or three daily s.c. injections increased 24-h GH secretion equally, selectively amplifying GH pulse mass without altering prolactin or ACTH/cortisol secretion; IGF-I was not changed by these 1-day schedules.
Limitations
Only six men; 1-day treatment schedules.
PubMed 11888836DOI
✓ Positivehuman trialEur J Pharmacol · 2002

Effects of acute hexarelin administration on cardiac performance in patients with coronary artery disease during by-pass surgery.

n = 24 humansPlacebo-controlled acute-administration study versus GHRH and rhGHAcute; monitored up to 90 min

In 24 men undergoing bypass surgery, a single IV dose of hexarelin (but not GHRH, GH or placebo) acutely increased ejection fraction, cardiac index and output for up to 90 minutes.

Key resultHexarelin increased left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac index and cardiac output (all P<0.001) up to 90 min; GHRH, rhGH and placebo had no hemodynamic effect
Studied
Male patients with coronary artery disease undergoing by-pass surgery under general anesthesia
Compared with
Placebo, GHRH, recombinant human GH
Main outcome
Left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac index, cardiac output and hemodynamics
Sample
24 male patients with coronary artery disease
Authors' conclusion
Acute hexarelin clearly improved cardiac performance in these patients; the effect was not shared by GHRH or rhGH, suggesting it is not mediated by GH and more likely reflects cardiovascular GH secretagogue receptors.
Limitations
Acute, intraoperative setting in a small group.
PubMed 12144941DOI
✓ Positivehuman trialClin Endocrinol (Oxf) · 1995

Intranasal administration of the GHRP hexarelin accelerates growth in short children.

n = 8 humansUncontrolled long-term treatment study (intranasal hexarelin 60 micrograms/kg three times daily)Up to 8 months

In 8 short prepubertal children (uncontrolled), intranasal hexarelin for up to 8 months raised IGF-I and growth velocity (5.3 to 8.3 cm/year).

Key resultIGF-I rose from 10.4 to 14.1 nmol/l (P < 0.004); growth velocity rose from 5.3 to 8.3 cm/year (P < 0.0001)
Studied
Prepubertal short children
Compared with
Own baseline
Main outcome
IGF-I, linear growth velocity
Sample
8 prepubertal short children aged 4-11.6 years
Authors' conclusion
Long-term intranasal hexarelin had GH/IGF-I stimulating, anabolic and growth-promoting effects, seemingly without undesirable side-effects, suggesting clinical potential.
Limitations
Only 8 children and no control group.
PubMed 8548949DOI
✗ Negativehuman trialJ Clin Endocrinol Metab · 1998

Growth hormone status during long-term hexarelin therapy.

Number of subjects not stated in abstractOpen longitudinal study of 16 weeks of twice-daily s.c. hexarelin (1.5 micrograms/kg) plus 4-week follow-up16 weeks of treatment, assessed to week 20

In healthy elderly adults given hexarelin twice daily for 16 weeks, the GH response fell by about 45% (partially reversible), and IGF-I, body fat, lean mass and bone density did not change.

Key resultMean AUCGH fell from 19.1 micrograms/L.h at week 0 to 10.5 at week 16 (P<0.01 vs baseline) and recovered to 19.4 at week 20; IGF-I unchanged (P = 0.24)
Studied
Adults given long-term hexarelin
Compared with
Baseline (no separate control group)
Main outcome
GH response (AUC of GH) to hexarelin; IGF-I, bone markers, body composition
Authors' conclusion
Chronic hexarelin caused a partial and reversible attenuation of the GH response; its biological impact on the GH-IGF-I axis seemed minimal. Therapeutic potential needs further investigation.
Limitations
Number of subjects not stated in abstract; no control group.
PubMed 9589671DOI
? Inconclusivehuman trialClin Endocrinol (Oxf) · 1999

The effect of chronic hexarelin administration on the pituitary-adrenal axis and prolactin.

Number of subjects not stated in abstractTwice-daily s.c. hexarelin (1.5 micrograms/kg) for 16 weeks, with follow-up16 weeks plus 4 weeks after

During 16 weeks of twice-daily hexarelin, prolactin responses did not change and the cortisol response actually decreased (recovering after stopping), suggesting no adrenal or prolactin over-stimulation at this dose.

Key resultCortisol AUC fell from 1506 to 1222 nmol/l/h at 16 weeks (P < 0.05) and returned to 1586 at week 20; prolactin AUC unchanged (P = 0.35)
Studied
Adults given chronic hexarelin
Compared with
Baseline (no separate control group)
Main outcome
ACTH, cortisol and prolactin responses; cortisol-binding globulin and urinary free cortisol
Authors' conclusion
This hexarelin regimen did not over-stimulate the pituitary-adrenal axis or prolactin; cortisol response actually decreased, probably not clinically significant, mechanism needs study.
Limitations
Number of subjects not stated; no control group.
PubMed 10341859DOI

Reviews

? InconclusivereviewJ Geriatr Cardiol · 2014

The cardiovascular action of hexarelin.

No new dataConcise narrative review

Review of mainly preclinical evidence that hexarelin acts directly on the heart via GHSR and CD36 receptors; presents it as a possible cardiovascular agent without clinical trial evidence.

Main outcome
Cardiovascular actions of hexarelin
Authors' conclusion
Hexarelin acts via GHSR and the CD36 receptor and may have direct cardioprotective actions; it is chemically more stable and potent than ghrelin and may be a promising therapeutic agent for some cardiovascular conditions.
Limitations
Narrative review; no new data.
PubMed 25278975DOIFree full text

Animal & lab studies

✓ PositiveanimalPeptides · 2019

Hexarelin attenuates atherosclerosis via inhibiting LOX-1-NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated macrophage ox-LDL uptake in ApoE-/- mice.

AnimalsHexarelin 100 micrograms/kg s.c. daily versus saline, with normal C57BL/6J controls3 months

In ApoE-knockout mice on a high-fat diet, 3 months of hexarelin improved blood lipids and reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Studied
ApoE-/- mice fed a high-lipid diet (plus RAW264.7 macrophages)
Compared with
Saline (AS group) and normal controls
Main outcome
Atherosclerotic plaque, serum lipids, macrophage ox-LDL uptake, LOX-1 and NF-kB signaling
Authors' conclusion
Hexarelin attenuated atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice by modulating lipids and inhibiting macrophage ox-LDL uptake via the LOX-1-NF-kB pathway, supporting its potential as an anti-atherosclerotic drug.
Limitations
Mouse and cell study.
PubMed 31386895DOI
✓ PositiveanimalMicrovasc Res · 2022

Hexarelin attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm formation by inhibiting SMC phenotype switch and inflammasome activation.

AnimalsHexarelin 200 micrograms/kg twice daily in mice

In a mouse elastase model, hexarelin reduced abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter, elastin degradation and vascular inflammation.

Studied
Mouse model of elastase-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm
Compared with
Untreated aneurysm mice
Main outcome
Infrarenal aortic diameter, elastin degradation, smooth muscle phenotype, inflammasome activation
Authors' conclusion
Hexarelin attenuated abdominal aortic aneurysm development in mice by inhibiting smooth muscle cell phenotype switching and NF-kB-mediated inflammation.
Limitations
Mouse model only.
PubMed 34856183DOI

Verdicts are judged on each paper's own main outcome; grades run from A (strong human evidence) to D (little or none). Details are read from the abstracts, and figures are reproduced only from openly licensed full texts. Not medical advice.