GHRP-6
Growth Hormone Secretagogue | GH Release & Cardioprotection
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What is GHRP-6?
GHRP-6 is a lab-made six-amino-acid peptide first developed in the 1980s that activates the ghrelin receptor, one of the pathways the body uses to trigger growth-hormone release. Beyond growth-hormone research, published studies have looked at it in cardiac and tissue-protection models, often alongside GHRH-class peptides. It's sold here strictly as a research chemical for laboratory study, not for use in people or animals.
Key terms:
GHRP-6 is a hexapeptide (met-enkephalin analogue).
GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6) is a lab-made peptide of six amino acids. It prompts growth hormone release by switching on the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) and the CD36 receptor. It was developed in the 1980s as one of the first growth hormone secretagogues, compounds that make the body release its own growth hormone. It works through a PKC/calcium-dependent pathway, distinct from the GHRH route. Beyond growth hormone release, preclinical and early clinical research has reported significant cardioprotective (heart-protecting), wound healing, and cytoprotective (cell-protecting) properties. It is also notable for strongly stimulating appetite through direct ghrelin receptor activation, and for acting synergistically with GHRH-class peptides.
Key research areas
- Potent GH release
- Well-characterized pharmacokinetics in human studies
- Synergistic with GHRH-class peptides
- Established subcutaneous protocols
Researched dosing
This table reflects how researchers have structured GHRP-6 study designs, including combinations with GHRH-class peptides, published research methodology, not personal usage guidance.
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| GH-release studies (standard) | 100mcg | 3x daily (morning, midday, bedtime) | SubQ |
| GH-release studies (moderate) | 200mcg | 2-3x daily | SubQ |
| GH-release studies (high dose) | 300mcg | 3x daily | SubQ |
| Combined with a GHRH peptide | 100mcg GHRP-6 + 100mcg CJC-1295 | 2-3x daily | SubQ |
Commonly cycled 12 weeks on, 8+ weeks off.
How it works
At the cell level, GHRP-6 research looks at how the peptide activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) to trigger a burst of growth-hormone release, the pathway names below describe that same signaling chain.
Subcutaneous injection provides rapid absorption with distribution half-life of ~7.6 minutes and elimination half-life of ~2.5 hours. Stimulates pulsatile GH release through GHS-R1a activation at pituitary and hypothalamic sites.
Molecular data
These figures, molecular weight, sequence, chain length, are the chemistry fingerprint researchers use to confirm a GHRP-6 sample's identity; at six amino acids, it's one of the shorter peptides in this encyclopedia.
- Weight
- 873.01 Da
- Length
- 6 amino acids
- Type
- Hexapeptide (met-enkephalin analogue)
His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂
Pharmacokinetics
This chart shows how quickly a research dose of GHRP-6 is absorbed and cleared in published studies, the fast timescale (minutes to a couple of hours) is why multiple daily doses appear in the research literature.
- Peak
- 0.25 hr
- Half-life
- 0.333 hrs
- Cleared
- ~1.7 hrs
Bowers et al. 1991
What the studies report
This section lists the research areas, hormonal, cardiovascular, and tissue-repair pathways, scientists have studied for GHRP-6, a summary of what's been investigated in the literature, not medical claims about people.
Hormonal
Potent GH secretagogue with dose-dependent GH release demonstrated in human clinical studies. Requires endogenous GHRH for maximal effect. Simultaneous stimulation of GHS-R1a and GHRH receptor pathways produces synergistic GH response significantly greater than either peptide alone. Downstream IGF-1 increase from sustained GH release supports anabolic processes and tissue repair.
Cardiovascular
Cardioprotective properties demonstrated in preclinical and early clinical research through CD36 receptor activation.
Tissue Repair
Cytoprotective properties across cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and intestinal tissues during ischemia/reperfusion injury via PI-3K/AKT1 pathway activation.
Dosage reference
- Doses used in research
- 100 mcg per dose
- Frequency in studies
- 3x daily, at least 4 hours apart
- Handling
- Reconstituted solution, research use only; not for administration
- Timeline reported in studies
- GH pulse within 15-30 minutes of injection. Appetite increase within 15-20 minutes. Body composition changes over 4-8 weeks.
- Storage
- Refrigerate at 2-8°C, use within 30 days after reconstitution
- Cycle length
- 8-12 weeks
- Break between cycles
- 4-8 weeks between cycles
Interactions
This list shows which other peptides researchers have studied alongside GHRP-6, and why, several GHRH-class peptides show up often in the same study designs for their combined GH-release effect.
Reconstitution & storage
This is the standard laboratory method for turning freeze-dried GHRP-6 powder into a liquid research solution using bacteriostatic water.
- Allow vial to reach room temperature (15-20 minutes)
- Clean vial top with alcohol swab and allow to dry
- Calculate required bacteriostatic water volume using the calculator below
- Draw calculated volume of bacteriostatic water into syringe
- Inject water slowly down the inside wall of the vial (never directly onto powder)
- Gently swirl until powder completely dissolves (never shake)
- Solution should be clear - discard if cloudy or contains particles
Lyophilized: Room temperature or refrigerated, use within Per manufacturer expiration date
Reconstituted: 2-8°C, use within 30 days
Open the GHRP-6 reconstitution calculatorQuality indicators
These are the checks, appearance, purity testing, appetite-response observation, researchers use to gauge whether a GHRP-6 sample is likely active, alongside the Certificate of Analysis (COA); none of these substitute for lab testing.
White Lyophilized Powder - Pure GHRP-6 appears as white to off-white lyophilized powder or puck
Clear Reconstituted Solution - Properly reconstituted solution should be crystal clear with no particles
Certificate of Analysis - Should include HPLC purity (>98%), sequence confirmation, and endotoxin testing
Appetite Response Test - Noticeable hunger within 20 minutes of first injection indicates GHS-R1a activation and suggests active peptide. Basic indicator only-HPLC testing required to confirm purity.
No Appetite Response - Absence of hunger after injection may indicate degraded or counterfeit product
Discolored Solution - Yellow or cloudy solution indicates degradation - do not use
What to expect
This timeline summarizes what the research literature reports at each study stage, research context for comparing studies, not a personal-results promise.
Marked appetite stimulation reported within 15-20 minutes of administration, lasting 1-3 hours
Improved sleep quality with increased appetite and food intake reported
Reported body-composition changes (increased lean mass, reduced fat mass)
Peak reported effects on body composition and recovery
Safety notes
This section covers handling cautions and regulatory notes for GHRP-6, research-use-only scope, not medical safety advice for people.
- Avoid use in active cancer - GH and IGF-1 elevation may promote tumor growth
Regulatory status
- Not approved by the FDA for any indication.
- Supplied and described for laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use.
What is not known
The limits of the published work on GHRP-6, stated plainly. Research use only: none of this is guidance for a person.
The heart and tissue protection results quoted here are from rats. Animal work does not show that the same thing happens in a person.
The stroke trial in people was small and open label, thirty six patients in all, and it was built to look at safety. It does not show that the treatment works.
That trial gave GHRP-6 together with epidermal growth factor. It cannot say what one of the two did and what the other did.
Some write ups treat a hunger response as a way to judge a sample. There is no evidence that a hunger response tracks the strength or the purity of a sample. The certificate of analysis is the check.
How much of the growth hormone released is the peptide acting on the pituitary, and how much is it acting through the brain, is not known: the papers argue it rather than settle it.
The terms, in plain words
Every technical term this page leans on, said again in ordinary words.
- Secretagogue
- A compound that makes the body release something it already makes, here growth hormone.
- Ghrelin receptor
- The docking point the hunger hormone ghrelin normally uses. GHRP-6 uses the same one.
- CD36
- A different docking point, found on heart cells among others.
- Cytoprotective
- Protects cells from damage, as measured in that study.
- Ischaemia and reperfusion
- Damage that happens when blood flow to a tissue is cut off and then restored.
- Open label
- Everyone involved knew who was getting the treatment, which makes a result easier to bias.
Sources
The published work behind this entry. Each link was opened and each note says what that paper reports, not what it suggests.
- Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial and extra-myocardial damages by activating prosurvival mechanisms Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Rats given a chemotherapy drug that damages the heart. Reports that animals given GHRP-6 alongside it kept more heart function.
- Combination therapy of Epidermal Growth Factor and Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide in acute ischemic stroke: a phase I/II non-blinded, randomized clinical trial Frontiers in Neurology, 2024Thirty six people after a stroke, open label, primary aim safety over six months. Reports fewer serious adverse events in the treated groups than in the control group, in a sample far too small to settle the question.
How it is studied
In the published studies listed below. Each one names the species it was run in, the dose, how long it ran, and what it reported.
Comprehensive review establishing GHRPs as cytoprotective agents beyond GH secretion. GHRP-6 demonstrated pharmacological preconditioning across cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and intestinal tissues during ischemia/reperfusion injury via PI-3K/AKT1 pathway activation.
Concurrent GHRP-6 administration completely prevented dilated cardiomyopathy in doxorubicin-treated rats, preserving left ventricular systolic function through Bcl-2 upregulation, mitochondrial preservation, and multi-organ protection.
Randomized clinical trial of EGF + GHRP-6 combination in acute ischemic stroke. Treated groups showed favorable neurological and functional evolution at 90 and 180 days with higher survival rate and fewer serious adverse events (20-30% vs 56.2% in controls).