GHRH Peptide Injections Boosted Growth Rate by 50% in Short Children Over 12 Months

Eighteen short pre-pubertal children (ages 4.3–11.0, 17 male) with idiopathic short stature and normal GH levels were treated with twice-daily subcutaneous GHRH(1-29)NH2 at 20 μg/kg for 12 months. Height was measured every 3 months. Overnight GH profiles and GHRH stimulation tests were performed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. Growth was also monitored for 12 months after stopping treatment. One patient was withdrawn for non-compliance.

Idiopathic short stature — being significantly short without any identifiable hormone deficiency — is a common pediatric concern with limited treatment options. This study showed that stimulating the body's own growth hormone system with a GHRH peptide could accelerate growth, offering a potentially more physiological approach than injecting growth hormone directly. However, the catch-down growth after stopping raises questions about long-term benefit.

This 1994 study explored an era when researchers hoped GHRH peptides could replace growth hormone injections for some conditions. The approach of stimulating endogenous GH release rather than replacing it directly has influenced the development of later growth hormone secretagogues like ipamorelin and tesamorelin. The finding that growth benefits didn't persist after stopping treatment remains relevant to debates about peptide-based growth therapies today.

Small sample with only 18 children (17 male, 1 female), making it impossible to assess sex differences. No control group receiving placebo — growth was compared to pre-treatment rates. The catch-down growth after stopping suggests no permanent height gain may occur. Increased fasting glucose and insulin during treatment raises metabolic safety concerns for longer use. The study predates modern growth standards and statistical methods.