Long-Term Oral GHRP-2 Increases Appetite and Weight in GH-Deficient Adults | Research

The takeaway

Oral GHRP-2 given long-term to GH-deficient adults significantly increased appetite and body weight alongside GH/IGF-1 elevation, confirming orexigenic effects are a persistent feature of chronic GH secretagogue therapy.

Persistent appetite
The appetite-increasing effect of GHRP-2 didn't fade with chronic use — it's a sustained feature of GH secretagogue therapy, not a transient side effect

What the researchers found

Chronic oral GHRP-2 in GH-deficient adults produced persistent increases in appetite and body weight alongside GH/IGF-1 elevation, confirming sustained orexigenic effects of long-term GH secretagogue therapy.

Why it matters

The persistent appetite increase from GH secretagogues is both a feature (for cachexia treatment) and a bug (for patients wanting GH benefits without weight gain). This defines the clinical trade-off.

How the study worked

Clinical trial of oral GHRP-2 in GH-deficient adults. Appetite (subjective assessment), body weight, GH, and IGF-1 measured over the treatment course.

What this study cannot tell us

Open-label clinical trial. Specific appetite and weight quantification limited in abstract. The body weight gain composition (fat vs lean) not detailed.

How to read the evidence

Moderate evidence from a clinical trial in the target population demonstrating persistent orexigenic effects alongside hormonal endpoints.

When this study was published

Published in 2003. The appetite side effect of GH secretagogues is now well-established and factored into clinical decision-making.

The bigger picture

Every GH secretagogue prescriber must manage the appetite-weight trade-off. For wasting patients, appetite increase is therapeutic. For others, dietary counseling or combination therapy may be needed.

Questions still open

Can the appetite effect be managed with dietary guidance?
Would combining GHRP-2 with GLP-1 agonists counteract appetite increase?
Is the weight gain primarily fat or lean mass?

Common questions

Will GH peptides make me hungry?

Yes — this study confirms oral GHRP-2 persistently increases appetite. For people with wasting conditions, this is helpful. For others, it needs to be managed with dietary awareness.

Does the hunger go away over time?

No — the appetite increase persisted throughout treatment. It didn't wear off with continued use, so it's a long-term feature of GH secretagogue therapy to plan for.

Read the original research

Changes in appetite and body weight in response to long-term oral administration of the ghrelin agonist GHRP-2 in growth hormone deficient children.

Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM, 16(7), 981-5

View on PubMed ↗

Citation

Mericq, Verónica; Cassorla, Fernando; Bowers, Cyril Y; Avila, Alejandra; Gonen, Boas; Merriam, George R. (2003). Changes in appetite and body weight in response to long-term oral administration of the ghrelin agonist GHRP-2 in growth hormone deficient children.. Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM, 16(7), 981-5.