Oral MK-677 Activates Bone Remodeling in Obese Young Men
Two months of daily oral MK-677 increased markers of both bone formation and bone breakdown in obese young males, with bone formation markers rising more — suggesting net positive bone effects.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
MK-677 (25 mg/day for 8 weeks) increased bone formation markers more than resorption markers in 24 obese young males, with elevated IGF-1 levels suggesting a growth hormone-mediated anabolic bone effect.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study. 24 obese males (BMI >30, ages 19-49) received MK-677 25 mg/day or placebo for 8 weeks. Bone turnover markers, GH, and IGF-1 were measured.
Why This Research Matters
Bone loss is a major health concern in aging and obesity. An oral medication that increases bone formation could potentially prevent osteoporosis, and this study shows MK-677 activates bone-building processes.
The Bigger Picture
Growth hormone is known to support bone density, but GH injections are impractical for widespread use. An oral GH secretagogue that stimulates bone formation could become a practical alternative for preventing osteoporosis in various populations.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Short duration (8 weeks) — bone density changes take months to years to manifest. Markers indicate bone turnover direction but don't directly measure bone density. Obese young male population may not represent the groups most at risk for osteoporosis.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does the net positive bone marker balance translate to actual bone density improvements over time?
- ?Would MK-677 benefit postmenopausal women or elderly men with osteoporosis?
- ?What is the optimal treatment duration for bone effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Formation > resorption Bone formation markers rose more than resorption markers during 8 weeks of MK-677, suggesting net bone-building activity
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence from a well-designed RCT with appropriate controls, but limited by short duration, small sample, and use of surrogate markers rather than direct bone density measurement.
- Study Age:
- Published in 1998. MK-677's bone effects have been studied further in aging populations with longer follow-up periods.
- Original Title:
- Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone formation and bone resorption in obese young males.
- Published In:
- Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 13(7), 1158-66 (1998)
- Authors:
- Svensson, J(6), Ohlsson, C, Jansson, J O(4), Murphy, G, Wyss, D, Krupa, D, Cerchio, K, Polvino, W, Gertz, B, Baylink, D, Mohan, S, Bengtsson, B A
- Database ID:
- RPEP-00496
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can MK-677 strengthen bones?
This study shows MK-677 activates bone-building processes more than bone-breaking processes over 8 weeks. While promising, actual bone density improvements would need to be confirmed with longer studies and imaging.
Why study bone effects in obese young men?
Obesity and its related metabolic changes affect bone health. Studying MK-677 in this population tests whether the GH boost can counteract metabolic effects on bone. However, results may differ in populations more commonly affected by osteoporosis.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-00496APA
Svensson, J; Ohlsson, C; Jansson, J O; Murphy, G; Wyss, D; Krupa, D; Cerchio, K; Polvino, W; Gertz, B; Baylink, D; Mohan, S; Bengtsson, B A. (1998). Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone formation and bone resorption in obese young males.. Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 13(7), 1158-66.
MLA
Svensson, J, et al. "Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone formation and bone resorption in obese young males.." Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 1998.
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 i..." RPEP-00496. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/svensson-1998-treatment-with-the-oral
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.