What Is GHRP-2?
GHRP-2 (growth-hormone-releasing peptide-2, pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide that acts on the ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor to trigger a pulse of growth hormone from the pituitary. It is used experimentally and in some countries as a diagnostic agent for GH deficiency, and in the “research peptide” market to raise GH. It works through a receptor and signalling pathway (protein kinase C) distinct from natural GHRH 1Reference 1Effect of GHRP-2 on cAMP and GH release — human/somatotroph mechanism (protein kinase C pathway)View study →, and like ghrelin it also tends to stimulate appetite. In the United States it is not an approved medicine or dietary supplement.
Evidence
GHRP-2 does reliably provoke growth hormone release in humans over the short term 1Reference 1Effect of GHRP-2 on cAMP and GH release — human/somatotroph mechanism (protein kinase C pathway)View study →. However, an important limitation is documented: in healthy young men, five days of daily subcutaneous GHRP-2 caused the GH response to attenuate and did not raise IGF-1 2Reference 2Clinical trialA five-day treatment with daily subcutaneous GHRP-2 causes response attenuation and does not stimulate IGF-I secretion in healthy young men — human studyView study → — meaning the acute GH spike does not straightforwardly translate into sustained downstream anabolic signalling. Beyond short-term GH stimulation and its diagnostic use, there is little robust controlled human outcome data (for muscle, fat loss, ageing, or appetite disorders) verified in this pass. Marketing claims of body-composition or “anti-ageing” benefits are not supported by a verified clinical outcome trial here.
Dosage & Safety
There is no established supplement dose for GHRP-2; regimens circulating online are not derived from controlled human efficacy trials, and this page makes no dosing recommendation. GHRP-2 is not approved by the FDA as a drug or dietary supplement and is prohibited in sport (WADA). Human long-term safety, drug interactions, and pregnancy/lactation safety are not established / not assessed in this pass. It can raise cortisol/prolactin and stimulate appetite. This entry is informational only and not an endorsement of use.
References
- Bowers CY, et al. (1998). Effect of GHRP-2 on cAMP and GH release — human/somatotroph mechanism (protein kinase C pathway). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9688350/
- Rahim A, et al. (1998). A five-day treatment with daily subcutaneous GHRP-2 causes response attenuation and does not stimulate IGF-I secretion in healthy young men — human study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9820615/