Arginine enhances the growth hormone-releasing activity of a synthetic hexapeptide (GHRP-6) in elderly but not in young subjects after oral administration.

Ghigo E, Arvat E, Rizzi G, Bellone J, Nicolosi M, Boffano GM, Mucci M, Boghen MF, Camanni F

Journal of endocrinological investigation1 Mar 1994Cited by 19 (Europe PMC)

PMID8051337DOI10.1007/bf03347707PepBankPUB-08051337

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
Oral GHRP‑6 induced a GH rise in elderly subjects that was lower than in young subjects, but not significantly.
In plain wordsOral GHRP‑6 raised growth hormone in elderly people, a little less than in young people, but the gap was not significant.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
No significant changeGH peak after oral GHRP-6, elderly versus young
Study
n = 16
Comparator
Young subjects
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
300 micrograms/kg · oralAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
GH peak
9.9 micrograms/L
elderly
GH peak
16.2 micrograms/L
young
Source sentences
Summary
Oral GHRP-6 administration induced a GH rise in elderly which was lower, though not significantly, than that in young subjects (GH peak: 9.9 +/- 2.0 vs 16.2 +/- 5.4 micrograms/L).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Based on the foregoing, in this study we verified the GH-releasing activity of oral GHRP-6 (300 micrograms/kg) in normal aging and the possible enhancing effect of 8 g oral ARG on the GH-releasing effect of GHRP-6.
Summary · context
Eight young (age 24-32 yr) and 8 elderly (age 66-85 yr) subjects were studied.
Report a problemFND-0805133701

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking GHRP-6.

02HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
The GH response to oral arginine plus GHRP‑6 in elderly subjects was higher than the response to all stimuli in young adults.
In plain wordsIn elderly people, oral arginine with GHRP‑6 raised growth hormone more than any test did in young adults.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
IncreaseGH response to oral arginine plus GHRP-6 in elderly versus all stimuli in young
Study
n = 16
Comparator
All stimuli in young adults
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
The GH response to oral ARG+GHRP-6 in elderly was higher than that to all stimuli in young adults (p < 0.05)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Based on the foregoing, in this study we verified the GH-releasing activity of oral GHRP-6 (300 micrograms/kg) in normal aging and the possible enhancing effect of 8 g oral ARG on the GH-releasing effect of GHRP-6.
Summary · context
Eight young (age 24-32 yr) and 8 elderly (age 66-85 yr) subjects were studied.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-0805133704
03HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In elderly subjects, oral arginine added to GHRP‑6 enhanced the GH rise versus GHRP‑6 alone.
In plain wordsIn elderly people, adding oral arginine to GHRP‑6 raised growth hormone more than GHRP‑6 alone.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
IncreaseGH peak after oral arginine plus GHRP-6 versus GHRP-6 alone, elderly
Study
n = 8
Comparator
GHRP-6 alone
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
GH peak
22.1 micrograms/L
oral ARG plus GHRP-6, elderly
Source sentences
Summary
Oral ARG administration enhanced the GHRP-6-induced GH rise in elderly (GH peak: 22.1 +/- 3.3 micrograms/L, p < 0.01 vs GHRP-6 alone)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Based on the foregoing, in this study we verified the GH-releasing activity of oral GHRP-6 (300 micrograms/kg) in normal aging and the possible enhancing effect of 8 g oral ARG on the GH-releasing effect of GHRP-6.
Summary · context
Eight young (age 24-32 yr) and 8 elderly (age 66-85 yr) subjects were studied.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-0805133702
04HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In young subjects, oral arginine added to GHRP‑6 failed to modify the GH rise.
In plain wordsIn young people, adding oral arginine to GHRP‑6 did not change the growth hormone rise.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
No significant changeGH peak after oral arginine plus GHRP-6, young
Study
n = 8
Comparator
GHRP-6 alone
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
GH peak
13.5 micrograms/L
oral ARG plus GHRP-6, young
Source sentences
Summary
while failed to modify it in young subjects (GH peak: 13.5 +/- 3.4 micrograms/L).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Based on the foregoing, in this study we verified the GH-releasing activity of oral GHRP-6 (300 micrograms/kg) in normal aging and the possible enhancing effect of 8 g oral ARG on the GH-releasing effect of GHRP-6.
Summary · context
Eight young (age 24-32 yr) and 8 elderly (age 66-85 yr) subjects were studied.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-0805133703

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
12 Oct 2026, 12:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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