Claimed effect · GHRP-2

Does GHRP-2 help with appetite?

C
Grade C — weak human evidenceSmall crossover study (n=7) · effect size: moderate
Short answerWeak human evidence. Small crossover study (n=7): enough to be interesting, not enough to count on. Where an effect is seen it is a moderate effect. As a ghrelin mimic, GHRP-2 increased food intake in healthy men in a controlled infusion study — a real acute effect, studied in very few people.

What the studies show

As a ghrelin mimic, GHRP-2 increased food intake in healthy men in a controlled infusion study — a real acute effect, studied in very few people.

“Similar to what has been reported for ghrelin administration, our subjects ate 35.9 +/- 10.9% more when infused with GHRP-2 vs. saline, with every subject increasing their intake even when calculated per kg body weight (136.0 +/- 13.0 kJ/kg [32.5 +/- 3.1 kcal/kg] vs. 101.3 +/- 10.5 kJ/kg [24.2 +/- 2.5 kcal/kg], p = 0.008).”

Verbatim, from the abstractLaferrère B, et al. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005;90:611–614

A few small or poorly-controlled human studies. Enough to be interesting; not enough to count on. Most of what gets called “clinically proven” online lives here.

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In context

GHRP-2, or pralmorelin, is a synthetic six-amino-acid growth-hormone-releasing peptide. It reliably and measurably raises growth hormone, and on that basis is approved in Japan as a diagnostic test for growth-hormone deficiency. Like natural ghrelin it also increases appetite in short human studies. What it does not have is any trial showing it builds muscle, burns fat or improves body composition — the uses it is actually sold for. It is banned in sport.

GHRP-2 is approved (diagnostic, japan). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is GHRP-2 proven to help with appetite?
No. The human evidence is weak (Small crossover study (n=7)); LYO grades it C.
What studies are behind the grade?
As a ghrelin mimic, GHRP-2 increased food intake in healthy men in a controlled infusion study — a real acute effect, studied in very few people.
Is GHRP-2 approved for this?
GHRP-2 is an approved medicine (Approved (diagnostic, Japan)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for GHRP-2

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 3 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →