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GHR-2 (GHRP-2)

A synthetic growth hormone secretagogue that stimulates natural GH release, studied for body composition, recovery, and anti-aging.

ModerateModerate Data

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This information is for educational purposes. Peptide therapy should be guided by a licensed healthcare provider. Connect with a Noho clinician

What is GHR-2 (GHRP-2)?

GHRP-2 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2) is a synthetic hexapeptide that acts as a potent growth hormone secretagogue. It stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone through the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It is one of the most studied GHRPs and has been used as a diagnostic tool for growth hormone deficiency.

Why People Talk About It

Growth hormone optimization

Moderate

Improved body composition

Moderate

Enhanced recovery from training

Emerging

Improved sleep quality

Emerging

How It Works

GHRP-2 tells your pituitary gland to release more growth hormone by mimicking a natural hunger hormone called ghrelin. This results in a pulse of growth hormone similar to what your body produces naturally during deep sleep.

Common Questions

Safety Information

Important Safety Notes

Common Side Effects

Increased appetiteWater retentionTingling or numbnessMild cortisol elevation

Cautions

  • Not FDA-approved for anti-aging
  • Can affect blood sugar levels
  • Should be monitored by clinician
  • May affect cortisol and prolactin

What We Don't Know

Long-term effects of sustained GH elevation through GHRP-2 use are not fully characterized in anti-aging contexts.

Published Research

34 studies

Obese subjects respond to the stimulatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 on food intake

Randomized Controlled TrialPMID: 16861611

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 infusion synchronizes growth hormone, thyrotrophin and prolactin release in prolonged critical illness

Randomized Controlled TrialPMID: 10037246

Preservation of growth hormone secretion in response to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 during prednisone therapy

Randomized Controlled TrialPMID: 10337858

Investigation of the clinical significance of the growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test for the diagnosis of secondary adrenal failure

Clinical TrialPMID: 27020037

Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 response to acute and chronic growth hormone-releasing peptide-2, growth hormone-releasing hormone 1-44NH2 and in combination in older men and women with decreased growth hormone secretion

Clinical TrialPMID: 11322505

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2: a phase I study in children

Phase I Clinical TrialPMID: 9543135

Treatment effects of intranasal growth hormone releasing peptide-2 in children with short stature

Clinical TrialPMID: 9390009

Diagnostic studies with intravenous and intranasal growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 in children of short stature

Clinical TrialPMID: 7559885

Comparison of pituitary-adrenal responsiveness between insulin tolerance test and growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test: a pilot study

Comparative StudyPMID: 20045717

Diagnostic usefulness of the growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test as a substitute for the insulin tolerance test in hypopituitarism

Comparative StudyPMID: 18493103

Chicken ghrelin and growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 inhibit food intake of neonatal chicks

Comparative StudyPMID: 12393062

Characteristics of growth hormone secretion responsiveness to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2 or KP102) in calves

Comparative StudyPMID: 8886623

Interactive regulation of postmenopausal growth hormone insulin-like growth factor axis by estrogen and growth hormone-releasing peptide-2

ReviewPMID: 11322501

Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN

ReviewPMID: 15230633

Concordant and discordant adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) responses induced by growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and insulin-induced hypoglycemia in patients with hypothalamopituitary disorders: evidence for direct ACTH releasing activity of GHRP-2

Case ReportPMID: 20431231

Exaggerated response of adrenocorticotropic hormone to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test in Cushing's disease. Case report

Case ReportPMID: 19707004

Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 2 May Be Associated With Decreased M1 Macrophage Production and Increased Histologic and Biomechanical Tendon-Bone Healing Properties in a Rat Rotator Cuff Tear Model

PreclinicalPMID: 39672241

Assessment of anterior pituitary reserve capacity based on growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test in the elderly

PreclinicalPMID: 37295337

Clinical Usefulness of the Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-2 Test for Hypothalamic-Pituitary Disorder

PreclinicalPMID: 35795807

Evaluation of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 for diagnosis of thyrotropin-producing pituitary adenomas

PreclinicalPMID: 29973439

Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 Attenuation of Protein Kinase C-Induced Inflammation in Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells

PreclinicalPMID: 27548147

Synthesis of Mono-PEGylated Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 and Investigation of its Biological Activity

PreclinicalPMID: 25761386

One-year intranasal application of growth hormone releasing peptide-2 improves body weight and hypoglycemia in a severely emaciated anorexia nervosa patient

PreclinicalPMID: 26401470

Growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 in growth hormone-deficient little mice

PreclinicalPMID: 22473409

Identification of the growth-hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in a nutritional supplement

PreclinicalPMID: 20878896

Growth hormone releasing peptide-2, a ghrelin agonist, attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats

PreclinicalPMID: 20805679

Influence of intravenous administration of growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on detection of growth hormone doping: growth hormone isoform profiles in Japanese male subjects

PreclinicalPMID: 21249726

Determination of growth hormone secretagogue pralmorelin (GHRP-2) and its metabolite in human urine by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

PreclinicalPMID: 20552695

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 stimulates secretion and synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone in mouse pituitary

PreclinicalPMID: 19682503

The effect of growth hormone releasing peptide-2 on upper gastrointestinal contractile activity and food intake in conscious dogs

PreclinicalPMID: 19271111

Effect of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) on the the cAMP levels and GH release from cultured acromegalic tumours

PreclinicalPMID: 9688350

The effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on the release of growth hormone and growth performance in swine

Animal StudyPMID: 10793268

Effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) orally by gavage and in feed on growth hormone release in swine

Animal StudyPMID: 11164330

Effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on membrane Ca2+ permeability in cultured ovine somatotrophs

In VitroPMID: 7606243

Always consult a qualified clinician

This information is for educational purposes. Peptide therapy should be guided by a licensed healthcare provider. Connect with a Noho clinician

Related Peptides

Quick Facts

Class
Growth Hormone Secretagogue
Evidence
Moderate
Safety
Moderate Data
Updated
Feb 2026
Citations
34PubMed

Also known as

Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2Pralmorelin

Tags

Growth HormoneBody CompositionRecoveryAnti-Aging

Evidence Score

Overall Confidence65%

Clinical Trials

View Clinical Trials

Links to ClinicalTrials.gov for reference. Listing does not imply endorsement.

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