Growth Hormone SecretagoguesWADA Prohibited
GHRP-6
Synonyms: Growth Hormone Releasing Hexapeptide
Sequence: His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
Critical Safety & Regulatory Notice
GHRP-6 is classified as a regulated, unapproved, or research-only substance. Doping/Regulatory Status: Not FDA approved. Prohibited by WADA.. Clinical safety profiles for human use are deficient or not approved.
History & Discovery Timeline
GHRP-6 was developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Cyril Bowers as one of the original GH-releasing hexapeptides, which predated the discovery of endogenous ghrelin.
What it is: It is a synthetic hexapeptide (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that acts as a growth hormone secretagogue. It is categorized under the Metabolic category.
Proposed Mechanisms & Research Findings: It acts as a ghrelin receptor agonist, stimulating growth hormone release while also activating feeding pathways to increase appetite.
Regulatory & Safety Status: It is not FDA approved. Sourcing from unregulated online vendors is associated with poor quality control and contamination risks.
Athletic & Anti-Doping Status: Strictly prohibited by WADA under Section S2. Banned for all competitive athletes.
Understanding GHRP-6 Key Facts
Primary Target System:NEUROENDOCRINE
Residue Count / Length:9 Amino Acids
Primary Action & Category:Ghrelin Receptor Agonist (Growth Hormone Secretagogues)
Primary Receptors:Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor (GHSR)
Figure 1: Detailed molecular mechanism pathways of GHRP-6 (click to enlarge).