The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues.

Review of clinical studies on safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues in human subjects

“Review of clinical studies on safety and efficacy of GHSs in human subjects.”

Human subjects including children with short stature, individuals with wasting states, obese individuals, and elderly patients

“Available studies indicate that GHSs are well tolerated, with some concern for increases in blood glucose due to decreases in insulin sensitivity.”

Variable across multiple cited studies ranging from 7 to 563 participants

“Another double-blind, multicenter study of 563 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were randomized to receive ibutamoren or placebo daily for 12 months...”

Variable across studies ranging from 7 days to 2 years

“One of the longest studies reporting on GHS use was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 2-year crossover study of ibutamoren and placebo in 65 healthy elderly participants by Nass et al.”

GHSs may improve growth velocity in children, stimulate appetite, and increase fat-free mass

“...GHSs may improve growth velocity in children, stimulate appetite, improve lean mass in wasting states and in obese individuals, reduce bone turnover, increase fat-free mass, and improve sleep.”

GHS use is associated with increased blood glucose due to decreased insulin sensitivity

“Available studies indicate that GHSs are well tolerated, with some concern for increases in blood glucose due to decreases in insulin sensitivity.”

Few long-term, rigorously controlled studies exist, and safety data regarding cancer incidence and mortality are lacking

“To date, few long-term, rigorously controlled studies have examined the efficacy and safety of GHSs...”