GHRELIN

Summary

Ghrelin is an endogenous gut-brain peptide hormone, and the provided literature includes direct human administration studies in which it is given exogenously ^[1,3,4]. A clinical review concludes that existing evidence supports the short-term safety of ghrelin administration and its efficacy as an appetite stimulant, with adverse effects (mainly flushing and gastric rumbles, mostly mild) in about 20% of participants ^[1]. Small randomized, placebo-controlled human laboratory studies in heavy-drinking individuals found that intravenous ghrelin produced anti-inflammatory effects in the context of alcohol and altered neuroendocrine markers such as GLP-1, cortisol, and prolactin ^[3,4]. Reviews also describe cardiovascular and muscle-wasting benefits, though these rest largely on preclinical and mechanistic data ^[2]. Overall, human administration trials are small, exploratory, and not aimed at an approved therapeutic indication, so the clinical evidence as an administered drug is limited ^[1,3,4].

Sources

1. 1. Clinical review: The human experience with ghrelin administration The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2013.
2. 2. Ghrelin and the heart Peptides, 2019.
3. 3. Effects of exogenous ghrelin administration and ghrelin receptor blockade, in combination with alcohol, on peripheral inflammatory markers in heavy-drinking individuals: Results from two human laboratory studies Brain research, 2020.
4. 4. Neuroendocrine Response to Exogenous Ghrelin Administration, Combined With Alcohol, in Heavy-Drinking Individuals: Findings From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Human Laboratory Study The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 2021.

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