Hexarelin was originally developed in the 1980s by a team of researchers at Tulane Medical School. The goal was to create a growth hormone secretagogue that did not cause incidental elevation of sex hormones, insulin, or glucagon . This peptide was designed to mimic the action of ghrelin, a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates the release of growth hormone .
Hexarelin works by binding to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) located in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. This binding triggers a cascade of physiological pathways that lead to the release of growth hormone. Hexarelin also inhibits the release of somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits growth hormone secretion, thereby increasing the overall levels of growth hormone in the body .
Hexarelin has been studied for its potential benefits in various areas, including:
Hexarelin has been found to be generally safe when used appropriately. However, like any compound, it may have side effects. Some studies have reported slight increases in prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol levels in humans . There are conflicting reports on its ability to elevate insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) levels .