The new study showed that levels of growth hormone (GH) and of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in seniors who took MK-677 increased to that of healthy young adults. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the two-year study involved 65 men and women ranging in age from 60 to 81. MK-677 mimics the action of ghrelin, a peptide that stimulates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Drug developers are focusing on GHSR because it plays an important role in the regulation of growth hormone and appetite. Researchers think it may prove to be an excellent treatment target for metabolic disorders such as those related to body weight and body composition, according to an UVA release. UVA research was a “proof-of-concept” study that sets the stage for a larger and longer clinical trial to determine whether MK-677 is effective in people who are frail and to assess its long term safety, said Thorner. read more
Technorati Tags: growth, hormone, mk677, study, uva, body, weight loss news
Permanent link to this post (166 words, estimated 40 secs reading time)