Growth hormone secretagogue

Also: GHS

In plain language

A compound that prompts the body to release more of its own growth hormone.

Technical definition

An agent that stimulates the secretion of growth hormone, typically by acting on the ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor or by mimicking growth hormone-releasing hormone.

Growth hormone secretagogues raise growth hormone indirectly, by signaling the pituitary to release it, rather than supplying growth hormone directly. They include both ghrelin-receptor agonists (such as ipamorelin and MK-677) and GHRH analogs.