Research compounds
Obestatin
Ghrelin-associated peptide
Obestatin is a 23-amino-acid peptide encoded by the same preproghrelin gene as ghrelin, originally reported in 2005 to oppose ghrelin and suppress appetite. Its biological significance has been substantially disputed since.
Also known as: ghrelin associated peptide
- Status
- Obestatin is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use.
- Evidence
- Preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established.
- Half-life
- Approximately 20 minutes.
- How it's taken
- Not used therapeutically; research use only
- Mechanism
- Metabolic (non-incretin)
How Obestatin works
Obestatin is cleaved from preproghrelin, the same precursor that yields ghrelin. The original report described it as an anorexigenic counterpart acting through GPR39, reducing food intake and gastric emptying. Subsequent work failed to confirm GPR39 as its receptor and multiple groups could not replicate the appetite effects.
What research has looked at
- The concept — that a single precursor yields peptides with opposing metabolic effects — is elegant and is genuine elsewhere in endocrinology.
- Some studies report effects on pancreatic beta cell survival and on gastrointestinal motility that have held up better than the appetite claims.
- Obestatin-to-ghrelin ratios remain of interest as metabolic biomarkers.
Evidence level: Preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- The central original finding — appetite suppression — has repeatedly failed to replicate, and the proposed receptor GPR39 was not confirmed. This is one of the better-documented replication failures in metabolic peptide research. No regulator has approved it, the human evidence base is limited, and material sold under this name is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity, sterility and dose accuracy.
- No obestatin-based therapy exists or is in meaningful development.
- Commercial assays for obestatin have had specificity problems comparable to those that affected irisin research.
- Marketing of obestatin for weight loss has no controlled human evidence behind it whatsoever.
Sources
- PubMed research on obestatin GPR39 replication failure · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for obestatin · DrugBank
- Active clinical trials for obestatin · U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Related compounds
Obestatin FAQ
What is Obestatin?
Obestatin is a 23-amino-acid peptide encoded by the same preproghrelin gene as ghrelin, originally reported in 2005 to oppose ghrelin and suppress appetite. Its biological significance has been substantially disputed since.
How does Obestatin work?
Obestatin is cleaved from preproghrelin, the same precursor that yields ghrelin. The original report described it as an anorexigenic counterpart acting through GPR39, reducing food intake and gastric emptying. Subsequent work failed to confirm GPR39 as its receptor and multiple groups could not replicate the appetite effects.
Is Obestatin FDA approved?
No. Obestatin is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use. Evidence level: preclinical. Evidence comes from animal or lab studies; effects in people are not established.
What is the half-life of Obestatin?
Reported half-life: Approximately 20 minutes.
How is Obestatin taken?
Not used therapeutically; research use only.
What side effects have been reported with Obestatin?
Reported in the sources: The central original finding — appetite suppression — has repeatedly failed to replicate, and the proposed receptor GPR39 was not confirmed. This is one of the better-documented replication failures in metabolic peptide research. No regulator has approved it, the human evidence base is limited, and material sold under this name is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity, sterility and dose accuracy; No obestatin-based therapy exists or is in meaningful development; Commercial assays for obestatin have had specificity problems comparable to those that affected irisin research; Marketing of obestatin for weight loss has no controlled human evidence behind it whatsoever.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.