Hormone · Research Phase
Obestatin
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Obestatin is a 23-amino acid peptide derived from the same precursor as ghrelin, preproghrelin (PMID 18480381). It was initially reported to oppose ghrelin by suppressing food intake and to act through the GPR39 receptor (PMID 16284174), though both the receptor and the feeding effects have since been disputed (PMID 24732935).
The peptide has been investigated for roles in food intake, gastrointestinal motility, and metabolic homeostasis.
02 · Research summary & key findings
The original 2005 report found that obestatin suppressed food intake, inhibited jejunal contraction, and reduced weight gain in rats (PMID 16284174). Subsequent work could not show activation of GPR39 by obestatin (PMID 17054911), and another group found that obestatin given centrally or peripherally did not suppress food intake in rodents and is present at very low levels compared with ghrelin (PMID 18480381). Reviews describe obestatin as controversial, with its receptor and physiological role still unresolved (PMID 24732935). Evidence is limited to animal and cell studies.
03 · Regulatory status
Obestatin is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
Obestatin is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for hormone optimization?
Obestatin is a research compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on hormone optimization, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
- Intravenous
References
- [1]Obestatin, a peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene, opposes ghrelin's effects on food intake Science, 2005. PMID 16284174
- [2]Obestatin does not activate orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR39 Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2006. PMID 17054911
- [3]Characterization of obestatin in rat and human stomach and plasma, and its lack of acute effect on feeding behavior in rodents J Endocrinol, 2008. PMID 18480381
- [4]Obestatin: is it really doing something? Front Horm Res, 2014. PMID 24732935
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Obestatin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Obestatin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Obestatin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.