AOD-9604 Side Effects & Safety Profile

AOD-9604 Side Effects & Safety

Introduction

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone (HGH) developed for research into fat metabolism. While studies suggest it may influence lipolysis and fat storage, its safety profile is not fully understood.¹²

This article reviews what research has reported about AOD-9604’s side effects and potential safety concerns.

Reported Side Effects of AOD-9604

Figure 1. Reported side effects of AOD-9604 are limited and mostly mild.

1. Mild Adverse Events

Early clinical trials in obese humans reported mild gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, bloating).³
Some participants reported headaches and fatigue, but at rates comparable to placebo.³

2. Injection Site Reactions

As with many subcutaneous peptides, minor redness, swelling, or irritation at injection sites has been reported.²
Typically mild and transient.

3. Lack of Significant Weight Loss

While not a direct “side effect,” human trials showed minimal efficacy for weight loss, which limited its clinical development.³

Safety Profile in Research

1. No IGF-1 Stimulation

AOD-9604 does not increase IGF-1, avoiding many of the growth-related risks associated with HGH.¹
Suggests a safer metabolic profile compared to growth hormone therapy.

2. Toxicity Findings

Animal studies have not shown dose-dependent toxicity at tested ranges.²
Safety margins appear broad, but data is limited.

3. Human Clinical Trial Results

In obese human subjects, no serious adverse events were attributed to AOD-9604.³

Side effects were generally mild and similar to placebo.

Key Limitations

Limited human data: Only small-scale obesity trials exist.
Short study duration: Most studies lasted weeks to months; long-term safety unknown.
Unregulated use: Since AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved, quality and purity vary widely outside controlled research.

Summary

AOD-9604 appears to have a generally mild side effect profile in the limited research conducted, with most reported effects being:

Gastrointestinal discomfort
Headaches or fatigue
Injection site reactions

However, because human evidence is limited and long-term safety has not been studied, AOD-9604 remains restricted to research use only.

FAQs About AOD-9604 Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of AOD-9604?

Mild GI issues, headaches, and injection site redness have been reported.

Does AOD-9604 increase IGF-1 like HGH?

No — studies show AOD-9604 does not stimulate IGF-1.

Is AOD-9604 considered safe?

Animal and early human data suggest a mild safety profile, but research is limited and long-term effects are unknown.

Have serious side effects been reported?

No serious adverse events have been linked to AOD-9604 in studies.

References

Heffernan M, et al. “AOD9604, a novel fragment of human growth hormone, stimulates lipolysis in adipose tissue.” J Endocrinol. 2001;170(3):433–442. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11479127/
Ng FM, et al. “Metabolic effects of a growth hormone fragment (AOD9604) in obese Zucker rats.” Obes Res. 2000;8(6):479–486. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11156424/
Ng FM, et al. “AOD9604, an analog of hGH fragment 177–191, reduces body weight in obese mice but not obese humans.” Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002;26(2):191–197. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11850748/