Provided is the use of a milk-derived basic protein fraction for the manufacture of a medicament for promoting growth hormone secretion in patients with abnormal/pathological growth hormone secretion, wherein the milk-derived basic protein fraction comprises proteins in an amount of 95 weight % with a molecular weight in the range of from 3,000 to 80,000, the proteins comprising lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase and wherein the amino acid composition of the proteins is at least 15 weight % basic amino acids.