Growth Hormone
Discover What Growth Hormone Can Do For You
Human growth hormone, otherwise known as HGH, are substances that are secreted by the pituitary gland and that help stimulate height growth in children. Synthetic HGH is also taken by adults in order to bulk up the muscles, and can also be used clinically to promote growth in children and adolescents with short stature. Many children and adolescents can add several inches to their adult height by receiving injected doses of HGH.
Growth Hormone in Children
In children, human growth hormone helps activate cells in the ends of bones and also promotes mineralization, which results in bone growth. HGH also stimulates the release of various immune system related hormones. Adults who take human growth hormone report that they feel more youthful and invigorated, have decreased amounts of body fat and increased amounts of muscle, and also have better immune function.
Growth Hormone and Athletes
Many athletes, including professional body builders, have discovered that the muscle growth HGH stimulates is beneficial to their athletic ability. In some studies, it has also been found that human growth hormone has anti-aging properties. In one famous study in the New England Journal of Medicine, men over 60 were given HGH. At the end of the study, it was found that their musculature, bone mineral, and lean body mass were increased. Studies have also shown that human growth hormone is useful for increasing muscle in the elderly, which may end up helping them to live longer and feel better.
Recent Studies on Growth Hormone
Recently, it has been discovered that human growth hormone is beneficial in a number of chronic conditions, as well. For example, people with post-transplant growth failure, AIDS associated muscle wasting, and a number of genetic conditions find that using human growth hormone helps promote muscle growth and overall health.
Studies focusing on inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, two devastating bowel conditions causing impaired growth due to malabsorption, have also found that human growth hormone can be beneficial. That's because administered HGH can make up for many years of the impaired health that causes short stature.
Finally, there are some intriguing studies showing that people with obesity might be helped with human growth hormone, because the hormone tends to help people develop more muscle mass and lose fat stores. The jury is still out, however, on whether the obese might be harmed by the insulin modulating effects of HGH.
Recent studies have also explored the use of HGH in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Preliminary results suggest that people with these conditions might have increased energy and better immune systems. This is good news for people with fibromyalgia or CFS, because there are few traditional treatments that offer much help for people with these conditions.
Although the use of human growth hormone is controversial, especially in the athletic arena, scientific studies have generally shown that the hormone is safe and can be beneficial to increase lean muscle growth, as well as improve a number of chronic health conditions. Before starting HGH, of course, one should always check with a health professional to make sure it is right for them.
