Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone, abbreviated as HGH and GH, is the hormone that activates cell production, growth, and metabolic processes within the human body. Secreted by the anterior pituitary located just inside the base of the skull, GH is responsible for working in conjunction with other hormones in the body to stimulate and regulate proper human growth and development. GH levels generally reach their all time high at puberty and significantly decline around the age of 40.
HGH Facts
| Other names | Human growth hormone, HGH, GH, CB-311, Somatotropin |
| Effects | Activates cell production. Anti-aging function. |
| WADA status | Prohibited. |
There are a variety of medical conditions that can develop if levels of GH are either too low or too high. With an excess amount of human growth hormone the body may over produce cells causing acromegaly, a condition characterized by oversized extremities, rapid and continual cell growth, and a variety of other serious health complications; or pituitary gigantism, which results in extreme height due to over secretion of GH. Medical conditions caused by GH deficiency can be serious as well, leading to a variety of short stature conditions that may severely impact overall health.
GH can only be legally prescribed for the aforementioned purposes approved by the FDA; however, many off-label uses for the hormone exist, such as athletic performance enhancement and anti-aging treatment. In most instances of off-label usage, the FDA has not approved GH treatment simply because the potential benefits of therapy do not outweigh the possible risks posed by altering the body’s levels of GH.
While touted by some as a miracle cure-all, GH carries with it serious side effects that patients should take heed of before initiating treatment. The side-effects include e.g. increased risk of diabetes, joint pain, and enlargement of male mammary glands.