Anti-aging is a looming problem for many people in the modern world. And wanting to stay young and healthy is understandable. But there is a problem when we are so desperate to stay young that we do things that actually jeopardize our health. This has led to certain substances being touted as miracle cures, often without much evidence to support them. This is what has happened with HGH. There are some important HGH benefits for people with certain conditions. However, for otherwise healthy adults, it may be more dangerous than beneficial.
Growth hormones are produced by the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. They help power growth during childhood and maintain organs and tissues in adulthood. The production of this hormone goes on throughout the human lifecycle. However, it starts to slow in middle age. This biological fact has raised questions about the use of HGH, which are synthetic human growth hormones, as a way to reverse or slow the aging process.
However, there is little evidence to suggest that HGH can help healthy adults regain their youth. And HGH may also increase the risk of other health problems, which is why it isn’t used to manage problems or conditions related to aging.
GH or HGH is often prescribed in injection form to children and adults with GH deficiencies. GH deficiency can cause fractures, affect muscle mass, cause heart disease in later life, and decrease energy levels and exercise capacity. Taking HGH can often help alleviate or prevent these problems when they’re associated with GH deficiency.
GH is also used to address conditions in adulthood that affect the functioning of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, or both. These types of problems can cause GH deficiencies and associated problems. It can also be used for:
In children, HGH hormones can be used to address poor growth due to:
However, these HGH benefits also come with serious problems.
HGH causes side effects in 30% of patients. These side effects can include:
These side effects can get quite serious, particularly if you already have associated problems. This is one reason why HGH benefits often aren’t worth the risk.
Unfortunately, many people have been attempting to take advantage of the common HGH benefits and take this hormone for other purposes. This probably began with a study released by Dr. Daniel Rudman and colleagues at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1990. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and documented the world's first clinical trial of human growth hormone (HGH) replacement in elderly men.
The study found that men between 61 and 81 years old who were given six months of HGH injections experienced some HGH benefits. They gained an average of 8.8% in lean body mass and lost 14% in fat (without diet or exercise), improved their skin texture and tone, and increased their bone density. These results have been born out in studies since.
As a result, a lot of sources have talked about HGH benefits for aging and athletic performance. However, this ignores several factors including:
The common side effects of HGH were noticed in the 1990 study and in subsequent work. In fact, older participants who take HGH are even more likely to experience severe side effects from taking HGH. Considering the high rates of blood sugar instability and the danger of diabetes in older age, this could quite literally be life-threatening.
This means that HGH could cause improvements in some signs of aging, signs that could also be improved through diet and exercise, and worsen others, including the risk of cancer. This makes this strategy seem like a poor trade-off for older people.
Taking HGH also causes side effects in athletes which can make it difficult for them to compete at their best.
Studies have shown that HGH can cause increased muscle mass in athletes. However, this didn’t translate to improved performances. In the studies, no measurable increases in speed or strength were noted in participants who were given the medication.
It’s illegal for athletes to take HGH, and it shows up in blood tests. So, athletes who take it are literally risking their careers for little return. This makes the common HGH benefits seem insignificant in comparison.
The common HGH benefits don’t seem to outweigh the consequences of taking this potentially dangerous drug. Instead, if you want to reverse aging and increase muscle mass, then it’s far better to adopt a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly.
Eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and around .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight to help your body increase muscle mass. And set up a balanced exercise routine that includes regular cardiovascular exercises as well as weight training.
This will not only decrease your weight, but it will also help to build muscle naturally, without causing side effects. This means you’ll look and feel better at the same time.
There are some HGH benefits for adults or children with certain conditions. However, there is very little evidence to suggest that synthetic growth hormones can reverse aging. Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped their use or all the stories that circulate about their benefits. If you’re thinking about taking HGH for whatever reason, here’s what you should know:
For more information about aging and hormones, you can talk to the team at Dr. Lam at +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here for our Ask the Doctor system.
© Copyright 2004-2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Your body starts aging around 25-30 years old and it will continue to age with protein and muscle loss of 12% every decade. You should also follow a lifestyle of good diet, proper exercise, and stress managements before you begin therapy to reap HGH benefits.
