Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) in adults is now recognised as a specific clinical syndrome with characteristic symptoms and signs. These include weight gain, decreased extra cellular water content and a low bone mineral content.

Treatment with growth hormone therapies have proven highly successful and now their benefits as an anti-aging treatment are beginning to receive public attention. 

Studies reliably demonstrate beneficial effects (see below).

Beneficial Effects:

•                 Enhanced skin thickness and elasticity
•                 Improved healing time and reduced infection rates after trauma or surgery
•                 Diminished sun damage-type wrinkling
•                 Increased lean muscle mass
•                 Increased bone mineral density
•                 Improved cholesterol profile
•                 Improved exercise capacity
•                 Improved blood flow to the kidney
•                 Improved general energy levels

The first signs of positive effects occur after several weeks as a feeling of enhanced wellbeing. Most of the compositional changes occur after 3-11 months of therapy.

There are a number of companies that promote various pills, elixirs, sprays or creams that are claimed to have useful amounts of hGH. One should be very sceptical of such claims. Molecules as large as hGH cannot be absorbed into the body across skin or mucous membranes and, being a very fragile molecule, hGH is digested or broken down into simpler compounds if it is ingested and not injected.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is critical to many processes in the human body, including tissue repair, healing, muscle growth, physical and mental health, brain function, energy and metabolism.  HGH secretion is highest during adolescence and gradually declines with age.  According to a study by Rudman, men between the ages of 61 – 81 who received HGH injections for six months showed an 8.8% increase in lean body mass, a 14.4% decrease in body fat, and a 1.6% increase in average lumbar vertebral bone density, compared to no significant change in the control group.  

Human growth hormone (hGH) is an amino acid molecule produced in our bodies by the anterior pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. It is a complex hormone made up of 191 amino acids and produced during deep sleep throughout our lives.  Among the critical functions of HGH are conversion of body fat to muscle mass, tissue growth and repair, energy , healing, cell replacement, bone strength, brain and sexual function, organ health, enzyme production and healthy hair, nails and skin.  Levels of HGH secretion drop from about 500 micrograms per day at age 20 to about 25 micrograms per day at age 80.

HGH acts on the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor I (IGF–I or somatomedin-C), which does the growth-promoting work of HGH.  Because IGF-I remains in the bloodstream longer than HGH, its production is used as a measure of HGH secretion.  Growth hormone levels decline with age and are approximately one-third lower in healthy men and women over 55 years old compared to adults 18 to 33, with IGF-I concentrations lower as well.  However, there is significant individual variability in the amount of HGH decline.  The percentages of men and women with IGF-I levels below those of 20 to 29 year olds has been reported as 11% among adults in their 40s, 20% among those in their 50s, 22% among the 60s, 54% in the 70s, and 55% in the 80s and 90s.  Among all ages, IGF-I levels were lower in those with higher body fat.

 HGH and Aging

After the age of 20, less HGH is secreted with each passing year.  By age 40, only about 200 micrograms daily are secreted, declining further to 25 micrograms by age 80.  It is not certain why this occurs.  Among possible explanations are that the pituitary gland somehow does not receive signal to produce more HGH as people age or that somatostatin, a natural growth hormone inhibitor, increases.  The most striking result is increased fat and decreased muscle mass in the elderly.

Several studies have set our to determine whether the administration of HGH could help prevent or reverse some symptoms of aging.  The most notable of these is the study mentioned earlier by Rudman, which concluded that diminished HGH secretion is partially responsible for reduced lean body mass, increased fat-tissue mass, and the thinning of the skin that occurs in old age.  As noted by Dr. Mary Lee Vance of the University of Virginia, other studies have demonstrated similar benefits.  Men and women deficient in growth hormone who were supplemented with HGH for four months had a 5% increase in muscle volume in the thigh and a 7% decreased in adipose-tissue volume in the thigh.  Participants also showed a 1.6% increase in vertebral bone density and 6.6 and 7% increases in skin fold thickness.  A study by Papadakis and later research by Blackman, also supported the beneficial effects of HGH administration on body composition in women and men 65 years and older.

Any negative long term effects of HGH administration such as the risk of cancer, have yet to be determined.  According to Vance, growth hormone can adversely affect carbohydrate metabolism, the musculoskeletal system and the cardiovascular system.  HGH treatment for adults is costly as well, estimated at between &7,500 to $10,000 per year or more.

Given that many benefits of HGH supplementation have been reported, including decreased fat, increased lean muscle mass, improved skin texture, fewer wrinkles, greater bone density, improved immunity, higher libido, greater energy, better sleep, and increased cardiac output, the use of HGH should be evaluated on an individual basis in partnership with one’s health care provider.  Patients should inform their practitioner about all current medications and health concerns, including diabetes, thyroid problems, back problems, allergies, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.  Use of HGH is not recommended for cancer patients.