HGH is used as an injection in anti-aging programs off label to promote longevity and increase muscle mass and re-gained youth. By decreasing fat and increasing bone and muscle mass, the impression is of a younger and firmer body. A possible mis-impression is of improved long term health. Changes in the mind and body with age do not necessarily mean a disease state needing rectifying. Certainly, this may be the case in manipulating HGH levels.
Normal Human Growth Hormone Levels Change with Age or Disease
An extreme increase of the hormone is exemplified by giantism and also may be a factor in a pituitary tumor. Extreme deficiency may be genetic or due to steroids or aging since the levels drop as one ages. This is normal, not a disease process. The drug somatropin or HGH is used to bring levels to normal in children of decreased stature due to low levels of this hormone.
HGH Lab Results Misinterpreted to Show Disease
The fallacy is looking at blood levels of a young person and of an older person and noting levels of HGH decrease with age; therefore youth (health) means to get the level of the hormone at a particular level reminiscent of youth. This is a medical or anti-aging theory used in hormone replacement for a variety of bodily chemicals and precursors. For example, raising estrogen levels to youthful levels in women later showed to cause increased problems related to cancers. Increasing synthroid, a thyroid hormone to above normal levels to aid weight loss, later showed it harmed not only bone but also increased heart beats. There are mixed theories on raising the levels of DHEA to bring back youthful desires and well-being. There may be a purpose to decreasing levels to preserve the body from cancers and heart problems.
HGH for Weight Loss and Diet
The New England Journal of Medicine published an article stating not only was weight loss negligible but not the purpose intended by the hormone which is to replace the pituitary deficiency of human growth hormone. An earlier study from the same journal had claimed a 14% fat loss without diet or exercise thus initiating the race to get this expensive hormone whether by shot or , even less effective, by pill.
Short-term use of the injected form showed loss of fat, with increased muscle mass and bone density. There has been no proof of the same results in powdered, nasal spray or pill form. These forms do not have legal HGH . The molecule doesn’t work unless it’s injected.
Scientific Study of HGH Diet
This study done under medical supervision revealed weight loss on HGH injections of 33 postmenopausal women but those women were on a 500 calorie-a-day diet along with strength training and walking. It should be mentioned that five women dropped out due to edema (tissue swelling) or other side effects of HGH. Those who did only growth hormone treatment without the diet change or exercise had minimal weight loss results.
Commercial Human Growth Hormone Diet Programs, Somatropin
Unless the shot, a prescription hormone medication, is injected, the diet isn’t utilizing human growth hormone supplementation or Somatropin, a synthetic form of HGH. Pills and spray aren’t including HGH if they are over the counter or the hormone isn’t being injected. Some supplements have amino acids added to augment the process but the concern is first, that they are useless, and second, that they may contain pituitary or hypothalamus gland extracts which risk transmitting mad cow disease if infected with animal brain tissue.They are ineffective, a scam, and possibly dangerous .
Some Internet descriptions seem to confuse HCG (Human Chorianic Gonadotropin) for HGH so beware what is read. These are two different hormones and two different diets.
Raising HGH for Home Diet
Maintaining the weight loss after hormone injection requires continuous injections. This is an expensive and dangerous activity to maintain any lost weight. Exercise and sugar metabolism play a role. Growth hormone is increased by stress and activity. Since human growth hormone plays a role in insulin usage, sugar intake affects it, as does food intake in general. By exercise and healthy diet restriction some increased HGH is produced naturally. This is the safest way to use human growth hormone for any weight loss.
Read More about HGH Shot to Stay Young or is it dangerous?
References:
NEJM Vance ML Growth Hormone for Elderly 323 1990
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 83, No. 5 1477-1484 Nature Reviews Endocrinology growth hormone, the insulin like growth factor and cancer risk 2010
Lab Test Online growth hormone accessed Nov 52010
NEJM Vance ML Retrospective Can Growth hormone prevent aging 348 2003
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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