Human growth hormone (somatotropin) is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. It belongs to polypeptide hormones. It affects human growth. Many athletes and elderly people use it thanks to its anabolic effect.
HGH therapy reduces the percentage of fat and accelerates muscle growth. It helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism, increases the absorption of calcium in bone tissue, as well as increases IGF-1levels (lots of anabolic processes occur in the body thanks to IGF-1).
Human growth hormone has daily peaks (usually at intervals of 4-6 hours). Our body produces enough HGH during deep sleep.
Natural somatotropin is secreted up to 20 years, thereby stimulating our growth. But after that, HGH production decreases. For example, you will have about 50% of natural somatotropin at 60 years of age.
HGH and overall health
HGH is widely used for treatment. Children use growth hormone in case of reduced HGH production. HGH is also used in AIDS patients, in patients with Turner syndrome, progressive renal failure (in children). It is absolutely safe in case of medical advice.
Some adult patients use HGH in the case of a short bowel syndrome. In this case, nutrients are not absorbed in the small intestine to the proper extent. Overall, HGH therapy will help you gain muscle mass, strengthen your bones, reduce the risk of heart diseases, as well as improve your overall health.
HGH in the field of sports nutrition
At first HGH was used only to help seriously ill patients and children. But a little later, due to its anabolic properties, it became widely known among bodybuilders. It is also used by individuals in athletics, cycling, baseball and powerlifting.
The effectiveness of HGH therapy depends on many factors: physical training, psychological condition, etc. Therefore, it is very difficult to have a discussion on HGH effects in each particular case. Those who used growth hormone felt less tired after physical activity than those who didn’t use it. Moreover, they needed less time to recover from a workout. That is, HGH is safe for those involved in professional sports.
HGH safety in anti-aging therapy
As we get older, we start to experience a decrease in bone density and muscle loss. That is, our muscle fibers become weaker, our liver, kidneys and other organs gradually start to work more slowly, our skin becomes thinner, etc. At the same time, HGH injections can break the negative trends in older persons. At least, the effectiveness and safety of HGH therapy in healthy elderly people have been proved in practice. Many of them had signs of improved bone density, increased mobility and improved ability to function well.
HGH therapy is able to prevent a large number of destructive processes in the human body. Growth hormone increases your bone mineral density, which is very important for those who are afraid of osteoporosis and osteopenia (women who experience menopause).
Somatotropin has a rejuvenating effect, which is associated with a direct stimulation of the synthetic function of skin cells. Thus, HGH improves your skin, hair and nails.
Some scientists say that HGH promotes rejuvenation of your body: you will look 10 or even 20 years younger. Moreover, you will get a strong bone system, burn more fat, gain muscle mass and improve your sexual performance.
Thus, it makes sense to use HGH in patients over 40-50 years old. However, at the moment it is very expensive (thousands of dollars per year). Of course, it is critical to use HGH under the supervision of a doctor.
What about HGH dosages?
HGH is the strongest drug used to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat. But, in order to achieve the desired results, many people should follow a strict meal plan, train regularly and use HGH injections. So, the course length and HGH dosage mostly depend on your exercise intensity. For example, the dosage for athletes is 8 IU per day, which may be not too much for the effective muscle gain in bodybuilding or powerlifting.
As for bodybuilders, the dosage should be at least 12-16 IU within 3 months. They use HGH in large doses for one simple reason: their body quickly gets used to the drug. As for PCT, one can use HGH optionally, at a dose of 2 IU within 4-7 weeks. It is not forbidden to use HGH for 6 months or more, but only in small dosages of 2-4 IU per day.
In terms of medicine, HGH is used to treat children with growth disorders caused by insufficient growth hormone secretion, as well as adults with severe growth hormone deficiency.
The dose of HGH in medicine is different (depending on the disease). The initial dose in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency in adults is about 0.5-1 IU. The recommended dose for long-term treatment is no more than 3-4 IU per day. The average dose of growth hormone used to treat adults is 2 IU per day. In regards to medicine, HGH is a prescription drug that can be prescribed only by doctors who specialize in endocrinology or pediatric nephrology.
If your goal is to prevent age-related changes, then it is not necessary to use high HGH doses (15-20 IU per day). For most patients, it will be enough only 2 IU per day. The best time for injection is in the morning, immediately after sleep, when you have the lowest level of natural growth hormone. If you use HGH for the purpose of rejuvenation, then you should inject it for at least 6 months.
What about side effects associated with HGH injections?
HGH is a well-known anabolic agent. It may speed up your metabolism significantly and generate free radicals in your body, which in turn leads to some negative consequences: nausea, headache, hyperglycemia, stroke, heart attack, acromegaly, diabetes, cancer, etc.
It is also necessary to periodically change the sites for HGH injections in order to avoid lipoatrophy (loss of adipose tissue).
HGH legal status
Certain recommendations and restrictions have been established for approved HGH preparations. Only those doctors who are familiar with growth hormone deficiency have the right to initiate HGH therapy. Moreover, they should know your medical history in order to prescribe HGH preparations.
Generalization
Human growth hormone therapy tends to be the most studied treatment in the history of American science. After all, FDA is not against of using HGH to treat clinically diagnosed growth hormone deficiency. Numerous medical researches have shown that HGH is surprisingly safe, both for short-term and long-term use. There are some side effects, most of which are reversible. Most of them can occur if you inject a dose much higher than the therapeutic one.
Remember that you should not start HGH course without medical advice – otherwise you will not achieve the desired results. Therefore, be careful, use HGH injections responsibly, avoid high doses and always consult your physician.
