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Human Growth Hormone
Name: Judy C.
Status: Educator
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
What is the effect on humans that take human growth
horomones?
Replies:
Human growth hormone is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland and is
active throughout life, but highly so during childhood and adolescence. It
has numerous effects; it causes cells to grow by directly increasing the
number of amino acids that enter cells, stimulating protein anabolism, and
decreases protein catabolism. It also stimulates lipolysis (breakdown of
fat) to produce ATP, or energy. It also increases glucose utilization by
cells and accelerates the breakdown of glycogen stored in the liver into
glucose. So in general, it makes energy and building blocks available for
growth. It stimulates the growth of long bones and muscle development.
Some
people want to give extra hGH to children that are of normal height to allow
them to grow taller perhaps to make them better at a certain sport. Studies
done on elderly men show that hGH has an anti-aging effect by making slowing
the degeration of these tissues. However, after the long bones have closed,
making them unable to grow any longer, hGH causes excess bone deposition
(spurs, and thickening of hands, feet, cheeks, jaw, etc.) skin thickening and
muscle hypertrophy. It also can cause high blood sugar and over stimulation
of the islet cells in the pancreas, which can cause a condition called
"beta-cell burnout" which can have a diabetogenic effect, or mimicking
diabetes mellitus. Excess hGH in adulthood may have some initial anti aging
effects but the long term side effects are not worth it.
van hoeck
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Update: June 2012
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