As name the suggests, growth hormone is an important mediator of the human growth process. It’s produced in the body by the pituitary gland, high level is produced during the child hood and as we age it starts tapering down.
It wasn’t long until bodybuilders being a body builders noticed this hormone and started applying it for increased muscles growth and reduced adipose tissue. it’s not only promote muscle growth as increase in cells size (hypertrophy) but it actually increase the number of cells (hyperplasia), this even make it more interesting for bodybuilders.
Growth hormone has always been and always will be a controversial drug, its high price and limited availability made it known as the missing link for many athletes. Some swear by its benefits, while others think it’s very overrated and not worth the cost. 

It’s no doubt that growth hormone usage to bodybuilder will have several benefits of this drug, but how much, is it worth the cost and is it better than anabolic steroids ? Will answer these question and more in this article.
 

Let’s start by taking a look on what is Human Growth hormone HGH?

Human Growth hormone HGH is a single-chain protein made of 191 amino acids with a molecular weight of approximately 22 kDa (Kilo Daltons). It is released into the blood-stream by the somatotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland and has a lot of functions in overall growth of human body cells; the amount released is the highest during childhood and will decrease as with age.
The growth promoting effect are very broad, promote the growth of bone, skeletal muscles, connective tissue and internal organs. It also supports metabolism of protein, carbohydrate, lipids and minerals.

Somatropin is the synthetic version of HGH, it specifically describes pharmaceutical human growth hormone that was synthesized with the use of recombinant DNA technology. Somatropin (rhGH) is biologically equivalent to human growth hormone (hGH) of pituitary origin.
 
Structural Characteristics:
Somatropin is human growth hormone protein manufactured by recombinant DNA technology. It has 191 amino acid residues and a molecular weight of 22,125 daltons. It is identical in structure to human growth hormone of pituitary origin.

History of Growth hormones
 

As a hormone critical for the health and well being of all humans, deficiency in this hormones create lots of health problems, especially in the childhood, so doctors and researcher tried to find a way in the early 1920's.
At first they attempt treating growth hormones deficiency by purifying Bovine growth hormone (rBGH), However, Bovine somatotropin has different molecular structure than human growth hormone, so the treatments were ultimately unsuccessful.

In 1958, Maurice Raben, an endocrinologist at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, was responsible for the first successful human treatment of growth hormone deficiency. He was able to purify enough GH from the pituitary glands of an autopsied body to treat GH-deficiency in a 17-year-old boy.
After this successful treatment many endocrinologists began to make arrangements with local morgues in order to obtain the pituitary glands of autopsied cadavers. This form of growth hormone became known as cadaver-GH. Approximately 1 mg of hGH (a 1 day dose) could be obtained from each cadaver. So imagine how many dead bodies we need in order to have a good bodybuilder GH cycle, you would need at least 2 fresh dead people a day for 8 weeks, that’s like 112 dead body for a cycle!! Thank God for medical advancement, or else there would be lots of bodybuilder serial killer around: P

The U.S. National Institutes of Health formed a branch called the National Pituitary Agency in order to better control the procurement and distribution of cadaver-GH in 1960.
The National Pituitary Agency arranged for large scale procurement and purification of cadaver-GH and distributed it to select endocrinologists for the treatment of GH-deficiency in children. Several other countries followed by developing their own cadaver-GH controlling agencies.

Due to limited availability of cadaver, treatment for GH-deficiency in this manner was reserved for only the most severe cases. Only children who suffered from GH-deficiency were allowed treatment and stopped when the children reach a specific height.

In the late 1970's, Swedish pharmaceutical company, Kabi, began to contract the purchase of pituitary glands from European hospitals for the first commercial GH product, Crescormon.
 
In 1985, four cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) were diagnosed in patients who had been treated with cadaver-GH in the 1960s. By 2003, that number had risen to 26. The use of cadaver-GH quickly ceased upon the discovery of the similar GH treatments that each CJD-diagnosed individual received in their youth.

Strangely enough, even after the link between Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, some bodybuilder and athletes continued using untreated GH during the 1980's, and put themselves in the risk of CJD, knowing the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a very fatal disease of the brain.
although the overall incidence of this disease is less than 1%, as approximately 6,000 patients are documented to have received the medication, it certainly not worth the risk, and it’s also can be transmitted from one person to another under exceptional circumstances (usually blood transfusion or organ implantation are involved).

However, in 1981, American pharmaceutical company, Genentech, after collaborating with Kabi, developed the first synthetic human growth hormone. Known as recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), this form of synthetic GH was produced using a biosynthetic process called Inclusion Body technology. Human growth hormone produced by Inclusion Body technology became known as somatrem. It was also discovered that the unnatural structure of somatrem causes a much higher incidence of antibody reactions in patients, which can reduce drug efficacy.

Later, an improved process of creating rhGH was developed called Protein Secretion technology. This method is the most common form of current HGH synthesis; it is known as Somatropin. Somatropin would come to be viewed as a more reliable drug.

Growth hormones medical use

Growth Hormone Deficiency

Both pediatric and adult may suffer from growth hormone deficiency (GHD), where the body doesn’t produce enough growth hormone to support normal bone and muscle growth.
This can be due to mutated genes or a malformed pituitary gland, although in many cases the reason is still unknown.

Common signs of GHD in children:

• Poor growth.
• Immature face.
• Chubby stature.
• Some children also experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• Seizures.
• Delayed puberty.

Common signs of GHD in adults:

• Decreased muscles and bone density.
• Reduced energy.
• Obesity.

GHD is diagnosed by several ways. For both adults and children, a doctor will test the presence of IGF-1 (Insulin like growth factor) in the body, as IGF-1 production is caused by GH secretion.
They also will do a pituitary check up, by a scan in order to check for abnormalities.
In children, the doctor will monitor the child's growth over a period of time and check if their growth rate is abnormal.

Growth hormone treatment is used widely for both pediatric and adults suffering from GHD.
It works by taking GH to reach a normal hormone level in the body.
In Children, Growth hormone treatment will increase growth rate and development of muscles. While in Adults, it can build muscles, increase energy, reduce fat and give general feeling of well being.
GH can’t promote growth (height) or (length of bones) after the individual hit puberty, although it may add density to the existing bone frame.

 
Idiopathic Short Stature
 
HGH Treatment for Idiopathic Short Stature
Idiopathic means unknown causes, doctors use this word for any condition with no known reason.
Idiopathic short stature is when short statures are caused by something that the doctors can’t determine yet.

There are many known causes of short stature in pediatric patients. The most common is growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and other factors, with idiopathic short stature, the doctors perform tests in order to first rule out all the potential causes. If they can’t find a reason then its named Idiopathic Short Stature and doctor prescribe human growth hormones as a treatment.

Short Stature Caused by Turner's syndrome
 
Turner's syndrome is a disease exclusive to women in which one or part of one of their X-chromosomes is not present. X-chromosomes are responsible for the development of ovaries, the production of sex hormones, and general development. Women with Turner's syndrome usually do not form ovaries, and therefore are unable to become pregnant.
x-chromosomes also carry genes responsible for height determination, that’s why many women with Turner's syndrome have poor growth and do not grow taller than 5ft.

Human growth hormones treatment helps women with Turner's syndrome in height increase, but they need to be treated before they hit puberty.

Treatment for SGA and IUGR

SGA is short for small for gestational age, where the child weighs less than anticipated at birth. SGA is generally defined as children whose weight is in the lowest 10% for all children born after the same number of weeks of pregnancy.
IUGR is short for Intrauterine growth retardation, it is the same as SGA, the only difference is a child with IUGR is still in the womb where with SGA is had been birthed.

There are several factors that can cause SGA in infants, some being environmental (like smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and un prescribed medication, poor nutrition, all by the mother during pregnancy), some being genetic (birth defects and abnormal chromosomes), some the cause of difficulties with pregnancy ( such as: Infections, multiple gestation, uterus problems).

Treatment with Growth hormones GH, aids the child to reach their natural size, then it is ceased.
 

AIDS Wasting and Cachexia

AIDS wasting is the loss of at least 10% of body weight caused by the deterioration of muscle associated with the AIDS virus. Though AIDS wasting also causes fat loss, muscle loss is much more damaging to the human body.
While Cachexia is muscle wasting due to malnutrition. Often it is found in people with anorexia, or in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Anorexics do not eat enough for their bodies to receive the nutrients they need in order to maintain muscle. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often lost their appetites due to nausea.
When the person doesn’t eat enough for their body to function, the body start taking energy out from the fat and muscles, muscles loss results in serious problems.

Like AIDS wasting, advanced muscle deterioration in cachexia patients can also result in death. cachexia is also classified as a loss of at least 10% of body weight both from fat or muscles. 

For both treatment with GH is effective as it to build new muscle cells, increasing muscle density. Because your body can build new muscle cells, it is much easier to develop and maintain lean muscle and GH may have an appetite stimulator effect.

Short Stature Caused by Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a disease caused by abnormalities of chromosome 15. It is a genetic condition that is caused by the absence of genes that are passed from the father. It is found in people of both sexes and can lead to low muscle tone, short stature, obesity, and even cognitive disabilities.

Children with PWS are often shorter than other children of the same age, and they generally have small hands and feet. Their bodies do not form muscle normally, so they have low muscle densities. Additionally, they also have problems deciding when they've eaten enough, which will lead to obesity if not treated. 

Treatment with Growth hormones HGH is very beneficial to children with pws since:

• HGH promotes muscle cell growth, therefore increasing a child's muscle tone.
• HGH promotes bone growth.
• HGH speeds up a person's metabolism and reduces the amount of carbohydrates that are stored in the fat reserves.

Growth Problems Caused by Short Bowel Syndrome

Short bowel syndrome forms when a portion of the short bowel is missing or does not function correctly. It either doesn’t form in the womb, or had to be removed surgically for some reason. Usually, short bowel syndrome occurs when 75% or more of the intestinal track is either missing or not functioning.

Symptoms of short bowel syndrome include:

• Diarrhea.
• Improper weight gain.
• Fatigue.
• Poor appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Weight loss
• Vitamin deficiencies since the body can’t absorb good.
• Kidney or gallstones again from poor absorption.
• Sometimes it also causes liver disease.

Diagnoses for short bowel syndrome will include:

• Blood tests.
• Stool samples.
• Breath hydrogen tests
• All this in order to determine if your body is absorbing and producing normal levels of nutrients.
• Additionally diagnoses will include:
• X-rays and ultrasounds.
• Endoscopy or colonoscopy.

Treatment with human growth hormones HGH will help with weight and muscles loss, by increasing muscles mass and density.
There are other treatments as well, such as a special diet (pre-digested foods, to make sure that the body taking what it need from nutrients.
And of course there are short bowel transplant, which will allow your body to return to normal functioning, but have to wait on a waiting list for that.
 

Improper Growth in Children with Renal Disease
 
Chronic renal disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. If a kidney transplant is not received, a child with chronic renal disease can have permanent kidney failure. After a certain amount of loss of kidney function, a child will be placed on dialysis. While dialysis prolongs the life of a person with renal disease, it is not a cure.
A person must receive a transplant to return normal.

A person's kidneys are responsible for the removal of waste products and excess fluids in a human's system. It is also responsible for the release of hormones and other necessary nutrients. Renal disease, in children, is usually hereditary or congenital; they are either inherited or were born with it because of a malformation in the womb. However, it can also be caused by some form of trauma to the kidneys.

Some of the symptoms of kidney disease include

• Headaches.
• Loss of appetite.
• Fatigue.
• Frequent urination.
• Bloated arms and legs.
• Nausea. Darkening of the skin.

The most common tests for renal disease are performed by taking blood or urine samples, both of which can determine if nutrient levels are abnormal.

Children with renal disease often experience growth retardation. Because dialysis prolongs the life of a person with renal disease until transplant, while it can’t really function normally growth wise, short stature is a common problem. Human growth hormone can help with the treatment of this problem.

Anti-Aging Drug

In anti aging drugs, human growth hormone is the king, many call it as a miracle, and it’s a great weapon against aging and now is used widely for the elderly as a mean of rejuvenation.
 

Many celebrities even use GH to look and feel better; among them is Sylvester Stallone as he says on HGH:
"HGH to me is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older, everyone older than 40 would be wise to investigate HGH because it improves the quality of your life so much. Mark my words for it."

Another famous celebrity is open about the use of HGH is Keith Richards from the Rolling stones.
Other celebrities who are linked to the use of growth hormones are Madonna, Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston.

HGH is by one's pituitary glands at its highest levels during childhood. The higher levels of HGH in a person's body, the more IGF-1 their body produces. IGF-1 is responsible for both healing damaged cells and developing new ones.

As a person ages, the amount of human growth hormone their body produces declines. This means that one's body is less able to repair their damaged cells. Cell damage is what causes aging.

The following table displays the normal level of HGH in the body measured in nanograms/milliliter of blood. As you can see, there is a dramatic difference between that of an 18 year old and anyone older than 30 and that’s what makes us old.

 
With Human growth hormone, you can force your body to repair the damaged cells that cause it to age and look and feel young again. Some of the most notable areas of aging that can be reversed with HGH are discussed below:

Skin Damage:
The sun, UV rays, and cigarette smoke are just some of the things that damage skin cells. While we can’t avoid all the factors, HGH Human growth hormone works to repair these damaged cells. The result is smoother, less-wrinkled skin and looking young again.

Bone Deterioration:
A human's bones weaken with age. Human growth hormone not only strengthens bones, it also repair damaged bone cells. The represents a potential cure for the worst type of bone deterioration -osteoporosis.

Memory Loss:
Damaged brain cells are responsible for memory loss and can lead to Alzheimer's disease. HGH works to heal damaged brain cells, preventing age-related mind deterioration.

Dosage of growth hormone HGH as an anti aging drug is very low, so side effect are rare, however you will still get lots of its benefits from healthy weight gains, fat loss, and looking and feeling young again.
 

Treatment for Children with Rheumatoid Arthritis
 
Studies have shown that HGH can help to both lessen the symptoms of arthritis and promote overall growth and it adds density to bones and muscles. Additionally, it can strengthen joints and ligaments which may help lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

 
Osteoporosis Treatment

Osteoporosis is caused by the deterioration of bones that begins occurring after a person turns 30. Prior to age 30, a person's builds and stores bone. After 30, as the table shows above, growth hormones level declines and bones begin to weaken and break down. If a person did not build enough bone density in their youth, they can suffer from osteoporosis -- a low bone density that causes bone to become fragile and break easily. That’s why it’s very important to have very healthy diet with lots of calcium in it at a young age.

Growth hormone treat that by elevating the GH level to natural ones, and the healing of the bone cells can be normal, and will results in healthier bones, joints and ligaments.
 
Treatment for Children with XLH
X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets (XLH) is a disease that affects the mineralization of bone. As a result, teeth and bones develop poorly. Poor bone mineralization results in poor growth and spontaneous dental abscesses.

GH accelerate growth and strengthen the bones, and offer better mineralization, the result are very good improvement in patients with XLH.

Weight Loss Drug
 
Growth hormones can also be used to treat obesity, by forcing the body to burn more fat as main source of energy.
Will discuss more about the weight loss effect and how it work in part 2.

Taking a look at the diseases treated and how growth hormones helps in treating them, gives an idea of its effect on the body, for athletes and bodybuilders, GH can offer a great deal of benefits when used in right amount and right circumstances.

In part two, we will discuss deeper the growth hormone benefits on the body, especially for bodybuilders and athletes, we will also take a look on the side effects of GH, how to administrate GH for optimal benefits, complementary drugs to be taken with, GH types and brands, and how to avoids GH frauds.

In Depth with Growth Hormone - Part 2

Shady Eid is a certified Personal Trainer, writer and competitive bodybuilder based in UAE, for questions and comments you can contact him at: Shady@arabianmuscles.com