HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (HGH)

The "fountain of youth", human growth hormone (hGH), is about as close to it as you’re going to get to the rejuvenating power of any known hormone on the market. Once abused by many super-performance athletes it has taken the health and well-being world by storm. In Australia, it is illegal if obtained from the black-market. It is not illegal if obtained from a doctor for genuine health and well being reasons. Extensive continuing medical tests are performed before, during and after treatment, which include physical, biochemical, radiological investigations to monitor progress of ones health and well being. Human Growth Hormone is not clinically indicated or approved for Anti-Ageing, the enhancement or speeding up of healing, injures in sportsmen and women. It is NOT to be prescribed or used by professional athletes or used for non health and well being reasons. It is not approved and indicted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Anti-Ageing. The use of hGH outside TGA approval is classified as "off label use" where the drug or treatment is used outside the general prescribed indications for the drug.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Human growth hormone (hGH) is an amino acid molecule produced in our bodies by the “anterior pituitary gland”, a gland located at the base of the brain, acting on many different tissues to promote healthy metabolism. The main effect of hGH is performed by a related hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which is released predominantly by the liver in response to the presence of hGH, and is one of the primary hormones for maintaining optimum cellular performance.

Human growth hormone is secreted in spurts by the pituitary into your bloodstream during the early hours of sleep or when you exercise or are injured. The hormone stays only a very short time in your bloodstream and then goes to your liver, where it’s converted into another hormone, somatomedin-C (sometimes called insulin-like growth factor-one or IGF-1), which is actually the driving force behind all the remarkable properties of the growth hormone. Somatomedin-C remains in the blood for longer periods of time that hGH and, like hGH itself, can easily be measured on laboratory tests.

Human growth hormone is so named because its production peaks during the intense growth spurt of adolescence. It’s so vital at this period of life that children with a deficiency of hGH have severely retarded growth and, if not supplemented with the hormone, will end up as dwarfs. hGH is somewhat erroneously named because the pituitary gland continues to produce it throughout life. Production of hGH drops off gradually after the age of 20 and continues to decrease by approximately 14 per cent each decade for the rest of your life. By the time you are 60 to 70 years of age, you only produce 15 to 20 per cent of the amount you produced at your peak levels.

Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) in adults is now recognised as a specific clinical syndrome with characteristic symptoms and signs. These include overweight, decreased extracellular water content and a low bone-mineral content. Treatment with growth hormone therapies have proven highly successful and now their benefits as an anti-ageing treatment are beginning to receive public attention.

For years, hGH has been used as a therapy for children with severe growth problems. hGH also has positive effects on the heart. This is not surprising, since anything that builds muscle should help this busiest of the muscles. The hormone also raises the beneficial HDL, cholesterol. It is well known that adults who had childhood hGH deficiency have increased risk of heart disease. This robust and clever hormone also helps reverse osteoporosis.

Many have reported enhanced immune function and rapid wound healing. Tremors and palsy have disappeared. Across the board, there are decreases in minor aches and pains, and increases in libido, sexual potency, and general wellbeing. Patients have even said that their hair colour returned after many years of grey. Osteoporosis has literally been reversed and sex life has tremendously improved, both in frequency and enjoyment.

Natural levels of hGH and IGF-1 decline progressively after young adulthood, leading to many of the bodily changes associated with ageing. Raising these levels to those associated with a younger physiology has shown to slow down the ageing process.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF HGH

  • Enhanced skin thickness and elasticity
  • Improved healing time and reduced infection rates after trauma or surgery
  • Diminished sun damage-type wrinkling
  • Decreased total body fat
  • 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. This includes the softening of wrinkles and better skin texture.

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.

The current ways to achieve positive anti-ageing effects using hGH is via direct injection, as part of a strictly monitored regimen supervised by Dr Colagrande.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR HGH THERAPY?

If you’re over 50 and have any signs of premature ageing you’re a possible candidate, but it should be discussed with Dr Colagrande.

A consultation directly with Dr Colagrande will be required to assess and discuss:-

  1. Signs and symptoms you are experiencing.
  2. Physical examination will be required.
  3. Extensive blood tests will be carried out.
  4. Radiological test (MRI/CT) may be required to exclude possible causes.
  5. Referral to a Endocrinologist may also be required. If you do become a candidate for hGH, regular visits and blood tests will be performed to monitor your progress. The aim is to improve symptoms by raising levels to a normal healthy range and not abusing medications for non medical or health and well-being purposes.

Remember hGH therapy may be used as a possible trial to see if signs and symptoms improve and does not guarantee itself as a miracle cure. It is not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for anti-ageing therapy.

OTHER WAYS TO RAISE YOUR HGH LEVELS

There are ways of increasing and stimulating our natural levels of hGH other than by direct injection. These methods include:

  • Secretagogues, which are substances that stimulate the pituitary gland to produce hGH.
  • HGH Precursors, which work on the concept that if the body is supplied with the parts of hGH, then it may be more apt to decide to use the blend of amino acids to more easily make hGH

Unfortunately, the substantive effectiveness is notable predominantly in young (under 35 years of age) and highly athletic people.

Besides supplementing with hGH, there are other less effective but also much less expensive ways to raise your hGH levels. One is regular exercise. In addition to the pulsing release of hGH by the pituitary during sleep, the gland also secretes the hormone during exercise or trauma. The body “knows” when extra amounts of this vital, rejuvenating substance are needed. Another method of increased hGH is taking the amino acid L-glutamine. Similarly, another amino acid – L-arginine – can raise your hGH levels.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HGH REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Raise your hGH levels on your own by getting regular, physical exercise and plenty of sleep.

Start a three-month trial of L-glutamine or L-arginine. For L-glutamine, take two grams per day with juice, following a light breakfast. Take your L-glutamine along with a multivitamin, multi-mineral supplement that includes zinc. For L-arginine, take four to eight grams per day of the powdered form, mixed with juice or water.

Take a somatomedin-C blood test at the beginning of your L-glutamine or L-arginine therapy to establish a baseline. Then monitor your progress by repeating the test every three months for six to nine months.

THE ROLE AND BENEFITS OF HGH

hGH supplementation has massive patient benefits that restore normal bodily functioning lost due to age. Patients can expect to experience the following benefits from hGH replacement therapy, properly administered:

  • 8.8% increase in muscle mass on average over six months without exercise
  • 14% loss of fat on average after six months without dieting
  • High energy level
  • Enhanced sexual performance
  • Regrowth of heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and other organs that shrink with age
  • Greater cardiac output
  • Superior immune function
  • Increased exercise performance
  • Improved sleep
  • Improved kidney function
  • Increased memory retention
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Improved cholesterol profile, higher
  • HDL, lower LDL
  • Stronger bones
  • Younger, thicker skin and faster wound healing
  • Hair regrowth
  • Wrinkle removal
  • Enhance collagen synthesis and repair
  • Elimination of cellulite
  • Sharper vision and hearing
  • Mood elevation/span>
  • Elimination of fatigue and depression