Human Growth Hormone (HGH), also known as somatropin, is one of the most
important hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Since the 1950's, scientists
have been interested in HGH and its possible benefits for children and aging
adults with HGH deficiencies. Today, scientists are still performing clinical
studies and new benefits of HGH are continuing to be discovered.
HGH was
first isolated in 1956, and its structure later identified in 1972. HGH is a
microscopic protein secreted in short pulses during exercise and the first hours
of sleep. HGH is responsible for the growth of bone and muscle, the regulation
of metabolism, the flow of sugar to muscle and fat, the production of protein in
the liver and muscle, and the production of fatty tissue. HGH also activates the
insulin-like growth factor or IGF-1.
Scientists first began to use HGH
to treat stunted growth conditions in children. Ground-up pituitary glands were
taken from cadavers and injected into children, resulting in their normal
development and growth. From 1958 to 1985, cadaver-derived growth hormone was
used to treat 8,000 children in the U.S. Unfortunately, the process had two
limitations: the lack of supply and the risk of transmitting viral infections.
Luckily, the birth of genetic engineering solved these problems.
To
create HGH in a lab, scientists use recombinant gene technology, whereby a gene
is inserted into lab cell lines to produce the protein. The first recombinant
human growth hormone (rHGH) was created by Genetech of San Francisco,
California. It was approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) in October 1985. Also in 1985, Keith Kelly, MD, a research scientist,
verified that injected cells that produce high amounts of growth hormones could
cause the withered thymus glands in old rats to grow to the size of a healthy,
young rat.
In 1990, Dr. Daniel Rudman published his research on HGH in
the New England Journal of Medicine. His research revealed the effective
utilization of HGH for life extension, health, and longevity. His findings led
to thousands of additional research studies on the benefits of HGH
therapy.
While Dr. Rudman was conducting his research, scientists in
England, Sweden and Denmark were also discovering remarkably similar results
with HGH replacement therapy. Researchers found that patients using HGH therapy
recovered from depression, anxiety, and fatigue brought on by pituitary disease
and low levels of HGH.
In 1996, HGH was approved by the FDA for longevity
and life extension therapy for older people with low IGF-1 levels, with a
doctor's prescription. Eli Lilly Company secured the FDA's approval due its own
research findings. The FDA has approved label indications for other uses of HGH
due to successful clinical trials, including decreased production of growth
hormone caused by pituitary tumors, side effects of medical therapy, ailments
associated with aging, and chronic illness. In addition, research conducted in
2002 has led to the use of HGH to treat AIDs-related conditions.
Today,
several companies produce and sell rHGH under various brand names, but it is
very costly. Fortunately, alternatives to the prescription HGH are available
including oral stimulators and supplements which claim to produce many of the
same benefits as injected HGH. Before purchasing any of these, however, be sure
to read product reviews available on the internet to make an informed decision
that's right for you.
