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The Truth About HGH For Weight Loss
Can a naturally occurring hormone that promotes growth and development be a dieter's dream come true? The quest for an easier weight loss solution has some people taking human growth hormone (HGH) in pills, powders, and injections.
A few small studies have linked HGH injections with fat loss and muscle gain. But the changes seen were minimal -- just a few pounds -- while the risks and potential side effects are not. And experts warn that HGH is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss.
HGH is produced by the pituitary gland to fuel growth and development in children. It also maintains some bodily functions, like tissue repair, muscle growth, brain function, energy, and metabolism, throughout life.
HGH production peaks during the teenage years and slowly declines with age. Studies have shown that obese adults have lower levels than normal-weight adults. And these lower levels of HGH have some people wondering whether a boost of HGH could enhance weight loss, especially in the obese.
HGH has also gained a reputation as a muscle builder, and its use is banned in the Olympics and other sports. However, there is little solid evidence that it can boost athletic performance.
Interest in using HGH for weight loss stems from a 1990 New England Journal of Medicine study that showed injections of synthetic HGH resulted in 8.8% gain in muscle mass and 14% loss in body fat without any change in diet or exercise. Although this study appeared to be promising, many later studies have shown no such benefit.
In March 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine took the unusual step of denouncing misuse of the 1990 study, pointing out that subsequent reports provide no reason to be optimistic.
Despite this, this 1990 study is still being used to promote Internet sales of HGH for weight loss.
When adults with an HGH deficiency resulting from pituitary disease are given HGH replacement, it improves body composition -- increasing bone mass and muscle mass and decreasing fat stores.
But it does not cause weight loss in the obese, says Nicholas Tritos, MD, who co-authored an analysis evaluating the effectiveness of HGH for weight loss in obese people.
"Our results showed small improvements in body composition, a small reduction in body fat and increase in muscle mass, but on balance, weight did not change," he says. "More notable changes are seen when an individual is deficient in growth hormone from true pituitary disease."
Another study found that HGH therapy was linked to a small decrease in fat and increase in lean mass, but no change in body weight. The researchers concluded that HGH is not an effective treatment in obese people, and said more studies were needed.
Further, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has warned that the use of HGH for obese patients is not recommended.
HGH comes in injectable form, usually given once weekly, and is available only with a doctor's prescription. HGH injections are approved to treat adults and children who have growth hormone deficiency, for people who are undergoing organ transplants, and for AIDS-related muscle wasting.
Companies marketing HGH pills and powders claim their products produce the same effects as the injected form. But Tritos warns that HGH is only effective when injected.
"HGH is a protein that will get broken down in the stomach unless it is injected," he says. "And besides, any drug not tested or approved by FDA is risky because it is unknown and not necessarily safe, pure, sterile, or what is being advertised."
The FDA has not approved HGH for weight loss for a variety of reasons, including the cost (about $1,000 per month), potential aggravation of insulin resistance and other side effects, and lack of long-term safety studies.
Healthy adults who take HGH put themselves at risk for joint and muscle pain, swelling in the arms and legs, carpel tunnel syndrome, and insulin resistance. In the elderly, these symptoms are more profound.
Using HGH for weight loss, muscle building, or anti-aging is experimental and controversial. HGH injections are believed to decrease fat storage and increase muscle growth to some extent, but studies have not shown this to be a safe or effective weight loss remedy.
Until more research can demonstrate the long-term safety and effectiveness of using HGH for weight loss, it's wise to avoid it.
Unfortunately, there are no magic bullets when it comes to losing weight. Healthy weight loss means taking in fewer calories than you burn in physical activity. Save your money for more fruits and vegetables, and a good pair of sneakers.
Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.
How Safe Is Growth Hormone Therapy For Children?
Cite this articleChernausek, S. How safe is growth hormone therapy for children?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 6, 251–253 (2010). Https://doi.Org/10.1038/nrendo.2010.43
Share this article Get shareable linkGene Test For Growth Hormone Deficiency Developed
A new test developed by University of Manchester and NHS scientists could revolutionise the way children with growth hormone deficiency are diagnosed.
Children suspected of having GHD – which cause growth to slow down or stop and other serious physical problems - currently require a test involving fasting for up to 12 hours.
The fasting is followed by an intravenous infusion in hospital and up to 10 blood tests over half a day to measure growth hormone production.
Because the current test is unreliable, it often has to be done twice before growth hormone injections can be prescribed.
Now the discovery - which the team think could be available within 2 to 5 years -could reduce the process to a single blood test, freeing up valuable time and space for the NHS.
Dr Adam Stevens from The University of Manchester and Dr Philip Murray from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were part of the team whose results are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight today.
Dr Stevens said: "We think this is an important development in the way doctors will be able to diagnose growth hormone deficiency – a condition which causes distress to many thousands of children in the UK
"This sort of diagnostic would not be available even a few years ago but thanks to the enormous computing power we have, and advances in genetics, it is now possible for this aspect of care to be made so much easier for patients – and the NHS.
"These volume of data involved is so huge and complicated that traditional data-processing application software is inadequate to deal with it."
Comparing data from 72 patients with GHD and 26 healthy children, they used high powered computers to examine 30,000 genes - the full gene expression- of each child.
A sophisticated mathematical technique called Random Forest Analysis analysed around three million separate data points to compare different gene patterns between the children with and without GHD.
The research identified 347 genes which when analysed with the computer algorithm can determine whether a child has GHD or not and thus whether they will benefit from treatment.
Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) occurs when the pituitary gland - which is size of a pea- fails to produce enough growth hormone. It more commonly affects children than adults.
Many teenagers with GHD have poor bone strength, fatigue and lack stamina as well as depression, lack of concentration, poor memory and anxiety problems.
GHD occurs in roughly 1 in 5,000 people. Since the mid-1980s, synthetic growth hormones have been successfully used to treat children - and adults - with the deficiency.
Dr Murray added: "This study provides strong proof of concept, but before it is in a position to be adopted by the NHS, we must carry out a further validation exercise which will involve comparing our new diagnostic with the existing test.
"Once we have crossed that hurdle, we hope to be in a position for this to be adopted within 2 to 5 years – and that can't come soon enough for these children."
Child Growth Foundation manager Jenny Child's daughter has Growth Hormone Deficiency.
She said: Growth Hormone Deficiency isn't just about growth, as lack of growth hormone impacts the child in many ways, such as lack of strength and they can find it difficult to keep up physically with their peers. It impacts the child's self-esteem as they are often treated as being much younger, because of their size. Growth hormone treatment allows the child to grow to their genetic potential.
"A growth hormone stimulation test can be very daunting for both child and parents.The test can make the child feel quite unwell and they can experience headaches, nausea and unconsciousness through hypoglycaemia."
'Transcriptomics and Machine Learning Predict Diagnosis and Severity of Growth Hormone Deficiency' is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation - Insight.
Visit Child Growth Foundation for more information.
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