Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
What is Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?
The human growth hormone or hGH is essential to normal growth and development. Properly known as somatotrophin, it is secreted by the pituitary gland and has a wide array of effects on the body. Among its many functions are: promoting the growth of the body’s long bones in children, strengthening bones by increasing the deposit of calcium in them, helping to reduce body fat, the creation of new muscle and stimulation of the immune system.
Medicinal Uses
HGH has been used medically for many years. It has been administered to children to increase their height and its muscle-building, fat-reducing effects have been used to treat the condition Prader-Willi syndrome. It has also been used as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, as an aid to adult weight loss and for body-building .
Pharmacological hGH was originally extracted from the pituitary gland of human cadavers. This is no longer practiced however, since several case of children contracting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (a condition similar to Mad Cow Disease) while undergoing growth hormone treatment were reported. These days synthetic hGH is produced in laboratories to eliminate the possibility of disease transmission. It is called recombinant human Growth Hormone or rhGH.
How Can I Get HGH?
High quality, pharmacological grade rhGH is sold in the United states under by a number of drug companies. The first two synthetic versions of the hormone were produced by the drug companies Lilly (marketed as Humatrope) and Genentech (Protropin their new product is called Nutropin) in the 1980’s when the hormone extracted form cadavers was deemed a health hazard. It is produced by bacteria which have had the human genes that produce hGH inserted into them. Pfizer (Genotropin), Novo (Norditropin), Teva (Tev-Tropin) and Sereno (Saizen) now also sell the same product.
rhGH is an incredibly expensive medicine. The treatment to increase the height of children can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year. Because of this, what is sold as hGH on the black market to those wishing to use it illegally is often not genuine and when it is the active compound is present is quantities so low as to be useless.
HGH Helps AIDS Victims
In addition to the conditions mentioned above the hormone is used for other medical reasons. It has been used to treat severe burns, muscle-wasting associated with AIDS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. One recent study suggested that hGH can reduce the effects of aging by increasing muscle density and promoting a lean body, but these claims are hotly disputed. Many body-builders use hGH for its obvious benefits and it is increasingly being taken by athletes because it cannot be detected by drug tests as easily as other performance-enhancing drugs.
Abuse of hGH is dangerous. Side effects include high blood pressure, diabetes, fluid retention and the growth of breasts in males.
