The senior medical correspondent for CNN was heard stating on TV that growth hormone has some very serious side effects such as edema and pain in a joint (arthralgias). Ironically, we’ve all heard commercials for pharmaceutical drugs rattle off a long list of some very serious side effects of commonly prescribed medications — sometimes including death!
However, human growth hormone side effects are commonly related to a low-frequency, high-dose schedule, which is reversible with a decrease of the dose. [Vance, M., et al., “GH therapy in adults and children,” NEJM 1999; October 14)]
Other hGH side effects related to non-physiologic, high-dose use include:
- edema
- arthralgia
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- hypertension
- glucose intolerance/insulin resistance
Human Growth Hormone Benefits
To date, more than 100,000 patients worldwide have received hGH therapy. Available data is scarce and follow-up time has been short. Data to date does not suggest that hGH therapy of adults with growth hormone deficiency increases the risk of cancer, provided that IGF-1 levels remain with the normal range.
Instead, hGH replacement is associated with numerous benefits:
- increasing growth
- improving healing
- increasing muscle mass
- minimizing body fat
- controlling cholesterol
- maintaining levels of sexual energy and enhancing sexual performance
- increasing bone strength
- improving cardiovascular function and lipids
- reversing atherosclerotic changes in carotids
- improving perceived quality of life
- increasing bone mineral density
- improving memory, alertness, and concentration
- raising energy levels
- creating superior immune function
- lowering blood pressure
- causing skin to become younger, tighter, and thicker
- removing wrinkles
- eliminating cellulite
- sharpening vision
- improving sleep
- causing less morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease
- improving body composition: more bone muscle and less fat/visceral fat
- lessening inflammation
- contributing to fewer sick days, and
- improving exercise capacity (strength)
Conclusion
Growth hormone treatment of adults with hGH deficiency is safe. “Although there has been some concern about an increased risk of cancer, reviews of existing, well-maintained databases of treated patients have shown this theoretical risk to be non-existent [Molitch ME. Diagnosis of GH deficiency in adults- how good do the criteria need to be? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Feb;87(2):473-6]
“Growth Hormone is essential for normal adult life, and without it life expectancy is shortened, energy and vitality reduced and the quality of this life is impaired. The medical case for GH replacement is now proven beyond any reasonable medical and scientific doubt.” [Peter H Sonksen, MD, Growth Hormone & IGF-1 Research 1998, 8, 275-276)]
Learn more: Human Growth Hormone (hGH) Therapy. When you’re ready, here’s how to be tested for and get treatment for hGH deficiency by the DaSilva Institute.