Can Ageing Be Reversed With Growth Hormone?

Human growth hormone is a polypeptide hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is also known as somatotropin (GH). The hormone produced by recombinant technology is known as somatropin (HGH). Growth hormone has several functions in the body.

· Promotes calcium retention in the body and also bone formation.

· Promotes increase in muscle mass and this is achieved by stimulating protein synthesis.

· The growth of the internal organs is also stimulated by growth hormone.

· Growth hormone increases blood glucose levels. This is achieved by decreasing the uptake of glucose by the liver and also by promoting glucose synthesis in the liver.

· Growth hormone also plays a role in the normal functioning of the immune system.

Growth hormone misuse

Growth hormone is widely used as a prescription drug for treating children and adults with growth hormone deficiency. This hormone has been widely misused by athletes because of its anabolic properties. This misuse is more common among weight lifters. The prolonged use of growth hormone can have deleterious consequences including the development of some cancers. Indeed, growth hormone has joined the list of abused drugs. However, testing for misuse of growth hormone by athletes is routinely resorted to now-a-days. Recently, researchers in the US have developed a conclusive test for growth hormone in urine.

Growth hormone to reverse ageing?

There have been several reports that growth hormone can reverse ageing. When this hormone was administered to elderly persons in a study carried out in 2007, there was a slight increase in muscle mass and a slight fall in body fat content, but there was no increase in bone density. There was no decrease other lipid parameters like cholesterol. There was no increase in muscle strength. This suggested the possibility that growth hormone promoted water retention in muscle giving an illusion of increased muscle mass. Another recent study has also shown that people who are deficient in growth hormone live as long as people who are having normal growth hormone levels. There is a long road ahead because a drug to reverse ageing is still several years away.