There are many ingredients in these anti-aging concoctions, but the one that seems to generate the most marketing buzz is growth hormone, a naturally occurring substance that manufacturers are now selling in a bottle.
Human growth hormone (HGH) is essential to growth, especially for children. It’s a protein produced in the pituitary, a small gland buried deep within the brain. HGH is involved with a variety of functions, including normal growth, sexual function, bone strength, maintaining energy levels, protein formation and tissue repair. HGH therapy is nothing new. In fact, doctors have used it to successfully treat children suffering from certain conditions–such as growth-hormone deficiency, kidney disease, Prader-Willi syndrome and Turner’s syndrome–that prevent them from growing normally. HGH has also been used sparingly and with mixed results in adults to treat growth failure and weight loss caused by AIDS.
But before you reach for that bottle of HGH, a word of warning. A new study conducted by the National Institutes of Health and other centers suggests that not only do the benefits of growth hormone fall far short of its hype but that the substance may pose significant risks, as well. The study–published this week in The Journal of the American Medical Association–involved 131 healthy seniors between the ages of 65 and 88. Each participant was randomly assigned to four treatment groups: growth hormone plus a sex steroid (testosterone for men; hormone-replacement therapy for women); growth hormone plus a placebo; inactive growth hormone plus an active sex steroid, or both inactive growth hormone and sex steroid.
At the end of the 26-week study, women on growth hormone had gained an average of two to five pounds of muscle and lost about five pounds of fat. Similar results were found in men on growth hormone, who gained seven to 10 pounds of muscle and shed about the same amount of fat. These were modest gains, but it still left the important question: what was the impact on each participant’s daily functioning? The answer: minimal at best.
Only one of the groups experienced any real improvement in this regard. Those men who had taken both growth hormone and testosterone showed small increases in endurance and strength. They boosted their cardiovascular endurance by 8 percent and increased their muscle strength by 7 percent, though the researchers note that statistically, this last improvement was of borderline significance.
Another concern is the side effects. In this study, these included swelling of the arms and legs, carpal-tunnel syndrome (tingling and numbness of the hand), joint pain, breast swelling and headaches. Diabetes or the impaired ability to process sugar adequately are also potential side effects.
So should consumers buy products containing HGH? Participants in the latest study were taking prescription HGH injections that were 10 or more times more potent than most products sold over the counter. In fact, most products available without a prescription don’t contain much HGH at all because FDA rules say that the hormone can only be given at the mandate of a physician. However, if the product contains a small amount of HGH mixed with other ingredients it’s classified as a dietary supplement, not a drug, and thus isn’t subject to the same approval process and scrutiny as the “real” HGH.
There’s also the issue of whether what you think you’re buying is actually the real thing. The companies that make these tonics use different methods of preparation: some may use animal products; others employ a recombinant DNA technique that uses the bacteria E. coli to synthesize their product. Then there are some products that don’t even contain HGH, but herbal products that are similar in function. Checking the label of these products is key, as most will list their active ingredients. If you’re unsure which form of HGH is in the product, it’s best to get answers from the company or an independent health authority before using it.
Anyone considering growth hormone as a way to turn back the clock should ask whether it is worth risking these potential problems for debatable and relatively small gains. Growing old is a phrase that, unfortunately, has almost become taboo in our society, perpetually fueling our hunt for the fountain of youth. But whatever those flashy ads might be saying, that search is far from over.
