Does HGH work?

December 5th, 2007

Human growth hormone (HGH) has become an ever increasingly popular solution to prevent or reduce the effects of aging, however, does it work?

HGH is produced in human beings, in the pituary gland located in a person brain.  As a person ages, this is coupled with a reduction of the amount of HGH produced.  This reduction has a number of effects, such as wrinkling of the skin, hair loss, decrease in bone density, amongst other things and it is both necessary to and responsible for maintaining healthy cells in practically every part of the human body.

So, does HGH treatment work when used to treat a diagnosed case of HGH defieciency?  In many ways, yes.  There are many other HGH therapeutic uses which have turned out to be illegal, so it is important to take safe and proper measures.  One of the most common ways for treatment is when the hormone is synthetically produced and administered by injections.

When it comes to scientific evidence for the effectiveness of HGH as an anti-ageing therapy, the evidence in support of it appears weaker than one would imagine.  Although research does point to treatment improving physical and cognitive health, there is also contrary evidence to this.  Studies show that higher bone density, better skin tone, and increased strength are amongst the benefits.  With the exception of changes in the skin, other approaches to injections have been equally successful at strength and bone benefits, and have had less reported side effects.

When the hormone is ingested or sprayed under the tongue, does it work the same as when it’s injected? No as it is not possible for the hormone to be absorbed into the body in this way.  Over the counter therapeutic products are making false claims when they say they contain the actual hormone.

The alternative herbal solutions seek to offer anti- ageing solutions, using ingredients that boost the pituary glands production of the hormone naturally.  There is much disagreement as to the actual extent to which these work, yet such alternative remedies are unlikely to do any harm.