ANTIAGING PRODUCTS: HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE [HGH]

HGH

Natural HGH, human growth hormone, is a complex hormone composed of 191 amino acids, produced in the pituitary gland, which begins to decline at age 20.

HGH is one of the most important anti-aging hormones. Growth hormone release falls off after age 25 years old, dropping at a rate of 10-15% every decade thereafter. The aging process follows along with this decline in growth hormone output. Only 3% of the world population has what we call the "good gene," which carries the APO4 Type of DNA. These fortunate few become centenarians regardless of their lifestyle. The remaining 97% suffer the body deterioration resulting from declining hormonal health as we age.

Aging Changes Due to Lowering HGH

Changes from the diminished output of growth hormone start to become visible as early as age 35.

By age 45, wrinkles are noticeable, with the skin and hair both thinging. The hair is also starting to show signs of going grey. The nails are becoming brittle, the muscles are weakening , shortness of breath upon exertion becomes noticed and the libido starts falling.

For men, the prostate hypertrophies and the frequency of urination increases.

How to Replace HGH

The quick way to reverse the downward slide is by human growth hormone injections. However, injections must be monitored by a physician. As with any hormone, growth hormone can be fatal if administered without the proper precautions.

The natural way of replacing our growth hormone is by using secretagogues to stimulate your own pituitary gland to naturally increase the release of hGH. Secretagogues are all natural and side effects are rare. Replenishment of growth hormone from a deficient state can lead to improved sex life, skin tone, and help to balance other hormones in the body including testosterone, DHEA, melatonin, pregnenolone, and progesterone.

Benefits of HGH Replacement

Improvements one can expect with HGH include:

• Energy - the hormonal system is the metabolic / energy regulator. This in turn improves exercise capacity.
• Bone density - the effect of HGH on bone density is measurable.
• Decreased muscle wasting - HGH promotes and increases in the synthesis of new protein tissue.
• Decreased body fat - in particular, abdominal fat common with aging. HGH assists fat metabolism.
• Thin skin and skin wrinkles - HGH promotes the synthesis of new protein tissue as well as tissue hydration.
• Sleep - University of Chicago: age-related deterioration of sleep quality begins between the ages of 25 and 45
• Cognitive changes - There are HGH receptors in the centers of cognition, including the hippocampus.
  Improve mood and motivation - much of our mood is hormonally determined. Quality of life improves with HGH therapy.
• Maintains sexual performance - 40% of the participants of a recent HGH study reported increased libido.
• Cardiac output - improving the heart's ability to contract. The heart is a muscle that responds to HGH. B-3 & L Arginine are vaso dilators.
• Improved Kidney function - Improved circulation / cardiac output combines to give improved renal function.

HGH Product Development

In 1990 a study six month study conducted by Dr. Rudman discovered that injectable synthetic HGH increased lean muscle mass by 8.8%, decreased body fat by 14.4% The test group also reported improvements in sleep, energy levels, and skin and muscle tone.

These results prompted many companies to reproduce the results using non-prescription supplements. It is still hotly debated as to whether or not serum growth hormone levels can be raised without the need for an injection, instead using oral sprays or pills, and as to the effective measurement of production.

Most HGH products claim their products effectiveness can be monitored using the insulin marker, IGF-1. However, IGF-1 is not the only true marker for GH activity, in many cases is not a dependable marker in measuring GH activity since its production can be stimulated by factors other than GH production, such as high physical exercise and food intake. It is more likely that a full blood panel protocol is required.

Like many relatively new antiaging products, results of long term use have yet to determine outcomes over sufficiently broad sample populations. It is up to the individual as to whether they include HGH products in their antiaging program, or take the risk and wait 20 years to find out more results.

HGH Products

There are three main forms of HGH products:

1. Homeopathic HGH supplements use small amounts of actual synthetic human growth hormone to spur the body’s natural production of its own human growth hormone. These products tend to have the best results of the non-prescription products
2. HGH Releaser products are akin to amino acid ”multi- vitamins”; typically containing L- group amino acids such as valine and glutamine, which are the building blocks for human growth hormone. These products are generally less expensive than HGH supplements, but many advocates claim that they are a more reliable non prescriptive, non injectable method
3. Other products include ingredients to raise the body’s level of Insulin-like Growth factor [IGF-1] as an effective way to raise secretion of human growth hormone by the pituitary gland

Higher quality supplements often combine forms to maximize results.

NOTE: HGH is not currently legal in some countries, including Australia