HGH and Its Relation to Ageing - High-Quality UK SARMs | #1 SARMs Supplier

HGH (human growth hormone) is a valuable peptide hormone used for the treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency in both adults and children. It is also used in the treatment of several other conditions that are associated with short stature, impaired growth and muscle wastage. Because of its ability to promote growth and alter body composition, it has been researched for its potential to treat age related diseases. This article will cover some of the research that has been done in recent years, which highlights these additional and potentially beneficial uses.

How Does HGH Work?

HGH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that binds to growth hormone receptors (GHR) on certain cells, triggering signalling pathways and gene expression that control growth and metabolism.

More specifically, binding of GH to GHR leads to:

JAK2-STAT5 signalling: This induces cellular responses, including the upregulation of IGF-1, that influence cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and survival. As such, processes such as healing, blood and immune cell development and tissue growth are affected.¹
Activation of MAP/ERK, PI3K/Akt, PKC, Src family kinases, IRS proteins and SHC: These pathways influence proliferation, differentiation, transport and metabolism.²

Activation of these pathways is carefully controlled in a healthy system, as dysregulation can lead to health problems.

Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)

When the pituitary does not function normally in adults, these processes will be disrupted. For example, damage to the pituitary leads to a lack or absence of GH secretion, resulting in problems such as:

An increase in visceral fat
A decrease in lean mass
Decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures
Reduced exercise capacity
Dyslipidaemia
Insulin resistance
Increased cardiometabolic risk
Lower libido
Lower quality of life

GH Excess

Although a deficiency in GH causes problems, an excess of this hormone does not promote good health either. Overproduction of GH due to pituitary tumours or genetic problems leads to:

Acromegaly
Gigantism
Bone and joint problems
Hypertension
Cardiovascular disease
Uncontrolled blood sugar

These extremes demonstrate the importance of careful GH regulation, as both deficiency and excess can increase disease risk. But as we age, GH levels naturally decline, and our risk of certain diseases increases. This has led to some researchers speculating the medicinal value of GH supplementation in the elderly.³

Ageing and the Somatopause

A steady reduction in the activity of the somatotrophic axis is experienced as we age and is sometimes referred to as the “somatopause”. This hormonal axis consists mainly of the hormones GH, GHRH and IGF-1. Since they have such a profound effect on growth and metabolism, their reduction significantly affects our health as we age. It is no coincidence that when we compare the symptoms of GH deficiency in adults with the symptoms of ageing, we can identify many similarities.

HGH supplementation in populations who do not have GHD is something that is being increasingly studied by researchers.

Effects of HGH on Aspects of Ageing

Although there are limited clinical studies that look at the effects of GH on the elderly, there are many studies that have investigated the effect of GH on diseases associated with advanced age. This section will look at a selection of these studies in greater detail.

Body Composition

Body composition tends to shift was we age towards greater adiposity and lower lean mass. This change can increase the risk of frailty, diabetes and associated diseases. One study involved administering 0.03 mg/kg of HGH, 3 times per week for 12 months, to men over the age of 61. HGH treatment caused IGF-1 levels, lean mass, skin thickness, liver volume and spleen volume to increase, while adiposity decreased. Upon cessation of treatment, half of the lean mass gained over the experimental period was lost after 3 months and a third of the adipose tissue was regained.⁴

Bone Health

As we age, our bone mass declines. If bone density was never built up during youth or if it declines rapidly, this increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. When GH was given to men with osteoporosis for 2 years, bone mineral density and bone mineral content increased by a total of 2.6 to 2.7%. 1 year after cessation of the treatment, these measurements increased even further.⁵

Strength

We know that GH increases lean mass, but an increase in lean mass does not always correlate with increased strength. A study on men over the age of 50 found that after 6 months of GH treatment, participants were not able to bench press an increased load, however, there was a significant increase in leg muscle strength. This study also found that the body composition of the participants did not change over the course of the treatment.⁶

Weight lifters treated with GH for 14 days were tested to determine whether treatment promoted protein synthesis or affected protein breakdown and found that it had no effect.⁷ Additionally, when administered to elderly men who also underwent weight training, despite a significant increase in IGF-1, an increase in lean mass and reduction in fat mass, no notable effect on muscle strength was observed.⁸

Recovery from Injury

With advancing age, people often become more frail and increasingly prone to injury. Since GH stimulates cellular proliferation and improves blood flow, it may be useful in improving wound healing and recovery from injuries. A study looking at the recovery of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears found that GH treatment improved the force that patients could exert when performing a knee extension and lowered biomarkers associated with cartilage degradation.⁹

Cardiovascular Disease

We know that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age and begins with dysfunction of the arterial endothelium, progressing to atherosclerosis. In those with untreated GHD, risk of cardiovascular disease is increased, but with GH treatment, endothelial dysfunction is reversed, reducing this risk.¹⁰ Although GH treatment has been found to improve markers of cardiovascular disease in patients with GHD,^11–13 it is still not clear whether it can reduce the probability of developing disease in those without GHD.

Cognition

Cognition tends to decline with age and can be due to several factors, such as the shrinking of certain parts of the brain, the wearing down of myelin sheaths that promote the conductivity of impulses along nerves and alterations in neuronal structure.¹⁴

We know that GH can affect cognition, as children with GHD show an improvement in fluid intelligence after 24 months of treatment.¹⁵ GH treatment can also modestly improve certain aspects of cognition in those who have experienced traumatic brain injury that has resulted in damage to the pituitary.¹⁶ As such, it is not unreasonable to hypothesise that GH treatment could have some positive impact on cognitive decline experienced as a result of ageing.

One study which administered GH to normal, elderly patients between the ages of 66-77 years found that daily GH supplementation could improve learning and memory.¹⁷ Another study gave elderly patients GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone), which stimulates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary. A daily dose for 6 months improved performance on all cognitive tests.¹⁸ Although this particular test did not use GH directly, since these participants had normally functioning pituitaries, GHRH would have increased GH levels.

Where the onset of GHD has appeared in adult life, evidence suggests that GH supplementation cannot guarantee an improvement in cognition.¹⁹

Fatty Liver

As we age, we are more likely to accumulate fat in the liver. This fat is metabolically active and inflammatory and can lead to liver damage, fibrosis and cardiovascular disease. It is strongly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and unfavourable blood lipid profiles. Interestingly, GH is also significantly reduced in both adolescents and adults with obesity.²⁰

A small study administered GH to young, obese adults over 24 weeks and found that liver fat content was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Interestingly, GH treatment did not change glucose tolerance despite the link between GH treatment and insulin resistance.²¹

Risks Involved with HGH Supplementation

We are well aware that an excess of GH can cause health problems, as demonstrated by conditions where there is an excess of GH secreted by the pituitary. Research has also demonstrated that administering supplemental GH to people without any disease related to the pituitary is not always without risks.

Administering GH in excess may cause acromegaly, which results in the enlargement of hands, feet and facial features. Although GH brings about favourable changes in body composition and an increase in strength in some studies, acromegaly is associated with muscle weakness despite an increase in muscle mass.^22,23

The study by Rudman et al which looked at the effect of supplementing men over 61 with HGH, also found that 9 out of the 26 men who received HGH developed carpal tunnel syndrome during the treatment period and 4 developed gynecomastia. These symptoms disappeared 3 months after treatment stopped.⁴

Since an excess of GH can cause hypertension and other cardiovascular related problems, it is possible that GH treatment could increase the risk of disease. Despite these risks, GH treatment has been speculated to have potential use as a short term treatment to correct endothelial dysfunction or promote the healing of damaged tissues in non GHD patients.²⁴

Although GH treatment is associated with increased insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes, one study found that, when administered to patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, visceral fat was reduced, muscle mass increased and blood lipid profiles improved.²⁵

These studies show that there could be benefits from GH supplementation that would improve aspects of ageing, however, some people may experience health problems during treatment, experience physical changes or increase the risk of certain diseases.

Conclusion

Aging is marked by a steady decline in several aspects of health, including an increase in adiposity, a loss of lean and bone mineral density, a decline in cognition and an increased risk of disease. HGH, although typically used for the treatment of GHD, confers benefits that researchers believe may also be of use to the elderly due to the natural decline in GH secretion and the similarities between symptoms of GHD and ageing.

Studies so far have provided evidence that GH may indeed be of benefit to the elderly, although there are some inconsistencies between results from different studies. Some studies have also reported adverse events which are strongly linked to the use of HGH. This highlights the need for further research on the use of HGH as a supplement for elderly people without pituitary damage or disease.

References

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Bergan-Roller HE, Sheridan MA. The growth hormone signaling system: Insights into coordinating the anabolic and catabolic actions of growth hormone. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2018;258:119-133. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.07.028
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Rudman D, Feller AG, Cohn L, Shetty KR, Rudman IW, Draper MW. Effects of Human Growth Hormone on Body Composition in Elderly Men. Hormone Research. 2008;36(Suppl. 1):73-81. doi:10.1159/000182193
Gillberg P, Mallmin H, Petrén-Mallmin M, Ljunghall S, Nilsson AG. Two years of treatment with recombinant human growth hormone increases bone mineral density in men with idiopathic osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87(11):4900-4906. doi:10.1210/jc.2002-020231
Tavares ABW, Micmacher E, Biesek S, et al. Effects of Growth Hormone Administration on Muscle Strength in Men over 50 Years Old. International Journal of Endocrinology. 2013;2013:1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/942030
Yarasheski KE, Zachweija JJ, Angelopoulos TJ, Bier DM. Short-term growth hormone treatment does not increase muscle protein synthesis in experienced weight lifters. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1993;74(6):3073-3076. doi:10.1152/jappl.1993.74.6.3073
Taaffe DR, Pruitt L, Reim J, et al. Effect of recombinant human growth hormone on the muscle strength response to resistance exercise in elderly men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994;79(5):1361-1366. doi:10.1210/jcem.79.5.7525633
Mendias CL, Enselman ERS, Olszewski AM, et al. The Use of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone to Protect Against Muscle Weakness in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Pilot, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(8):1916-1928. doi:10.1177/0363546520920591
Graham MR, Evans P, Thomas NE, Davies B, Baker JS. Changes in endothelial dysfunction and associated cardiovascular disease morbidity markers in GH-IGF axis pathology. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2009;9(6):371-381. doi:10.2165/11312100-000000000-00000
Sesmilo G, Biller BM, Llevadot J, et al. Effects of growth hormone administration on inflammatory and other cardiovascular risk markers in men with growth hormone deficiency. A randomized, controlled clinical trial. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133(2):111-122. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-133-2-200007180-00010
Maison P, Griffin S, Nicoue-Beglah M, et al. Impact of growth hormone (GH) treatment on cardiovascular risk factors in GH-deficient adults: a Metaanalysis of Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89(5):2192-2199. doi:10.1210/jc.2003-030840
Kokshoorn NE, Biermasz NR, Roelfsema F, Smit JWA, Pereira AM, Romijn JA. GH replacement therapy in elderly GH-deficient patients: a systematic review. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011;164(5):657-665. doi:10.1530/EJE-10-1170
Murman D. The Impact of Age on Cognition. Semin Hear. 2015;36(03):111-121. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1555115
Chaplin JE, Kriström B, Jonsson B, Tuvemo T, Albertsson-Wikland K. Growth Hormone Treatment Improves Cognitive Function in Short Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency. Horm Res Paediatr. 2015;83(6):390-399. doi:10.1159/000375529
High WM, Briones-Galang M, Clark JA, et al. Effect of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy on Cognition after Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma. 2010;27(9):1565-1575. doi:10.1089/neu.2009.1253
Sathiavageeswaran M, Burman P, Lawrence D, et al. Effects of GH on cognitive function in elderly patients with adult-onset GH deficiency: a placebo-controlled 12-month study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007;156(4):439-447. doi:10.1530/eje.1.02346
Vitiello MV, Moe KE, Merriam GR, Mazzoni G, Buchner DH, Schwartz RS. Growth hormone releasing hormone improves the cognition of healthy older adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2006;27(2):318-323. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.01.010
Baum HB, Katznelson L, Sherman JC, et al. Effects of physiological growth hormone (GH) therapy on cognition and quality of life in patients with adult-onset GH deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998;83(9):3184-3189. doi:10.1210/jcem.83.9.5112
Makimura H, Stanley T, Mun D, You SM, Grinspoon S. The Effects of Central Adiposity on Growth Hormone (GH) Response to GH-Releasing Hormone-Arginine Stimulation Testing in Men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(11):4254-4260. doi:10.1210/jc.2008-1333
Pan CS, Weiss JJ, Fourman LT, et al. Effect of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone on Liver Fat Content in Young Adults with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;94(2):183-192. doi:10.1111/cen.14344
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Nam JH, Yoon SJ, Kim DM, et al. The Effect of Growth Hormone on Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in Obese Patients with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Metab J. 1049122800;27(2):141-152.

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