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Growth Hormone or Fat Fighter: Can Growth Hormone Trigger Weight Loss
 Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is referred to in medical science as the master
hormone. It is very plentiful when we are young, but near the age of 21, our
bodies begin to produce less of it. By the time we are 40 nearly everyone is
deficient in HGH, and at 80 our production has normally diminished at least
90-95%.
Being the master hormone, HGH affects virtually all areas of the body
influencing the growth of cells, bones, muscles and organs. When deficient in
growth hormone our symptoms include
loss of muscle, decreased energy, an
increase in fat, diminished sexual drive, a greater risk of
cardiovascular
disease and a lower life expectancy. In other words, the symptoms we call
aging.
Keeping in line with its role, a dose of growth hormone could be just
what obese people need to help them shed pounds and become smaller. A new study
shows that obese people have lower-than-normal levels of growth hormone in their
body, which may make it harder for them to lose weight. Researchers found
that low doses of growth hormone helped women lose fat while keeping
muscle. It also helped them keep it off for up to nine months.
Growth Hormone Prompts Weight Loss
Researchers say the goal of weight loss is to lose the fat but keep the muscle,
but so far no drugs have been able to help people achieve that feat.
The study, published in the recent issue of The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism, looked at the effects of giving obese people
low doses of growth hormone in an attempt to help them selectively lose fat
while retaining lean muscle tissue.
 Researchers say previous studies on growth hormone and weight loss have used
relatively high doses, which resulted in unwanted side effects, such as
swelling,
hypertension,
joint pains, and glucose intolerance (a risk factor for
diabetes).
The study consisted of 59 obese men and women, whose average
BMI was 37 (BMI is
a measure of weight for height). The participants gave themselves nighttime
injections containing 200 µg of growth hormone or a placebo for one month. For
the next five months, the dosage of growth hormone was increased to 400 µg per
day in men and 600 µg in women. Researchers say the increase was necessary
because prior studies show resistance to the drug can develop over time,
especially among women. Both groups were prescribed a diet and were instructed
on lifestyle modification and
exercise.
Among the 39 people who completed the 6-month treatment and follow up, the study
showed that those who used growth hormone lost an average of about 5 pounds
and kept it off for up to nine months. Researchers say the weight loss was
entirely caused by a loss of body fat.
The study also showed that growth hormone improved
cholesterol profiles --
increasing the level of "good" HDL cholesterol by 19%. There was no significant
change in fasting glucose levels or insulin resistance, which indicates diabetes
risk.
Obese women may suffer from an abnormally low level of growth hormone in the
body that may make it harder for them to lose fat and attain a healthy
cholesterol level.
Warning: Do not take any hormone without prior consultation with a doctor.
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