Growth Hormone (HGH), is an important regulatory hormone produced by the human body. HGH is produced in the anterior pituitary gland by stimulation from Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone and plays an important role in a multitude of metabolic processes including fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. HGH as has an indirect effect on the growth and repair of muscle, cartilage, and bone by stimulating the liver to produce IGF-1. IGF-1 stimulates amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in muscle and other tissues like cartilage and bone resulting in subsequent tissue growth. HGH also has been known to have effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the anti-aging of skin.
Like other hormones naturally produced in the body, HGH production and levels begin to decline during early adulthood. Although there are well known external factors that can influence HGH levels (poor sleep, stress, dietary factors, lack of exercise/activity) it is understood that most adults generally produce 50% less HGH by their mid 30’s and early 40’s. This leads to:
Early identification and interventionare recommended to help reduce the physical and physiological signs of aging that accompany Human Growth Hormone deficiency.
Treatment for AGHD was once cost-prohibitive due to the expense associated with recombinant Growth Hormone. Use of recombinant GH today is discouraged because of the many negative effects it has and is reserved for those with muscle wasting disease associated with HIV/AIDS, pituitary tumors causing GH deficiency, and children with blunted growth. Cost of therapy today is only about 10% of what it was in the early 2000’s due to the development of other treatment options like Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH)and Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides (GHRP) such as CJC-1295/Ipamorelin and GHRP-2/Sermorelin.
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH) act directly on the pituitary gland to stimulate release and increase circulating HGH levels with studies showing a 2-10 fold increase, especially during REM sleep. With that being said and due to its site of action, HGH levels are still susceptible due the effects of regulatory hormones like Somatostatin which can have direct effect on GH secretion. This is where GHRPs play a role.
The addition of Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide (GHRP) can counter this effect increasing the release of Ghrelin which is not only a potent stimulator for GH release, but also inhibits somatostatin release.
Therapy with GHRH and GHRP does not cause supra-physiologic levels of circulating Growth Hormone and IGF-1 levels as found in therapy with rHGH requiring less frequent monitoring. Adverse side effects are greatly reduced, as well.
