These days there is a lot of buzz around HGH (Human Growth Hormone). So what is human growth hormone and why should you know about it? Glad you asked. There are many benefits to increasing the HGH in your body so let’s find out more.
What is Human Growth Hormone?
HGH or hurman growth hormone is a protein based peptide hormone, that stimulates cell reproduction, growth, and regeneration in both humans and animals. HGH is a 191 amino acid, single chain polypetide. It is synthesizes, stored, and then secreted by the somatotroph cells.
Somatotropin refers to growth hormone 1. This growth hormone is naturally produced in animals. In humans the term somatropin is used and it refers to growth hormone that is produced by recombinant DNA technology. It is abbreviated to HGH when referred to in humans.
HGH injections are used to treat growth disorders in children and adults with a serious growth hormone deficiency. In the past decade HGH therapies have developed into popular choices in the battle against obesity and ageing.
Reported effects of HGH-deficient patients include
- Decreased body fat
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased bone density
- Increased energy levels
- Improved skin tone and texture
- Increased sexual function
- Improved immune system function
Currently, HGH is remains a very complex hormone, and many of the functions related to it are still unknown. As an anabolic agent, HGH has been used by sport’s competitors since the 1970s, and it is banned by the IOC and NCAA.
Traditionally, urine analysis was unable to detect doping with HGH, so the ban could not be enforced. In the early 2000s blood tests became available that could distinguish between natural and artificial HGH and now testing is common place.
What is Human Growth Hormone in Relation to our Body
Peptides are released by neurosecretory nuclei of the hypothalamus into the hypophyseal portal venous blood that surrounds the pituitary – these are the major controllers of HGH secretion by the somatotropes.
Although the balance of these stimulating and inhibiting peptides determine the release of HGH, there are many physiological stimulators that affect the balance, such as nutrition, exercise and sleep, and inhibitors of HGH secretion include fatty acids.
HGH secretion stimulators include:
- Peptide homones
- Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) through binding to the HGH-releasing hormone receptor
- Through binding to growth hormone secretagogue receptors
- Sex hormones
- Increase in androgen secretion during puberty. In males this comes from testis and in females this comes from adrenal cortex.
- Estrogen
- Clonidine and L-DOPA are stimulated by GHRH release
- Hypoglycemia, propranolol and arginine by inhibiting somatostatin release.
- Fasting
- Vigorous exercise
HGH secretion inhibitors include:
- Somatostatin from the periventricular nucleus
- Circulating concentrations of GH and IGF-1
- Dihydrotestosterone
- Foreign compounds such as certain drugs
HGH Secretion Patterns
HGH is synthesized and secreted in the pituitary gland in a pulsating manner throughout the day. A surge of secretion will occur at 3- 5 hour intervals. The largest of these HGH peaks happens about an hour after onset of sleep. Almost 50% of HGH secretion occurs during the 3rd and 4th REM sleep stages.
Other known factors that affect HGH secretion, include age, diet, gender, stress, exercise and other hormones. There are many HGH benefits to taking an HGH supplement.
Reading through your very thorough article gives me some hope. It sounds like hgh is a veritable fountain of youth for today’s older males.
Is the description above for a certain brand of hgh or is it the be all, end all description of what every person’s hgh is like? Do the synthetics differ much from the natural stuff as in: are they better? safer? and what about effectiveness? I would think that the synthetic stuff would be more effective as it’s purity can be lab guaranteed.
This is a great post, but I wanted to say that everything on your blog is informative, well written and useful. I have learned more about HGH her than I did visiting a dozen general medical blogs. I especially appreciated the information about free HGH test samples. I would have commented on that post but it does not have a comment form on it.
Thank you for this post. Almost every question I had about HGH was answered here or somewhere on your blog. If someone wants to learn about HGH, there is no need to go anywhere else.
I’ve had two heart attacks.4 stents only 3 working and type 2 diabetes.would Hgh help or hurt in my situation