Human growth hormone, or hgh, is naturally produced in the human pituitary gland. It is important to childhood growth and also helps to maintain our tissues and organs throughout our life. Starting in middle age, however, the pituitary releases less of this hormone. Can supplementing this hormone through injections or by taking pills or drops actually slow or reverse the aging process? What is It? The Natural Form Scientifically speaking, it is a polypeptide hormone secreted by somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland at the base of our brain. This naturally occurring hormone is different from what you would receive via injection or in liquid or pill form. What happens naturally in our bodies involves two endocrine glands—the hypothalamus and the pituitary. The hypothalamus releases peptides into our bloodstream sporadically, which signal the pituitary to produce hgh. 
This release is greatest when we sleep, possibly giving rise to the popular notion of kids experiencing a “growth spurt” at night, as increased height in childhood via muscle and bone growth is a widely recognized effect of hgh. Young adolescents secrete about 700 micrograms/day and healthy adults about 400 micrograms/day. The Synthetic Form The supplemental form used to come from human cadavers, but they are now produced using recombinant DNA technology, typically abbreviated “rhGH.”Recombinant DNA does not exist naturally, but is manufactured by combining DNA amino acid sequences that would not normally occur in nature in order to achieve a particular end result. This synthetic form has been most widely used via prescribed injections to medically treat children and adults who do not secrete enough hgh. It is also used to treat the muscle wasting seen in AIDS or HIV patients. Reliable scientific studies of adults treated in this way have shown increased bone density, muscle mass and exercise capacity, and decreased body fat. Proper diagnosis of a true deficiency requires extensive testing by a physician. 
Can it Prolong Youth? The genesis of many commercial claims that human growth hormone can slow or reverse aging may have been a 1990 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showing an increase in lean body mass and bone mineral in 12 men over age 60. In 2007 Stanford University published a survey of all existing scientific studies on the subject. The authors reported an average increase in muscle of about 4 lbs (2 kg) and a similar decrease in body fat. There were no changes seen in other critical factors, however, such as lipid levels, oxygen consumption, bone density, cholesterol levels or strength. The lack of strength improvement led the researchers to conclude that the supplemental growth hormone merely allowed muscle to retain more water, which would also explain the increase in lean muscle mass. Separate clinical studies have concluded that strength training and diet are more effective and inexpensive methods to achieve higher muscle mass and lower body fat. Are Pill Forms Effective? Many manufacturers offer hgh in pill form. Actually these are not true human growth hormone; rather, they claim to promote its production as “releasers.” There are no reliable studies to confirm these claims, however. Similar claims that certain homeopathic remedies can boost its production are likewise not yet substantiated by reliable scientific studies. Side Effects Even where supplemental injection therapy has shown benefits, there are known common side effects. These include: There is also the cost. At over a thousand dollars per injection, safer, proven diet and exercise strategies should be considered. Return From HGH to Anti-aging Supplements
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