The hormone is produced by the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain which secretes the hormone with the highest amounts released while you sleep. But, as we age, the pituitary gland makes less and less of it. The slowdown in the production and release of HGH has resulted in people using synthetic human growth hormone (HGH) to reduce some of the changes linked to ageing which include decreased muscle and bone mass.
Taking HGH supplements is said to help reduce some adverse effects like increased fat and enables you to achieve muscle mass. The supplements contain natural ingredients but you still need to choose the right product for your needs. The question is, can HGH supplements help you feel younger? Let’s dive deeper into that.
HGH and the ageing process
It’s natural for any hormone produced by the body to reduce as we age. But, some people want to counteract the ageing process and its effects that are visible as we get older. They want to use HGH the healthy way to promote the loss of body fat and increase muscle to look and feel better.
Growth hormone which you can get from HGH supplements does all of these things. FDA doesn’t approve HGA for anti-aging and age-related conditions but it approves the use of HGH for people whose bodies cannot produce enough of it. They include adults with rare cases of degenerative muscle disease and kids with growth disorders or growth hormone-deficiency syndrome.
HGH levels decrease as we get older which is a normal part of ageing making HGH supplements popular among people searching for anti-aging supplements. The hormone is available as supplements in the form of pills. You can also get it in injection form which is recommended to be administered by a doctor. However, there isn’t much research on the relation between HGH and ageing
Which is the most effective form of HGH?
HGH works best as an injection. There are numerous HGH supplements available but the injection has been shown to be more effective. Most of the supplements claim to boost levels of HGH, but research doesn’t show a benefit. Find out more about HGH supplements.
How HGH treatment affects healthy older adults
There aren’t straightforward results from studies carried out to check how healthy adults taking human growth hormone are affected by HGH. While human growth hormone can increase muscle mass and also reduce the amount of body fat in older adults, the increase in muscle hasn’t been shown to lead to increased strength. This makes it difficult to conclude whether HGH provides other benefits to healthy adults.
Are there adults that need HGH treatment?
Though HGH isn’t approved for anti-ageing, there are some conditions that allow its use. Adults with a growth hormone deficiency instead of a decline in growth hormone from the ageing process might be prescribed synthetic HGH. However, this should only be prescribed by a health care provider who is familiar with their health history.
HGH deficiency results from a tumour on the pituitary gland. An adult that receives HGH injection can increase muscle mass, decrease body fat, increase bone density and exercise capacity. HGH treatment can also be used to treat adults with HIV-related growth hormone deficiency or AIDS which often causes irregular fat distribution.
What are the risks of HGH treatment?
Similar to any other type of treatment, HGH treatment might cause very serious side effects. In adults, the side effects include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation resulting in joint and muscle pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, increased insulin resistance and swelling in the arms and legs (edema). In the worst cases, it can even cause heart failure.
In men, it can increase the risk of certain cancers and enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia). Since there have been very few clinical studies of HGH treatment carried out in healthy older adults, there’s no information about the long-term effects of its treatment.
Benefits
While HGH might not give the youthful appearance and results brands claim and people expect, there are some benefits to using HGH supplements. People whose bodies lack the ability to produce the hormone are likely to benefit from its treatment. Rather than increase strength it will increase muscle mass.
The truth is that there’s not enough evidence that approves HGH as an anti-aging supplement. It’s not worth using for experimentation and therefore, it’s best to talk to your doctor before using it as an anti-ageing supplement. If you’re looking to maintain a youthful look, incorporate a healthy diet and exercise in your daily routine.
Alicia Saville did her degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
