Growth Hormone Doesn't Slow Aging

[SoMdHunter]

I ran across this article while reading up on some news and thought everyone would enjoy the quick read. I found it interesting it states a side is CTS? It also doesn't mention the general health of the participants, just their age. Anyway, here it is:



NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The findings from a new study suggest that growth hormone is not a useful therapy for "setting back the clock" in elderly individuals. The beneficial changes in body composition that the hormone produces are small and side effects are common.

Growth hormone is widely used as anti-aging treatment, even though the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for this purpose, the researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Secreted by the pituitary gland, growth hormone promotes growth during childhood and adolescence. It acts on the liver and other tissues to stimulate insulin-like growth factor, which leads to its effects. However, blood levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor tend to decrease as people age or become obese.

Several studies have shown that growth hormone treatment can improve body composition, bone density, cholesterol levels, and may even stave off death in growth-hormone deficient individuals. The safety and effectiveness in healthy individuals seeking an anti-aging solution, however, is unclear.


Dr. Hau Liu, from Stanford University in California, and colleagues examined the risks and benefits of hormone therapy in elderly individuals by analyzing data from relevant studies identified through a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Data from 31 studies with a total of 220 participants were included in the analysis.

The average patient age at the start of the study was 69 years and the most of the subjects were overweight but not obese. The average initial growth hormone dose was 14 micrograms per kilogram per day, and the average treatment duration was 27 weeks.

Although statistically significant, the drop in overall fat mass and the increase in lean body mass were small, -2.1 kg and 2.1 kg, respectively. The net effect of these changes, as expected, was that body weight did not change significantly.

Growth hormone therapy led to a decrease in total cholesterol levels, but the reduction was not statistically significant after accounting for body composition changes. Growth hormone had no apparent effect on bone density or fat levels in the blood plasma.

As noted, the side effects were common with growth hormone therapy and included swelling, joint pain, gynecomastia, (breast development in men), and carpal tunnel syndrome (painful compression of the median nerve that extends from the forearm into the wrist.) In addition, growth hormone therapy may have slightly increased the risk of diabetes.

"Although growth hormone has been widely publicized as an anti-aging therapy and initial studies suggest that it might be clinically beneficial and safe in the healthy elderly, we find little evidence to support these claims," the authors state. "On the basis of available evidence, growth hormone cannot be recommended for use among the healthy elderly."

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, January 16, 2007.

 

[BigJimCalhoun]

Lots of politics around this issue, just like TRT.

 

[meowmeow]

...The average initial growth hormone dose was 14 micrograms per kilogram per day, and the average treatment duration was 27 weeks.

Although statistically significant, the drop in overall fat mass and the increase in lean body mass were small, -2.1 kg and 2.1 kg, respectively. The net effect of these changes, as expected, was that body weight did not change significantly.

1 kilograms = 2.20462262 pounds

In half a year participants lost 4.6 pounds of fat (2.1kg x 2.20462262) and gained 4.6 pounds of muscle (2.1kg x 2.20462262) for a net body recomposition of 9.2 pounds (4.6 pounds + 4.6 pounds) all without lifting a single weight. NOT TOO BAD AT ALL!!!!

 

[SoMdHunter]

Good read Dr. John! What are the general symptoms that would prompt HGH tests to see if someone had this deficiency? Or is it a "matter of course" that as one ages, this condition developes?

 

[bioman]

Give em' Hell Dr John. lol

Excellent response.

 

[JanSz]

" [AACE Guidelines for Growth Hormone Use, Endocrine Practice 4(3):165-173].

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS
MEDICAL GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
FOR GROWTH HORMONE USE
IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN—2003 UPDATE

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hgh.pdf

===============================================
Also
AACE Guidelines

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for Diagnosis and Treatment of Menopause © 2006
Hypertension Guidelines © 2006
Thyroid Nodule © 2006
AACE Protocol for Standardized Production of Clinical Practice Guidelines © 2004
Medical Guidelines For Clinical Practice For The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Acromegaly © 2004
Medical Guidelines for the Clinical use of Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals © 2003
2001 Postmenopausal Osteoporosis - Revised © 2003
Growth Hormone Use in Adults and Children © 2003
Male Sexual Dysfunction © 2003
Hypogonadism © 2002
Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism © 2002
Diabetes Mellitus © 2002
2001 Thyroid Carcinoma © 2001
2001 Hyperandrogenism © 2001
Dyslipidemia and Atherogenesis © 2002
To view these guidelines on your Palm or PocketPC
========================================
========================================
American Association of
Clinical Endocrinologists
Doctors Issue Health Alert Based On New Official Medical Guidelines
AACE Guidlines for Growth Hormone Use in Adults and Children © 2003
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

 

[JanSz]

I could use explanation, more details on how to test for HGH,
how to test during theraphy.
Something that will be usefull and detailed enough for self treating.
No one liners please.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

The gold standard for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency is dynamic stimulation testing of the patient’s ability to release growth hormone, and not a single static test,” said Dr. Saenger. “Normal people can have borderline low levels of IGF I but have an absolutely normal stimulatory test. These people do not have growth hormone deficiency.”

Symptoms for human growth hormone deficiency include fatigue, lack of energy, poor sleep, decreased exercise capacity and psychological problems. Signs include decreased lean body mass, increased visceral fat, decreased muscle strength and bone density, and increased lipids.
==========================================

 

[JanSz]

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hgh.pdf

Laboratory Diagnosis of GHD
.........
For some insurance companies,
the combination of complete hypopituitarism and a
low IGF-I concentration is sufficient evidence to approve
the use of GH therapy; thus, the need for dynamic testing
is eliminated—a policy that we endorse.
.................



Initiating and Titrating GH Therapy
Adults with GHD are more susceptible than children
to side effects of GH, especially when therapy has just
been initiated. Therefore, GH therapy is initiated at a low
dose and titrated slowly upward (9). The usual starting
dose is between 0.1 and 0.3 mg/day. Factors that influence
the final dose in adults are outlined in Table 4. Women
require a higher dose than do men, and women taking orally
administered estrogen require a higher dose than do
women receiving transdermal estrogen or those with
endogenous estrogen (10).
Older adults tolerate GH less well than do younger
adults. Transition patients (defined as patients who are discontinuing
GH replacement therapy for childhood indications
and are being considered for adult GH replacement
therapy) require the highest dose.
The goal of GH replacement is to minimize symptoms
(for example, fatigue, poor endurance, and poor sense of
well-being), improve the quality of life, and achieve a
serum IGF-I concentration in the normal range for age and
sex. Most physicians assess patients monthly and titrate
the usual daily doses in increments of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/day to
previously prescribed end points. The major end points are
itemized in Table 5. In 50% of patients, tolerance of symptoms
(usually, muscle pain) dictates the highest dose. An
IGF-I level above normal necessitates a reduction in the
dose. Other end points include a decrease in low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol, an increase in high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol, and a change in body composition,
especially a decrease in body fat and an increase in bone
density (11-13).Insurance companies also dictate end points of efficacy.
The practitioner must be aware of any requirements
regarding GH therapy imposed by the patient’s insurance
company. Being aware of insurance company mandates
before therapy is begun will prevent future insurance
denials because of a failure to obtain required studies at
baseline.
====================================
CONVERSION OF EUROPEAN GH DOSING
More recently, studies
have recommended beginning with single low doses in
IU/day (9). The conversion of IU or mU to mg is 3:1. For
example, a mean starting dose of 0.6 IU is equivalent to
0.2 mg/day. Mean maintenance dosages of 0.15 to 0.25
mU/kg per week are equivalent to 0.05 to 0.08 mg/kg per
week—which, for a 70-kg man, would be 0.35 to 0.56
mg/day (30).

 

[Rogue Drone]

" Real-world results must take precedence over academic hypotheses as to benefits and risks."

Have to agree,in general, when Hormonal studies I read about are done in cell cultures, rats, and using very odd doseing in relation to what real world human use would be.

The positive ancedotals for GH, DHEA, Melatonin, etc. are usually from middle aged persons,~40-60, and the negative studies are often from studies done in the elderly,~65+.

I have to wonder if after a certain age/physiological condition, it's becomes too late to initate a cellular response from additional hormones, like water and sunlight for an ailing plant, after a point, no amount of care will revive it.

Take a trial run on the train, by the time the clinicians declare it 100% known effective, the train may have left the station.

 

[JanSz]

http://ehealthspan.com/download/ResponseToJAMA_GH_Article.doc

Dr. Rothenberg's response to the JAMA Growth Hormone Article.

 

[hardasnails1973]

Gh half life is realitiviely short so would taking it through out the day keep a more steady level? just curious. I know as a bodybuilder i figured taking it off peak time (before bed time and morning) would allow for a natural peak so i took it mid morning and then again 6 hours later.

 

[JanSz]

My friend Dr. Rothenberg did an excellent job in his response.

You have mention his name before, that is why I posted this link.