Im 18, will HGH make me any taller? I heard that it will. Is this fact or fiction?
Thought you guys might find this interesting- a little food for thought:
in Endocrinol (Oxf). 2006 May;64(5):510-3. [h=1]Treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole during adolescence increases near-final height in boys with constitutional delay of puberty.[/h]
Hero M,
Wickman S,
Dunkel L.
[h=3]Source[/h]Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]OBJECTIVE:[/h]We investigated whether inhibition of oestrogen biosynthesis with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, during adolescence improves near-final height in boys with constitutional delay of puberty.
[h=4]PATIENTS AND METHODS:[/h]Seventeen boys with constitutional delay of puberty were randomized to receive testosterone (T) enanthate (1 mg/kg i.m.) every 4 weeks for 6 months in combination with placebo (Pl, n = 8), or the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Lz, 2.5 mg/day orally) (n = 9), for 12 months. After treatment, patients were followed up until near-final height. Height discrepancy was calculated as near-final height minus mid-parental target height.
[h=4]MEASUREMENTS:[/h]The primary end point was the difference in near-final height between the groups treated either with T + Pl or T + Lz. Secondarily, height discrepancy and gain in height standard deviation score (SDS) were analysed in both groups.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]
Boys treated with T + Lz reached a higher mean near-final height than did boys on T + Pl (175.8 vs. 169.1 cm, respectively, P = 0.04). In T + Lz-treated boys, mean near-final height did not differ from their mid-parental target height (175.8 vs. 177.1 cm, P = 0.38), whereas in T + Pl-treated boys, mean near-final height was lower than mid-parental target height (169.1 vs. 173.9 cm, P = 0.007). T + Lz-treated boys had a greater increment in height SDS over the pretreatment height SDS than T + Pl-treated boys (+1.4 SDS vs.+0.8 SDS, P = 0.03).
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]Our findings indicate that in adolescent boys an increase in adult height can be attained by use of aromatase inhibitors.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Dec;90(12):6396-402. Epub 2005 Sep 27.
[h=1]Inhibition of estrogen biosynthesis with a potent aromatase inhibitor increases predicted adult height in boys with idiopathic short stature: a randomized controlled trial.[/h]
Hero M,
Norjavaara E,
Dunkel L.
[h=3]Source[/h]Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland.
[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]CONTEXT:[/h]In males as well as in females, estrogen is an essential regulator of bone maturation, growth plate fusion, and cessation of longitudinal growth. Therefore, an increase in predicted adult height (PAH) may be achieved in short boys by blocking estrogen biosynthesis.
[h=4]OBJECTIVE:[/h]We tested the hypothesis that a decrease in the rate of bone maturation and an increase in PAH can be achieved in boys with idiopathic short stature (ISS) by the method of blocking estrogen biosynthesis with an aromatase inhibitor. Secondarily, we investigated the effects of aromatase inhibition on bone mineralization.
[h=4]DESIGN:[/h]This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo (Pl)-controlled clinical study.
[h=4]SETTING:[/h]The study was performed at a university hospital out-patient clinic.
[h=4]PATIENTS:[/h]Thirty-one boys, aged 9.0-14.5 yr, with ISS were studied.
[h=4]INTERVENTION:[/h]The boys were treated with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Lz; 2.5 mg/d) or Pl for 2 yr.
[h=4]MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:[/h]The main outcome measure was the change in PAH after 24 months of treatment.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]
PAH increased by 5.9 cm (P < 0.0001), and height SD score for bone age increased by 0.7 SD score (P < 0.0001) in the Lz-treated boys, whereas no changes occurred in the respective measures in Pl-treated boys. Areal bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck, assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, increased in a similar fashion in both groups during the treatment, whereas bone mineral apparent density increased only in those taking Lz (median increase, 4.3%; P = 0.009).
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]Treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Lz delays bone maturation and improves PAH in boys with ISS. No adverse effects on bone mineralization were evident after 2 yr of treatment.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Mar;93(3):823-31. Epub 2007 Dec 28.
[h=1]Anastrozole increases predicted adult height of short adolescent males treated with growth hormone: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial for one to three years.[/h]
Mauras N,
Gonzalez de Pijem L,
Hsiang HY,
Desrosiers P,
Rapaport R,
Schwartz ID,
Klein KO,
Singh RJ,
Miyamoto A,
Bishop K.
[h=3]Source[/h]Nemours Children's Clinic, Division of Endocrinology, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, Florida 32207, USA.
[email protected]
[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]CONTEXT:[/h]The process of epiphyseal fusion during puberty is regulated by estrogen, even in males.
[h=4]OBJECTIVE:[/h]Our objective was to investigate whether anastrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, could delay bone age acceleration and increase predicted adult height in adolescent boys with GH deficiency.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h]Fifty-two adolescent males with GH deficiency treated with GH were randomized to cotreatment with anastrozole or placebo daily for up to 36 months.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]Fifty subjects completed 12 months, 41 completed 24 months, and 28 completed 36 months. Linear growth was comparable between groups; however, there was a significantly slower increase in bone age advancement from baseline in the anastrozole group vs. placebo group after 2 yr (+1.8+/-0.1 vs. +2.7+/-0.1 yr, P<0.0001) and after 3 yr (+2.5+/-0.2 vs. +4.1+/-0.1 yr, P<0.0001). This resulted in a net increase in predicted adult height of +4.5+/-1.2 cm in the anastrozole group at 24 months and +6.7+/-1.4 cm at 36 months as compared with a 1-cm gain at both time points in the placebo group. Estradiol and estrone concentrations increased less in the anastrozole group compared with placebo group. All boys on the aromatase inhibitor had normal tempo of virilization. Safety data, including glucose, and plasma lipid concentrations were comparable between groups.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]
Anastrozole increases adult height potential of adolescent boys on GH therapy while maintaining normal pubertal progression after 2-3 yr. This treatment offers an alternative in promoting growth in GH-deficient boys in puberty. Long-term follow up is needed to elucidate fully the safety and efficacy of this approach.
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