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Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone): Overview
Growth Hormone levels have been found to decline with age in every species so far tested and this decline is a major factor in the aging process. In numerical terms, humans produce on a daily basis some 500mcg of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) at 20 years of age, 200mcg at 40 years, and 25mcg at 80.
HGH deficiency in adults is now recognized as a specific clinical syndrome with characteristic signs and symptoms.
Treatment and Prevention
Replacement of the hormones which decline with age, such as growth hormone, estrogen and testosterone, is an important part of any antiaging program.
HGH replacement improves body composition and quality of life as soon as 1 month after commencement. Most importantly these changes occur without side-effects. Increased levels of HGH have a positive effect by increasing muscle mass, stimulating fat loss, improving skin texture, improving exercise tolerance, increasing bone density, improving sleep quality and helping mental processes.
There are several possibilities for treating low HGH levels:- HGH injections (expensive, used when other means are insufficient)
- HGH transdermal products (Trans-D-Tropin)
- Oral products with secretagogues (all-natural HGH releasers, also known as agonists) and precursors taken daily
- Homeopathic preparations (the least expensive)
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Signs, symptoms & indicators of Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone):
Conditions that suggest Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone): | | | | | Aging |  Premature/Signs of Aging |
Immunity |
 Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome | It has been known for 25 years that FM patients have an abnormal sleep pattern involving stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep. As GH is secreted predominantly during stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep, it was originally hypothesized that FM patients may have impaired GH secretion. IGF-1 levels are abnormally low in some fibromyalgia patients.
In an analysis of IGF-1 levels in 500 female FM patients and 152 age matched non-FM subjects the mean IGF-1 level in the FM patients was 137 +/- 58ng/ml versus 216 +/- 86ng/ml in controls. Eighty-five percent of the FM patients had IGF-1 levels below the 50th percentile of the control population and 56% fell below the 20th percentile. |
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Mental |
Low Self-Esteem |
Metabolic |
Problems Caused By Being Overweight | Dr. Brett Jancques, ND reports that all of the obese individuals tested thus far by AAL Reference Laboratories were found to have low growth hormone levels. Testing was accomplished through 24-hour urinary growth hormone measurements. [Townsend Letter, Feb/March 2002, Vol 223/224; pp.74-78] |
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Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone) can lead to: | | | | | Immunity |  Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome | It has been known for 25 years that FM patients have an abnormal sleep pattern involving stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep. As GH is secreted predominantly during stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep, it was originally hypothesized that FM patients may have impaired GH secretion. IGF-1 levels are abnormally low in some fibromyalgia patients.
In an analysis of IGF-1 levels in 500 female FM patients and 152 age matched non-FM subjects the mean IGF-1 level in the FM patients was 137 +/- 58ng/ml versus 216 +/- 86ng/ml in controls. Eighty-five percent of the FM patients had IGF-1 levels below the 50th percentile of the control population and 56% fell below the 20th percentile. |
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Recommendations and treatments for Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone): | | | | | Amino Acid / Protein |  Glutamine | It has been shown that growth hormone (GH) is adequately produced by the aging pituitary, but its secretion from the pituitary is down-regulated with age. Scientists have found that certain amino acids and vitamins can stimulate the natural release of GH from the pituitary in many people.
Some amino acids have been shown to stimulate GH release, and may be found in preparations designed to increase GH release. Most of these preparations come with the recommendation that they be used just prior to muscle building exercise for maximal effect. These amino acids include L-arginine, L-lysine, L-glutamine, L-ornithine and glycine. |
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Drug |
 GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) | GHB stimulates pituitary growth hormone (GH) release. One methodologically rigorous Japanese study reported nine-fold and sixteen-fold increases in growth hormone 30 and 60 minutes respectively after intravenous administration of 2.5gm of GHB in 6 healthy men between the ages 25-40 [Takahara, 1977]. GH levels were still seven-fold higher after 120 minutes.
The mechanism by which GHB stimulates growth-hormone release is not known. Dopamine activity in the hypothalamus is known to stimulate pituitary release of growth hormone, but GHB inhibits dopamine release at the same time that it stimulates GH release. This suggests that GHB’s GH-releasing effect takes place through an entirely different mechanism. |
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Lab Tests/Rule-Outs |
Test for Hormones |
Vitamins |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | There is some evidence that the use of niacin improves growth hormone release from the pituitary gland. |
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KEY | Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; sometimes leads to | | Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests | | Definite or direct link: strongly suggests |  | Weakly counter-indicative: may contraindicate | | Moderately useful: often helps with | | Very useful: is highly recommended for |
Last updated: Apr 08, 2012
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