Human Growth Hormone (Somatotropin)
Somatotropin, also known as human growth hormone (HGH), is a hormone found in the human body. It is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. The major isoform of GH is a protein of 191 amino acids and a molecular weight of about 22,000 Daltons. The structure includes four helices necessary for functional interaction with the GH receptor. GH is classified as a peptide hormone.
Secretion and Production
GH is produced in and secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. Levels of secretion are affected by several factors, including sleep, exercise, hypoglycemia, dietary protein, and estradiol. GH is secreted in pulses throughout the day, and the level of GH production and secretion declines as a person ages.
While the main effect of GH secretion is to promote growth, GH has many other effects in the human body. It increases protein synthesis, therefore promoting muscle cell growth. It heightens metabolism, promotes the release of fats from reserves, and increases the levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Additionally, it causes secretion of insulin, therefore returning blood-sugar levels to normal.
Pharmacological Uses
In 1981, American pharmaceutical company, Genentech, after collaborating with Kabi, developed the first synthetic human growth hormone. Known as recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), this form of synthetic GH was produced using a biosynthetic process called Inclusion Body technology. Human growth hormone produced by Inclusion Body technology became known as somatrem. Later, an improved process of creating rhGH was developed called Protein Secretion technology. This method is the most common form of current human growth hormone synthesis; it is known as somatropin (HGH).
To be effective, somatotropin must be administered by use of needle. While there are forms of oral and nasal HGH, they have been proven ineffective in research studies. Somatropin has many uses as a GH drug:
Growth
Somatropin is commonly used to treat cases of growth deficiency and retardation. Some of the conditions that cause short stature that are commonly treated with growth hormone include growth hormone deficiency, SGA and IUGR, idiopathic short stature, short stature caused by both Turner’s and Prader-Willi syndromes, growth retardation caused by both short-bowel syndrome and renal disease, and short stature due to lack of bone development in XLH patients. To promote growth, HGH must be administered before puberty. After puberty, the ends of long bones fuse and can no longer grow.
Osteoporosis
One major factor in osteoporosis is the fact that a person’s body produces less and less GH as they age. GH is responsible for healing damaged bone cells, so, when a person is young, their GH heals damaged bone cells. As they grow in age, the amount of GH their body naturally produces declines, and their body is no longer able to repair these damaged calls. The result in a significant number of elderly people is osteoporosis.
HGH is a synthetic human growth hormone that can be used to return a person’s GH levels to those of their youth. For this reason, HGH can strengthen bones and may even heal bone damage caused by osteoporosis.
AIDS Wasting and Cachexia
Human growth hormone is commonly used to treat AIDS wasting and cachexia. HGH works to build new muscle cells, increasing muscle density. Because your body can build new muscle cells, it is much easier to develop and maintain lean muscle.
Burns
Because HGH works to heal damaged cells, it is often used to treat burn victims. HGH can work to heal damaged skin cells, therefore expediting healing in burn victims.
Arthritis
Studies have shown that HGH can help to both lessen the symptoms of arthritis in children and promote growth. Additionally, it can strengthen joints, which may help lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
Anti-Aging
As a person ages, the amount of human growth hormone their body produces declines. This means that one’s body is less able to repair their damaged cells. Cell damage is what causes aging. HGH is commonly used as an anti-aging drug to prevent and heal cell damage resulting in wrinkled skin, bone deterioration, and memory loss.
Weight Loss
Normally, a person’s body uses all of their glucose for energy before seeking that energy from their fat reserves. Human growth hormone forces your body to seek energy from the fat reserves first. This results in significant weight loss. Additionally, HGH raises metabolism and promotes the growth of lean muscle.
BodyBuilding
HGH is commonly used as a bodybuilding or physical and performance enhancement drug. There are many effects of HGH supplementation that are of benefit to athletes. First, HGH causes the body to grow new muscle cells, something that does not naturally occur after puberty. HGH raises a person’s metabolism, therefore allowing them to lose weight even during inactive periods. It causes formation of lean muscle, unlike steroids that cause a person to gain mostly water weight. HGH strengthens joints and ligaments, heals damaged tissue, shortens recovery time between workouts, and enhances overall performance with less risk of detection than other performance-enhancing drugs. Because HGH is natural hormone, side effects are rare and generally only occur when the drug is abused.