Caveats to Consider When Using Oral Hgh Enhancement
HGH enhancements are becoming increasingly popular since the publication of,
"Effects of Human Growth Hormone in Men Over 60 Years Old" by D.Rudman, AG
Feller, et, al., in the New England Journal of Medicine, 1990, 323:1-6.
Such popularity has swelled with the introduction of oral HGH and oral HGH
releasers, precursors, and secretagogues.
As usual, the medical establishment has not been quick to embrace HGH
enhancements as an anti-aging therapy. Part of the reason appears to be
concerns over the possible undesirable effects of HGH enhancements. These
untoward effects include increasing incidence of cancers, hyperglycemia, and
edema with related problems like CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome) and headaches.
There is also concern with HGH enhancements effect on those already on
hormone therapy for metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypothyroidism,
and Addison's syndrome. 1
We will examine these concerns as they might pertain to the use of oral HGH
enhancing products.
The majority of concerns likely come from a physician's familiarity with the
complications of acromegaly. Acromegaly is caused by a pituitary tumor.
Common developments are frequent benign and malignant tumor formations and
diabetes. Also frequent are "tunnel syndromes" where overgrowth of bone and
connective tissue impinges on nerves.
However, HGH production in acromegaly is ten to one hundred times more than
a correct GH enhancing dose, so extrapolating from acromegaly data is a
dubious endeavor. Also keep in mind the pituitary tumor in acromegaly not
only increases GH production, but also destroys pituitary hormones which
stimulate thyroxin, DHEA, thymus hormones, which may well account for the
increase in tumor growth as well.
Admittedly, there were overdose symptoms noticed with HGH injections in
Rudman's study, the common ones being feet edema, CTS, excessive muscle
mass, and rare joint pains. However, by using small, twice daily injections
and monitoring IGF 1 levels so as not to exceed 350 ng/ml, as proposed and
long practiced by Chen and others, such overdose symptoms are practically
nonexistent, and certainly transient
and reversible. 2
The fact is that oral secretagogues are extremely unlikely to cause overdose
symptoms. Indeed, in the all too few studies on the effects of oral
secretagogues and IGF-1 levels, it is uncommon to find levels in those over
40 increasing beyond 275 ng/ml, the level typical of a healthy person in
their later twenties, but still well below the optimal target of 360ng/ml.
Still, significant increases of IGF levels through HGH enhancers do occur
and may be productive of undesirable effects for those on hormone
medications and those with IGF-1 sensitive cancers.
These hormonal disorders include diabetes, hypothyroidism, and Addison's
disease.
Like insulin, IGF-1, which the liver produces in response to HGH exposure,
decreases blood glucose and inhibits gluconeogenesis. (Indeed, one study
has shown an inverse ratio of glycosylated hemoglobin and IGF-1.) 3,4
The real potential exists therefore of a reactive hypoglycemic event in
diabetics using insulin and similar medications, as the previously normal
dose may now become an overdose. This lowering of medication need is a good
effect, but diabetics on glycemic medications should monitor their blood
sugar closely while enhancing HGH.
Conversely, large doses of HGH by injection can act as an insulin antagonist
and cause blood sugar to rise. Such is not a concern generally with the
weaker but safer over-the-counter HGH secretagogues
Growth hormone enhances thyroid physiology by increasing the conversion
thyroxin (T4) into the more active tri-iodothyronine (T3). Often, patients
on thyroid replacement therapy need to decrease their total thyroid
medication dose by 30 - 70%. 5 This is most practically accomplished by
monitoring for hyperthyroid symptoms and graphing AM basal temperature and
pulse.
Conversely, by stimulating anabolic metabolism, HGH enhancements put more
demands upon the thyroid and may overwhelm a borderline sub clinical hypo
thyroid state (low normal T4), leading to hypo thyroid symptoms. 6 (Such
borderline states are often easily corrected by OTC thyroid glandular
preparations. See T-100).
Growth Hormone can lower cortisol production, which can be very good in
hypercortisol stress states and Cushing's syndrome. However, some persons
with chronic stress fatigue (Stage III stress reaction per Style) are
hypocortisol and may experience persistent flu-like symptoms. 7
(Sub-lingual adrenal cortisol extract is a remedy to consider. See ACE*).
The concerns over HGH enhancements cancer inducing potential arises out of
1), the aforementioned incidence in acromegaly, 2) the fact that certain
cancers are IGF-1 sensitive, and 3) one study showing
IGF-1 of greater than 275 ng/ml had significantly increased incidences of
prostate cancer. Four other studies showed no correlation.
The concerns based on acromegaly have already been addressed as an
inappropriate comparison. Certainly those with known cancers, especially
those that are IGF-1 sensitive, should likely avoid HGH enhancements and
consider instead thyroid, melatonin, DHEA, and thymus hormone enhancements
under a doctor's supervision. The study on IGF-1 and prostate cancer raises
several questions. First, prostate cancer is common in the elderly, where
IGF-1 is low, and rare in the young where IGF-1 is high. Secondly, because
HGH stimulates natural killer cell activity, neutrophil phagocytosis,
lymphocyte concentration in bone marrow, increases thymus volume and
antibody response; HGH enhancements have been proposed as a cancer
preventative. 8 Indeed in cancers of the uterus, liver, colon/rectum,
IGF-1 levels are decreased. 9 Chein reports in 1998, in his 8 year practice
of multiple hormone enhancement with over a 1000 patients receiving
anti-aging therapy including HGH injections, that "as a protection against
cancer, we provide our patients with HGH, melatonin and DHEA to boost the
immune system". 10
Nevertheless, before GH therapy can be considered as an anti-cancer therapy
for humans, serious double blind studies are necessary.
Of course the various ingredients of the dozens of HGH enhancing products
available may have multiple individual reactions, cross-reactions, side
effects, and sensitivities. One particular ingredient worthy of mention, in
that it is common to many products and has been shown in some few studies to
be a significant enhancer of HGH, is the amino acid arginine. Those with
herpes virus that are aggravated with arginine containing foods such as
nuts, chocolate, and Equal or Nutra Sweet, and are relieved by mega doses of
lysine, should be aware of the possibility of herpes outbreak with gram
doses of arginine. It may be that formulas with equal amounts of lysine or
orthinine are be better tolerated.
In summary, oral HGH enhancers are likely very safe. Those with active
cancers must inform their doctors before adding any supplement, especially
any natural hormone or hormone enhancer. Those taking medications for
thyroid and diabetes dysfunction must keep their doctors in the loop and
carefully monitor their medication accordingly.
It is possible that those with borderline hypothyroidism, hypocortisolemia,
and even hypoglycemia may unmask or aggravate these conditions with HGH
enhancements. Such possibilities only further emphasize that HGH
enhancements are best approached as part of a total program of diet,
exercise, antioxidant supplementation and multiple hormone enhancement
optimization.
To Learn More about Hgh Plus Secretagogue, "The Best for Less!", see
http://www.rxforwellness.com/shoppingchannel/foundationalantiagingp_3.shtml
Dr. John H. Maher, A.B.A.A.H.P.
Editor, "Longevity News"
subscribe at rxforwellness.comhttp://www.RxforWellness.com
"Your FREE Anti-Aging Home Study Course On-Line!"
1.) Hertoghe, T., Anti-Aging Medical Therapeutics, Ch. 3, "Growth Hormone
Therapy in Adults",
Health Quest Pub, pp.10-23, 1997.
2) Johnson, G., Johansson JO, and Bengtsson,"Consequences of Growth hormone
Deficiency in Adults and the Benefits of Recombinant HGH Treatment",
Research Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, RCEM, Sahlgrenska
University Hospital, Sweden, 1995.
3) Gule HP, Zapf J, Froesch ER. Short term Metabolic Effects of Recombinant
Human Insulin-Like Growth Hormone in Healthy Adults, NEJM 1987: 317: 137-140
4) Ibid. 1, p.17.
5) Ibid., p.22
6) Klatz, R., "Hormones of Youth", Sport tech Labs Inc., 1999, p. 121
7) Ibid. 1, p.23
8) M.C. Geleto, "Aging and Immune Function: A possible role for growth
hormone", Hormone research, 1996, 45: 46-49
9) Ibid. 1, p. 17
10) Chein, E., Palm Springs Life Extension Institute Patient Manua,. Section
5, "The Endocrine and immune Systems". p.21
To Learn More about Hgh Plus Secretagogue, "The Best for Less!", see
http://www.rxforwellness.com/shoppingchannel/foundationalantiagingp_3.shtml
