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Health Options
Alan Titchenal |
Results mixed for
hormonesAs baby boomers swell the ranks of people over 50, demand for anti-aging products mounts. In response, human growth hormone releaser products tout, "Feel and look 10 years younger, improve memory and mental focus, lose wrinkles, improve sex drive and performance, control mood swings, shed body fat, increase muscle tone," and on and on. If even one of these claims is true, this is an impressive product.
Question: What is HGH?
Answer: Produced by the pituitary gland, HGH is needed for normal growth in children. After full growth is achieved, it is unclear what role HGH plays. Children who fail to grow normally for various reasons are commonly injected with HGH. It also is used to treat weight loss caused by AIDS. The cost of HGH treatment is $1,000 to $2,000 per month.
Q: What are HGH releasers?
A: Because the HGH molecule is large and cannot be absorbed through intestinal, oral or nasal routes, it can only be administered by injection. Consequently, products have been developed that are supposed to increase the body's production of HGH at a fraction of the cost of injections. Most are based on supplements containing specific amino acids -- the normal building blocks of protein.
High oral doses of the amino acids arginine, lysine and glutamine are known to boost blood HGH levels three to four times above normal. But this increase generally declines to normal within a few hours.
Based on one study that provides data on individuals (rather than just average changes), some people experience little or no effect after an amino acid supplement, while others respond with increased HGH. So, while average change may be significant, for some people there is none.
Q: Does increased HGH production ensure better health?
A: Not necessarily. Injected HGH may cause carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, enlargement of bones and other complications. Although rare, these effects indicate that increasing HGH beyond a certain level can be harmful.
Q: Are older people more likely to benefit from HGH releasers?
A: Apparently not. Studies have found that doses of amino acids that boost HGH levels in 20-year-olds are less effective in older people.
Q: What are the most reliable ways to maintain healthy HGH levels?
A: To boost HGH production naturally:
>> Get plenty of exercise. Even exercise of moderate intensity stimulates an increase in HGH levels by as much as 10 times normal.
>> Get a good night's sleep.
>> Eat adequate amounts of protein. About six of the 20 amino acids present in the protein in foods are known to stimulate HGH production. High-quality protein sources include eggs, milk, meat, fish, poultry, soybeans and tofu.
The combination of exercise, sleep and protein is more effective, and certainly cheaper, than popping HGH releasers.
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Alan Titchenal, Ph.D., C.N.S. and Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S. are nutritionists in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH-Manoa. Dr. Dobbs also works with the University Health Services and prepares the nutritional analyses marked with an asterisk in this section.