HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (HGH)
Human growth hormone has been used in medicine for over half a century to treat deficiency in children. A few years after a July 1990 landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine by Dr. Daniel Rudman, HGH was approved by the FDA to be used in adults considered to be deficient. Over the past 20 years, tens of thousands of patients have used HGH therapy with astounding results. Growth hormone therapy can decrease unwanted and unhealthy fat deposits, increase lean body mass (muscle and bone), improve skin quality, enhance the immune system, and improve the body’s ability to heal.
BENEFITS OF HGH THERAPY
Enhanced immune system
Increased rate of healing
Loss of fat
Increased muscle mass
Increased skin thickness and elasticity
Increased exercise capacity
Improved memory and brain function
Improved cholesterol profile
Renewed sense of well-being
Growth hormone is a large protein molecule. It cannot be taken orally because it will be digested and rendered useless. It can ONLY be administered by a simple and almost painless injection under the skin. The HGH then gets absorbed into the bloodstream where the liver quickly converts it to another hormone called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). IGF-1 is believed to be the hormone responsible for most of the benefits we see from HGH therapy. It is also the best marker we have to establish whether a patient is growth hormone deficient prior to the start of therapy.
Many products (called secretagogues) claim to increase HGH secretion from the pituitary gland. These products do not work at all, or a handful can increase IGF-1 levels by about 10%. However, most patients need increases of 100-200% in order to notice significant changes in body composition and health. There are also many different brands of HGH on the market today. It is very important to use a trusted source for your HGH. At the Hammer Institute, we use only quality brand name Human Growth Hormone obtained from a trusted, local pharmacy. It is also frequently analyzed for potency, purity, and sterility to assure our patients safety and results.
There is one secretagogue Dr. Hammer has been prescribing for many years called Secretropin (SecretropinRx.com) for certain patients. This product can be quite effective in raising lgf-1 levels without the needles nor the high cost of HGH therapy.