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Although
there is limited data on the use of growth hormone in
athletes, there have been a significant amount of tests done
on the elderly. The first scientific study on growth hormone
in the elderly came out in 1990. Published by Dr. Rudman in
the New England
Journal of Medicine, the report showed the first
findings of beneficial use of HGH in the elderly. The
results of the effects of growth hormone on 12 elderly men,
healthy in every way except a low level of IGF-1, were
recorded. After receiving growth hormone for 6 months, the
men had a 9% increase in muscle mass, a 14% decrease in fat,
and a thickening of the skin.11 The most
influential part of this report on growth hormone was
Rudman’s statement on the results of the test in which he
wrote, “The effects of six months of human growth hormone
on lean body mass and adipose-tissue mass were equivalent
in magnitude to the changes incurred during 10 to 20
years of aging.”11 Rudman was
effectively claiming that human growth hormone reversed the
aging process. This report and Rudman’s statement
effectively set off the growth hormone explosion. All types
of people began to pursue the use of this hormone in order
to increase performance or decrease the effects of aging.
Even
with all of the evidence on the benefits of human growth
hormone, the hormone is currently an extremely controversial
topic. Many leading scientists denounce it as at best
worthless, and at worst the cause of extreme side effects.
One outspoken critic is Dr. Stephen Barrett, M.D. of
Quackwatch.org. His website seeks to “combat
health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies.”11
Dr. Barrett admits that growth hormone levels decrease
with age, however, he goes on to say that, “Considering
the high cost, significant side effects, and lack of proven
effectiveness, HGH shots appear to be a very poor
investment.” It is worth mentioning that the people who
have felt significant benefits from supplementing with
growth hormones would strongly disagree with Dr. Barrett’s
statement. The results from using growth hormone are in the
eyes of the user, and it is the user alone who can determine
whether growth hormone is worth the investment.
Page
7: Side Effects of HGH Supplementation
10.
Barrett, Stephen. Quackwatch.org.
3 December 2003
. http://www.quackwatch.org <http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/hgh.html>
11.
Rudman et al. “Effects
of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old.” New
England
Journal of Medicine
1990 323: 1-6.
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