Side Effects of HGH Supplementation
To
only paint a picture of growth hormone doing good things would
be an injustice. The truth is, there can be many side effects
with the use of human growth hormone and it can also put a
person at risk for other diseases. Side effects include an
increase in blood pressure, fluid retention, carpal tunnel
syndrome, and joint pain.11,13,14 The use of growth
hormone has also been tied to an increase in insulin resistance
which leads to diabetes.12,16 Diabetes as a result
of HGH supplementation was also reported by Dr. Rudman in his
report.11 One man used HGH successfully for a time,
but eventually came down with diabetes which doctors linked to
his growth hormone use.12 A 6 month study on the
effects of HGH on diabetes showed that while insulin resistance
was at first increased, after 6 months of growth hormone use
the testers’ insulin levels returned to the levels before
their growth hormone use.
The
claim that human growth hormone is a cause of diabetes is
surprising since two medical studies state just the opposite,
that in fact IGF-1 could be a replacement for insulin. These
two studies, reported in 1991 in Medical World News, had the results of these tests. Dr. Zenobi of
the
University
of
Zurich
in
Switzerland
observed that when IGF-1 levels were increased, blood glucose,
insulin, and c-peptide levels were significantly lowered. He
reported that type-II diabetes may be reduced by growth
hormone’s use.15 Along with Dr. Zenobi’s results
were those of Dr. Schalch of the
University
of
Wisconsin
. His test results demonstrated a decrease in the levels of
blood glucose and insulin levels with the use of growth
hormone.15 These results appear to be entirely
contradictory to each other and display the confusion there is
in the growth hormone field. How can human growth hormone both
cause diabetes in some, yet in medical studies be linked to its
decrease? It is an area which is quite unclear. It is possible
that those who have diabetes already may respond differently to
the hormone’s use than those who do not yet have the disease.
Another possible explanation is that the differing results may
be due to the amount of time taking growth hormone. In Dr.
Zenobi’s study, his results were measured after only 5 days
of growth hormone use. The man who came down with diabetes
The
boom of HGH use in the elderly in the past 10 years is not
surprising. It is clear that many people would rather possibly
cut their life short by a year but live each year to its
fullest. This thought seems to come up consistently with each
elderly person who uses it. Alan Mendelssohn, a senior who,
along with his wife, takes growth hormone, sums it up by
saying, “We want to feel as good and look as good as we
can.”12
Page
8: Other Forms of HGH and Conclusion
11.
Rudman et al. “Effects
of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old.” New
England
Journal of Medicine
1990 323: 1-6.
12.
King, Marsha. “Finding fountain of youth…or dangerous
waters?”
Seattle
Times 11 May 2003: A1.
13.
Salomon F, et al. “The effects of treatment with recombinant
human growth hormone on
body composition and
metabolism in adults with growth hormone deficiency.”
New England
Journal of Medicine
1989;321:1797-1803
14.
Russell, Sabin. “Aging Baby Boomers turn to hormone – Some
doctors concerned about growing
‘off-label’ use of drug.” San Francisco Chronicle
17 Nov 2003
: A1.
15. Medical World News. August 1991 v32 n8 p12(1).
16.
Simon, Cecilia. “Big on HGH? Human Growth Hormone Helps Small
Kids Grow, but Some Call its Wider Use
Shortsighted.”
Washington
Post
30 Sept. 2003
: F1.
|
