Human Growth Supplement

Many companies market human growth supplements to individuals who want to look as young as possible for as long as possible. Several of the companies make sweeping claims about the positive benefits of human growth supplements, also called human growth hormone supplements. Unfortunately, many of the companies have not substantiated their claims with concrete scientific data. Additionally, there are several health risks associated with human growth hormone supplements.

Human Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone is produced in the brain's pituitary gland and fosters growth in the human body. Most notably, human growth hormone affects height. When it occurs naturally, human growth hormone is a necessary and effective growth stimulant. However, there is much significant debate regarding the usefulness, as well as the side effects, of human growth hormone supplements. Historically, these supplements were in the form of injections, given primarily to children suffering from growth retardation. Today, though, the supplements are also in powder and pill form.

How It Works

Young people, especially children, typically produce high levels of human growth hormone. These levels tend to drop off as the person ages. Companies claim that by increasing the amount of the hormone to levels normally found in younger people, the aging process can be slowed. You cannot, however, control how your body uses the hormone. And this can lead to unpleasant side effects.

Side Effects

There is no way to predict how your body will use the human growth hormone supplement. The hormone may not target the specific area you want it to. Therefore, many people find the results of taking the human growth supplement somewhat erratic. For example, some people end up with hair growing in undesirable places. Others experience skin rashes. Additionally, since the hormone works to augment bone and tissue structures, in extreme cases you may change your facial structure as a result of taking too much of this hormone.

Effectiveness

Businesses that market human growth supplements naturally report high success rates, claiming the hormone promotes everything from height to muscle growth to a youthful appearance. But doctors and studies seem unable to either support or contradict these claims. Some professional athletes do indeed use human growth supplements in an attempt to gain more muscle mass. But while the human growth hormone is not technically a steroid, its use is now illegal in most professional sports.

References

Article reviewed by LynMarie Lee Last updated on: Mar 28, 2011

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