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The Harmful Side Effects of HGH

Apr 19, 2011 | By Tomas Linnaeus
The Harmful Side Effects of HGH
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People take human growth hormone, or HGH, to enhance their physical appearance and athletic performance. Testing for HGH abuse remains difficult and costly, according to a 2010 article in "Current Sports Medicine Reports." Athletes are increasingly using the substance for that reason. Patients with developmental disorders have a legitimate need for growth hormone. In both cases, using HGH can cause unexpected reactions. Speak with a doctor before taking growth hormone.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse patients often use performance-enhancing drugs, according to a 2003 report in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." While not inherently addictive, people can become psychologically dependent on HGH as well as emotionally dependent on the effects it causes. Such addictions can lead to a pattern of substance abuse. The results of a survey presented in the 2011 volume of the "American Journal of Addiction" evaluated this pattern in weightlifters. More than 50 percent of the athletes surveyed reported having used street drugs in addition to growth hormone. They also showed signs of substance dependence including withdrawal and tolerance effects.

Tingling and Pain

Athletes and patients usually take HGH to improve their body composition. Scientific studies documenting this effect remain rare, but preliminary data have become available. Growth hormone increases lean body mass in children, according to 2011 review in "Endocrine Development." Yet, these anabolic effects can cause muscle-related reactions. An investigation described in the 1997 edition of "Clinical Endocrinology" looked at the impact of HGH use in growth-hormone-deficient adults. Patients received HGH or placebo for at least six months. Relative to placebo, growth hormone increased muscle tingling, muscle pain and joint pain. A small increase in blood sugar was also observed. About 8 percent of the patients experienced high blood pressure as well.

Spine Curvature

Doctors give developmentally challenged children growth hormone to facilitate their growth. According to 2011 report in "Clinical Endocrinology," HGH increases the height of kids with Crohn's disease. Yet, the effects of HGH on bone growth can also go awry. An experiment reviewed in the 2011 volume of "Hormone Research in Paediatrics" assessed the effects of HGH on children with Prader-Willi syndrome. Patients received daily or weekly doses of the hormone for three years. This treatment had positive effects on height and weight, but it also increased the incidence of spine curvature. The latter condition was present in 28 percent of the kids at baseline and 47 percent by the study's end.

Diabetic Symptoms

Growth hormone affects the production of other hormones such as insulin. A 2009 review in "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology" notes that growth hormone also plays an important role in how the body regulates sugar. This finding suggests that HGH intake will alter sugar metabolism. A study offered in the 2001 edition of the "European Journal of Endocrinology" tested this hypothesis in laboratory animals. Rodents received either the growth hormone or an inert treatment for 10 days. Rats given HGH had greater insulin, but they showed no change in blood sugar. Such data indicate that growth hormone increases insulin resistance, a symptom of diabetes. People at risk for diabetes should consult a doctor before using HGH.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Apr 19, 2011

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