The Benefits of EPO & HGH

Some athletes use the hormones erythropoietin, EPO, and human growth hormone, HGH, to gain a competitive edge. Governmental authorities have banned these performing-enhancing substances because of safety concerns, according to a May 2008 review in the "Asian Journal of Andrology." Scientists developed EPO and HGH for legitimate medical applications. Doctors continue to prescribe them for this purpose, but they carefully monitor their patients as EPO and HGH often cause unwanted side effects.

EPO Increases Endurance

People with heart problems often have poor endurance. Their bodies cannot respond properly to the increased demands of physical activity, according to a March 2011 review in "Circulation." Exercise therefore cannot help improve the lives of these patients. EPO might provide an alternative treatment. A clinical trial reported in the January 2003 issue of "Circulation" looked at the impact of EPO in patients with chronic heart failure. Participants received weekly transfusions containing either EPO or an inert substance for three months. Relative to placebo, EPO increased endurance and decreased anemia. The patients felt better and did not experience EPO-related reactions.

EPO Facilitates Healing

Pressure ulcers have become a problem in all health care settings. Patients with anemia remain at particular risk, according to a September 2009 article in "Advances in Skin and Wound Care." Infusions of EPO help heal skin lesions and bone breaks in animal models. An investigation published in the October 2004 edition of "Ostomy/Wound Management" addressed whether EPO has similar effects in human patients. The subjects received topical application of EPO three times a week for six weeks. Relative to baseline, EPO reduced ulceration and anemia. Hormone treatment did not cause side effects.

HGH Reduces Fat

Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus and treated with antiviral drugs often show unwanted gains in body fat. Fat tends to accumulate in their waist, according to a June 2011 review in "Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism." HGH might help them manage this issue. An experiment described in 2008 in "Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases" evaluated the effects of growth hormone in HIV-positive patients. Participants received HGH three times a week for 12 weeks. This protocol reduced body fat by at least 12 percent without causing adverse events. The patients maintained these reductions even after the HGH treatment ended.

HGH Increases Height

Children born unusually small develop a broad range of health problems as adults. Being short of stature might even place people at risk for suicide, according to a December 1999 report in "Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica." Taking HGH increases height in children with genetic disorders. It also benefits healthy children. A study presented in 2001 in "Hormone Research" tested the effect of hormone replacement in kids with HGH deficiency. The children were healthy despite having low levels of growth hormone and being short of stature. Participants received daily HGH injections for several years. This protocol allowed most of the children to reach a normal height. Long-term treatment with HGH did not cause side effects.