HGH controversies

WikiDoc Resources for HGH controversies

Articles

Most recent articles on HGH controversies

Most cited articles on HGH controversies

Review articles on HGH controversies

Articles on HGH controversies in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on HGH controversies

Images of HGH controversies

Photos of HGH controversies

Podcasts & MP3s on HGH controversies

Videos on HGH controversies

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on HGH controversies

Bandolier on HGH controversies

TRIP on HGH controversies

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on HGH controversies at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on HGH controversies

Clinical Trials on HGH controversies at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on HGH controversies

NICE Guidance on HGH controversies

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on HGH controversies

CDC on HGH controversies

Books

Books on HGH controversies

News

HGH controversies in the news

Be alerted to news on HGH controversies

News trends on HGH controversies

Commentary

Blogs on HGH controversies

Definitions

Definitions of HGH controversies

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on HGH controversies

Discussion groups on HGH controversies

Patient Handouts on HGH controversies

Directions to Hospitals Treating HGH controversies

Risk calculators and risk factors for HGH controversies

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of HGH controversies

Causes & Risk Factors for HGH controversies

Diagnostic studies for HGH controversies

Treatment of HGH controversies

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on HGH controversies

International

HGH controversies en Espanol

HGH controversies en Francais

Business

HGH controversies in the Marketplace

Patents on HGH controversies

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to HGH controversies

There are many controversies around the claims, products, and businesses related to the use of growth hormone as an anti-aging therapy. Most of this controversy falls into two categories:

1. Claims of exaggerated, misleading, or unfounded assertions that real growth hormone treatment slows or reverses the effects of aging
2. The sale of products that fraudulently or misleadingly purport to be growth hormone or to increase the user's own secretion of natural human growth hormone to a beneficial degree.

Following a study in 1990 by Rudman[1] which showed fat loss, muscle mass increase and maintenance of healthy skin from the administration of growth hormone in elderly men, there has been a burgeoning industry surrounding the sale and administration of GH and its purported anti-aging effects.

As is common with such therapies, the literature is now dominated by advocacy from pharmaceutical companies. Solid medical evidence is harder to find, and appears to indicate mixed results. It is likely that there is some advantage, but it is also evident that benefits are being exaggerated by some for commercial gain[2].

Some of the side effects reportedly seen in previously healthy mature patients after taking HGH include:

* Edema (retention of fluids) in extremities[3]
* Arthralgia (joint pain)[3]
* Carpal tunnel syndrome[3]
* Hypertension
* Diabetes and other glucose metabolism imbalances[3]
* Gynecomastia (enlargement of male mammary glands)[3]
* Enlargement of Testicles

Chronic use of HGH is not well studied, except when used in children for acute growth deficiencies. A long term increase in colon cancer and Hodgkin's Disease has been observed in these cases.[4]

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ Rudman D, Feller AG, Nagraj HS, et al. "Effect of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old," New England Journal of Medicine 323:1–6
2. ↑ ""HGH" Pills and Sprays: Human Growth Hype?" (PDF). FTC Consumer Alert. Federal Trade Commission. June 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Liu, H.; et al. (2006). "The safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly: A systematic review". Endocrine Society meeting. pp. P3–770.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link)
4. ↑ Sklar CA. Growth hormone treatment: cancer risk. Horm Res. 2004;62 Suppl 3:30-4. Review. PMID 15539796

Template:Health-stub

Template:WikiDoc Sources