Is HGH Legal? The laws concerning the use of human growth hormone are confusing as they differ from state to state. However, the underlying theme in each states’ law is the same: to legally possess and use HGH, an individual needs a prescription from a physician who has appropriately diagnosed him with growth hormone deficiency. Growth hormone is a prescription-only medication. Therefore, possession and use of the medication without a prescription are illegal. While human growth hormone is a prescription-only... read more

Oral and Inhalable Forms of HGH vs. HGH Injections Human growth hormone (HGH) administered via subcutaneous injections is the only effective and FDA approved form of growth hormone. Oral and inhaled formulations are neither effective nor approved by the FDA.(See FDA Approved Growth Hormone Products) Interest in growth hormone therapy exploded following the highly publicized New England Journal of Medicine Article entitled “Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old” in 1990. With this increased interest came... read more

FDA Approved HGH Products The following table lists all FDA approved growth hormone products. If you and your physician pursue growth hormone replacement therapy for growth hormone deficiency, ensure that you use an FDA approved product. Note that growth hormone delivered via subcutaneous injection is the only form of growth hormone that has been proven to be effective and has been approved by the FDA for use as replacement therapy. Oral and inhaled products are neither effective nor have they... read more

Where did interest in human growth hormone (HGH) begin? In 1990, Dr. Daniel Rudman and his colleagues published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on human growth hormone therapy in men.1 The article suggested that HGH therapy for older men could produce positive body changes. The study showed that the male participants lost fat and gained muscle. After this publication, interest in and use of HGH therapy exploded. A multitude of anti-aging clinics opened and proclaimed this... read more

Growth hormone secretion drops significantly after early adulthood. Then, it continues to drop by about 15% per decade. Since aging is associated with declining growth hormone secretion, it has been hypothesized that some undesirable effects of aging may be partly due to this decline.1,2 While a direct link to growth hormone decline and the unwanted effects of aging has not been established, it is important to pursue lifestyle choices that slow this unwelcome decline. After all, growth hormone is responsible... read more

HGH Side Effects In the past two decades, HGH use for performance enhancement and anti-aging has exploded. Since aging is associated with declining growth hormone secretion, some individuals have hypothesized that these undesirable effects may partially be due to the decline in HGH production. Naturally, this assertion has spurred considerable interest in administering supplemental human growth hormone as a “treatment” for aging in humans. Although HGH is FDA approved for certain medical conditions, it is not approved for anti-aging. Additionally, studies... read more

HGH therapy is FDA approved for HGH deficiency due to pituitary tumors. It is also approved for muscle-wasting disease associated with HIV/AIDS. However, it is not FDA approved for anti-aging, nor is it considered safe by the vast majority of the medical community to use for this purpose. While studies show that HGH therapy can positively alter body composition (by increasing muscle and decreasing fat), these same studies report significant adverse side effects. In addition to these side effects, other... read more

HGH Benefits Before we elaborate on potential HGH benefits, it should be noted that HGH is not approved for anti-aging. Studies involving growth hormone therapy (GH therapy) in older men have shown significant side effects. In addition to these side effects, other major concerns exist with GH therapy in men without growth hormone deficiency. These concerns include the following: 1) the limited scale of studies, and 2) the unknown long-term link between HGH therapy and cancer or other diseases. While... read more

Our bodies secrete growth hormone (GH) at their highest levels during puberty. However, beginning in early adulthood (20s), GH secretion decreases at an average rate of about 15% per decade.1,2 As a result, by late adulthood total GH secretion is typically less than half of total GH secretion in early adulthood.3 In some cases, GH levels may decline by up to 50% every seven years in men.4 The graphic shows typical growth hormone levels versus age. In one study, 35%... read more

Human Growth Hormone and Aging Our bodies secrete human growth hormone (HGH) at their highest levels during puberty. However, beginning in early to mid-adulthood, HGH secretion decreases at an average rate of approximately 14% per decade.1 As a result, by late adulthood total HGH secretion is typically less than half of total HGH secretion in early adultood.2 The graph below shows typical growth hormone levels versus age. Somatopause The decline in HGH secretion that occurs with aging is often referred to... read more