Why do people use hgh

Overview

Human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. First isolated in 1956 by endocrinologist Maurice Raben, HGH was initially extracted from human cadavers, leading to contamination risks including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in some recipients. The 1981 development of recombinant DNA technology allowed for synthetic HGH production (somatropin), eliminating disease transmission risks and increasing availability. Medical use expanded significantly after FDA approval in 1985 for pediatric growth hormone deficiency, affecting approximately 1 in 3,500-10,000 children. By the 1990s, HGH gained popularity among athletes despite being banned by the International Olympic Committee in 1989, with the World Anti-Doping Agency maintaining its prohibited status since 1999. Off-label anti-aging use emerged in the 1990s through clinics promoting "age management," despite limited scientific evidence and FDA warnings about unapproved uses.

How It Works

HGH functions by binding to growth hormone receptors on target cells, primarily in the liver, which then produces insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This hormone cascade stimulates protein synthesis, increases muscle mass, promotes bone growth, and enhances fat metabolism. In children with growth hormone deficiency, daily subcutaneous injections (typically 0.16-0.24 mg/kg weekly) can increase final adult height by 4-6 inches when treated before puberty. For adult deficiency, treatment aims to restore normal body composition, with studies showing 8-10% fat mass reduction and 5-8% lean mass increase over 6-12 months. Illicit users typically inject 2-4 IU daily (compared to medical doses of 0.5-2 IU), often combining HGH with anabolic steroids to amplify muscle-building effects. Detection methods include blood tests measuring IGF-1 levels (elevated 2-3 times normal with abuse) and isoform tests distinguishing synthetic from natural HGH.

Why It Matters

HGH matters because it represents both a crucial medical advancement and a significant public health challenge. Medically, it has transformed treatment for growth disorders, with studies showing treated children achieving normal adult height in 85-90% of cases. However, illicit use creates serious risks: a 2014 study found HGH users had 2.4 times higher mortality rates than non-users, primarily from cardiovascular events. The economic impact is substantial, with legitimate treatment costing $10,000-$30,000 annually per patient, while the black market supplies cheaper, often counterfeit products. Regulatory challenges persist as online sales circumvent controls, with INTERPOL seizing over 1 million illicit HGH doses in 2021 operations. The ethical debate continues between patient access needs and prevention of abuse, particularly regarding anti-aging claims lacking robust evidence from controlled trials.