Growth hormone is a protein hormone produced by a small gland in the brain called the pituitary gland.  Growth hormone is of primary importance during the growth phase in children.  The continued production of growth hormone as an adult is important in body fat composition, lean muscle mass, bone density, immune system function and psychosocial well being. 

Adults can become deficient in growth hormone either physically such as trauma to the pituitary gland or through the natural decline of the hormone as part of the aging process.  Growth hormone replacement therapy in adults can provide numerous benefits in those patients who are shown to be significantly deficient based on clinical data and laboratory testing. 

Growth hormone therapy can provide improvement in body fat composition through lipolysis, which is the mobilization of fat from fat cells.  It can increase lean muscle mass through the growth of new muscle cells.  Therapy can also improve skin thickness by increasing elastin production which is vital for good skin tone.  Growth hormone therapy, by increasing endorphin production in the brain, also improves overall sense of well-being.  Growth hormone has been called the fountain of youth hormone and many people believe it has the capability to slow and in some cases reverse the aging process.  Currently, although medical science has not determined this to be the case, growth hormone is commonly prescribed for anti-aging purposes.  This has obviously caused a lot of concern. 

Although growth hormone therapy can provide many of the afore mentioned benefits it has to be properly administered on a daily basis and closely monitored.  Too much growth hormone can have detrimental effects such as sore joints and carpal tunnel syndrome and in extreme abuse can lead to permanent growth of bones and the visceral organs.   In patients that are deemed to be growth hormone deficient, treatment is now being done with a new available hormone called Sermorelin.  Sermorelin is similar to growth hormone releasing hormone which when given can increase production of growth hormone from the pituitary gland naturally.  This provides a safe production of growth hormone which still provides all the benefits of growth hormone therapy.  Sermorelin, unfortunately, does not work for everyone. Those patients who do not respond to Sermorelin then become candidates for growth hormone replacement therapy.  We at Human Performance Longevity Center are committed to providing the most advanced state of the art hormone therapy in those individuals who have become growth hormone deficient and require expert replacement therapy.

Brian K Arcement, M.D. FSCAI
Interventional Vascular Cardiology
Board certified Internal Medicine
Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology
Diplomat American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine