Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHS), or growth hormone releasing factors, may be given as a daily injection to stimulate the natural production of human growth hormone (HGH).
HGH is normally produced during our youth, up until about middle age, and helps build muscle, build bone, breakdown fat, and keep our skin young and healthy. Similar to other hormones, HGH declines with aging such that after about age 50 most people have levels well below optimum. The direct administration of HGH has limitations in that one can get too much and the dose is not the physiologic pulse seen naturally. Direct HGH replacement is controversial from a medical-legal aspect and it’s expensive.
GHS offers several advantages over direct HGH replacement. Most importantly, it is more physiologic in stimulating your own production of HGH, and with our body’s natural feedback mechanisms one can’t get too much HGH. It is also much less expensive and approved for “off-label” use at the discretion of a physician.
Key benefits of Growth Hormone
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased bone density
- Reduction of body fat
- Faster wound healing
- Immune support
- Promotion of youthful skin collagen
- Weight loss
The benefits of GHS naturally take 3-6 months to really notice a difference. After this time the level of HGH is increased such that the GHS dosing may be dropped to only a few times per week, or even stopped altogether.
Patients may experience improved skin elasticity, fuller hair, better mental function, more defined muscle tone, and an increase in sex drive, energy level, stamina, and bone density. With injectable GHS treatment, patients may also experience deeper, more restful sleep, and improved recovery time from illness or injury. Patients may see a decrease in fat, wrinkles, cellulite, fatigue and depression, as well as possible improvement in cholesterol level and any muscle or joint pain.
Patients may purchase GHS by the vial for $180 to $600 per month, depending on the specific type. Before starting GHS, we recommend that patients measure their current level of IGF1 (marker of growth hormone levels) through a blood test.
References:
This is a good review article on one particular GHS called “Sermorelin”
Sermorelin- A better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?
