Can you take HGH to grow taller?
Human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland that plays a key role in growth and development, especially during childhood and adolescence. HGH levels naturally peak during puberty and help regulate body composition, muscle and bone growth, metabolism, and potentially height.
HGH has been shown to stimulate the growth of cartilage cells, which can ultimately determine one's height. Numerous research studies have found that administering biosynthetic HGH can increase the height of children and adolescents who have growth hormone deficiency. This is why recombinant HGH injections are FDA-approved for children with inadequate endogenous growth hormone secretion to treat short stature and growth failure.
- However, the catch is that HGH's effects on height are generally limited to people who actually have a growth hormone deficiency. For all others, increasing HGH levels beyond normal physiologic ranges does not seem to significantly impact adult height potential.
- There are a few reasons why artificially raising HGH levels does not substantially increase height in healthy individuals:
- Growth plates fuse once puberty ends, preventing any further bone elongation regardless of HGH levels.
- Genetics plays an outsized role in determining height. Numerous studies have shown that height is 80-90% determined by hereditary and genetic factors.
- Other hormones like thyroid, sex steroids, insulin, and various growth factors work synergistically with HGH to affect growth. Increasing only HGH without addressing potential deficiencies in other hormones is unlikely to work.
- Safety Concerns
- While the hype around HGH's height-enhancing potential persists, it's important to consider the safety issues with taking HGH, especially long-term:
- Side effects like joint pain, edema, insulin resistance, carpal tunnel syndrome, and increased cancer risk have all been reported.
- Abusing HGH can lead to overgrowth of bones and tissues, organ enlargement, and even gigantism or acromegaly.
- There are legal risks as well since non-medical use of HGH is illegal without a prescription.
- Synthetic HGH is also often contaminated or counterfeit, posing further health dangers.
- The Bottom Line
- In summary, while HGH replacement has legitimate medical uses like treating growth hormone deficiency and Turner syndrome, there is little evidence that HGH supplementation increases height in otherwise healthy children or adults. Any minor height benefits would also have to be weighed carefully against the health risks involved with long-term HGH use or abuse.
- For the majority looking to modestly increase their height for cosmetic reasons, less risky lifestyle options like proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise during the growth years could be just as or more effective without potential side effects. Of course, learning to embrace one's natural height confidently can be most healthy decision of all both physically and mentally.
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