Anti-Aging Close-up: HGH Falls Short of the Mark
Despite all the hype, synthetic HGH remains expensive and intrusive
for the average Jane or Joe. Still, there’s no shortage of affluent
middle-agers willing to fork over a thousand bucks for the privilege
of jabbing themselves in the thigh or stomach with a syringe. True,
the drug is becoming safer than it used to be. But is it our only
option at fighting time, or at least the reduced energy and increased
physical discomfort that comes hand in hand with getting older? Here,
Darrel Scheckler, Senior Researcher for the Center for Nutritional
Research, uncovers several alternatives to synthetic HGH that are
safer and much more affordable than the popular drug.
If you’re familiar with anti-aging, you can’t help but know about HGH
(or human growth hormone). Since researchers were able to
synthetically produce large quantities of HGH in laboratories in the
1980s, HGH has been the preferred anti-aging drug of the rich and
famous.
What is HGH and how does it work?
HGH is naturally produced by the pituitary gland, furnishing growth
and immune factors to the body that support lean muscle mass, fat
burning, increased energy levels, and sexual interest. It also
facilitates the building of bone and muscle as well as the production
of cells that help organs and tissues grow and repair themselves.
The problem is that after about age twenty, the body begins to
produce less and less HGH, about 13% less every decade, which brings
on the aging process and its many undesirable symptoms.
What Different Types of HGH are there?
If we cast a wide net, we can come up with a handful of different
players that can be considered HGH providers in one way or another.
HGH from Cadavers
Initially, HGH was taken from the pituitary gland of human cadavers
before the advent and popularization of synthetic HGH.
This process was not only extremely expensive, but contamination was a
major problem. The result: some recipients came down with mad cow’s
disease. Shortly thereafter, the practice was halted
Synthetic HGH
The most popular form of HGH is synthetic HGH, whereby researchers
manufacture HGH in a laboratory in mass quantity. There is plenty of
research to back up the merits of this method. Indeed, synthetic HGH
has proven effective in slowing, arresting, even reversing the aging
process in some cases. The downside is that synthetic HGH is
expensive. About $1,000 per month. And some would find the delivery
mechanism – injecting the fluid with a hypodermic syringe – intrusive.
In addition, there are several known side effects, some of which are
quite serious, including:
- Development of antibodies to HGH (a condition that produces less
HGH instead of more)
- Water retention
- Insulin resistance (diabetes)
- Hypertension
- Carpal tunnel
- Leukemia
- Arthritis
- Overgrowth of connective tissue
To date, research is inconclusive whether prolonged use of
synthetic HGH increases the risk of cancer.
Homeophathic HGH
Some companies label themselves as homeopathic HGH providers. These
companies typically use diluted concentrations of certain herbs or
oils that do not contain HGH but emulate HGH benefits. And while not
HGH in any strict sense, some people claim anti-aging benefits from
the use of homeopathic formulas that mimic HGH.
While homeopathic HGH emulators are affordable and safe, and supported
by considerable anecdotal evidence, scientific corroboration is sparse
and inconsistent.
HGH Precursors
HGH precursors are nutrients that prompt the release of HGH from
the pituitary gland instead of adding HGH outright to the subject like
synthetic HGH. Precursors include melatonin, lacuna bean, tribulis
terrestris fruit, and soy protein. They can also originate from
certain amino acids such as L-Arginine and Glutamine.
Wile HGH precursors are affordable and safe, and supported by
considerable scientific study, certain side effects are known to occur
in certain subjects. Always check with your doctor first before taking
any drug or supplement.
IGF-1
According to researchers, the most effective way to determine the
presence of active HGH is to measure the insulin-like growth factor
level 1 (IGF-1) levels in the blood stream, because the presence of
IGF-1 is what determines the efficacy of HGH. (HGH is converted to
IGF-1 as it passes through the liver.) In other words, IGF-1 is the
actualization of the HGH promise. So regardless of how IGF-1 is
derived, it is actually IGF-1, not HGH, that delivers anti-aging and
growth benefits.
IGF-1 Is The Real Deal, Not HGH
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, the HGH industry has
ignored IGF-1 native sources, sources that garner anti-aging in their
natural state, exposing IGF-1 as the true actuator of anti-aging. This
revelation effectively demotes HGH to the designation of IGF-1
precursor, and appropriately so.
Adding to the polemic, IGF-1 has two natural sources: colostrum from
mammals and the red deer velvet antler (found only in Australia).
Today, colostrum is mainly obtained from dairy cows to receive
anti-aging benefits and a host of additional mitigants to pain relief
and disease. Research has shown that dairy cow colostrum is higher in
protein and antibodies, vitamins and minerals, yet lower in fat and
sugar than human colostrum. In addition, dairy cow or bovine colostrum
contains significantly higher concentrations of immune factors,
including IGF-1, than human colostrum.
The red deer velvet antler also is a rich source of IGF-1 and also
contains additional nutrients. Use of red deer velvet antler as an
anti-aging and immune support remedy goes back two thousand years and
is considered a staple of traditional Chinese medicine or TCM.
Similarly, the overall healing benefits of colostrum go back just as
far, if not longer, and bovine colostrum continues to be a staple for
many Eastern Indians.
|
Anti-Aging Delivery Mechanism |
Synopsis |
| HGH Extracted from Human Cadavers |
At A Glance: The original method used to
collect HGH.
- Proved in the 1950s that growth disorders, especially in
children can be arrested, even reversed
- Proved to be both expensive and unsafe; some recipients
became infected with Mad Cow’s Disease
- Method no longer used
- Backed by substantial research
|
| Synthetic HGH |
At A Glance: HGH synthetically manufactured
in laboratories
- Shown to increase levels of IGF-1 to either decrease, arrest
and possibly reverse the aging process
- Expensive: Costs about $1,000/mo for injections
- Backed by substantial research
|
| HGH Precursors |
At A Glance: Supplements and/or growth
hormones in themselves, e.g., melatonin, that stimulate the
pituitary gland to produce more HGH, which in turn, is converted
to IGF-1
- Melatonin, lacuna bean, tribulis terrestris fruit, soy
protein, certain amino acids such as L-Arginine and Glutamine
- May emulate the anti-aging benefits of IGF-1
- Affordable and relatively safe
- Can be toxic for some people if taken in large dosages
- Considered to be a potent drug
- Backed by varying degrees of research depending on the
actual supplement
|
| Homeopathic HGH |
At A Glance: Not really HGH at all, but
diluted concentrations of herbs and oils that are known to provide
anti-aging benefits
- Affordable and largely safe
- Can be toxic if taken in large dosages
- Not backed by substantial research
|
| IGF-1 from Red Deer Velvet Antler |
At A Glance: Anti-Aging and Growth in its
purest and most active state
- Affordable and safe
- No side effects
- Contains additional compounds and supplements, including
chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate.
- Has been used for anti-aging as well as a host of other
health benefits for at least 2,000 years
- Considered to be a food supplement
- Backed by modest research
|
| IGF-1 from Dairy Cows |
At A Glance: Anti-Aging and Growth in its
purest and most active state
- Affordable and safe
- No side effects or drug interactions
- Contains a multitude of vitamins, minerals, growth factors,
immune system protection, immune system regulation and amino
acids
- Has been used for anti-aging as well as a host of other
health benefits for at least 2,000 years
- Considered to be a food supplement
- Backed by extensive research, i.e., thousands of studies
performed over the past two decades
|
Table 1 – Comparison Matrix of Anti-Aging Products
The bottom line is that effective, affordable, safe and proven anti-aging
alternatives to HGH are plentiful. In fact, IGF-1 is the true measure of
anti-aging bioactivity, not HGH.
Figure 1 - Diagram depicting how IGF-1 – the true
anti-aging actuator -- can be realized
Expect to hear much more about IGF-1 as researchers come around to a more
precise way of advancing the whole notion of anti-aging. Invariably this
will shift consumer focus from expensive and potentially harmful drugs to
affordable and benign foods that possess all the same benefits, none of
the side effects and a multitude of additional disease fighting agents
that study after study has shown effective at treating over 80 different
disease including cancer, AIDS, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and
even depression.
Darrel Scheckler is a Senior Researcher with the Center for Nutritional
Research, specializing in anti-aging and related topics.
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