Effects Of Low-Dose Growth Hormone
Replacement
- Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology Ahmad AM, Hopkins MT,
Thomas J, Ibrahim H, Fraser WD, Vora JP June
2001, Vol, 54 No. 6 709.
Study design:
A prospective, open treatment design study
to determine the early effects of low-dose
GH administration on body composition and
quality of life. GH was initiated at a daily
does of 0.4-0.5 IU.
Measurements:
Body composition and quality of life were
assessed prior to low dose GH therapy and
subsequently at 1 and 3 months after
initiating GHT (growth hormone therapy).
Body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ration (WHR)
were calculated from measurements of height,
weight, and waist and hip circumference,
respectively. Bioelectrical impedance
analysis (BIA) was used to determine body
fat and lean body mass. Quality of life was
assessed using the disease-specific
‘QoL-assessment of growth hormone deficiency
in adults (QoL-AGHDA)’ questionnaire.
Conclusion:
Low-dose GHT improves body composition and
quality of life as early as 1 month after
commencement and the beneficial effects
continue at 3 months and beyond. Most
importantly these changes occur in the
absence of side-effects. We therefore
suggest the use of low-dose GH therapy
(maintaining
IGF-1 between the median and upper
end of the age-related reference range) for
the treatment of normal age related body
composition changes (e.g. increased
abdominal fat and decreased muscle mass and
tone) and improvement in overall quality of
life.
Do
my HGH levels drop as I age?
During youth hormone levels are normally
high, and high levels of certain hormones
account for things such as good muscle/fat
ratio, and high libido and sexual function.
The body releases lower and lower levels
of hormones (including HGH) as we age.
This decreases the body's ability to
function properly. For instance, the growth
hormones that are responsible for forming
muscle mass; human growth hormone,
testosterone, and thyroid, drop dramatically
as we get older. For this reason, the ratio
of
fat in our body increases
and the ratio of
lean muscle decreases
even if we exercise and eat properly, and
even if we do not actually gain weight.
On average,
after age 35 the amount of body fat
expands by 50%,
while the lean body mass (LBM) that forms
muscles, bones, and the vital organs
actually shrinks by 30 percent.

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