Human growth hormone

Human growth hormone (HGH) has been helping stunted children in the UK to grow normally since 1959.

But concerns about the transmission of CJD mean that all supplies of HGH are now manufactured using artificial techniques.

Human growth hormone is made naturally in the pituitary gland of humans, deep inside the brain just behind the eyes.

It is a microscopic protein substance that is secreted in short pulses during the first hours of sleep and after exercise.

It is made throughout a person's lifetime, but is more plentiful during youth.

It stimulates growth in children and plays an important role in adult metabolism.

It was first isolated in 1956 and its structure was identified in 1972.

How is it made?

Before the advent of genetic engineering, the only source of HGH was from dead bodies. The pituitary glands were removed from corpses, processed and the hormones injected into people who were growth hormone deficient.

What is human growth hormone used for?

In 1959, stunted children were given HGH to help them grow. Without treatment, some boys would only grow to a height of around 130cm by the age of 18. With HGH they could reach a height close to the normal of just over 180cm. It was hailed at the time as a great medical breakthrough.

HGH has found a wide range of other uses now that it can be synthesised in unlimited quantities in the laboratory. It is used, for example, to reverse muscle wasting in AIDS patients. But this has led many athletes to consider using the hormone as a performance-enhancer, increasing their muscle size and strength. Because of the importance of the HGH to the body's biochemistry, HGH has also been promoted as an anti-ageing treatment. Many of the claims made for HGH have a doubtful scientific basis.

Does HGH have side effects?

Studies have shown that elevated levels of HGH can lead to swelling of the soft tissues in the body; abnormal growth of the hands, feet and face; high blood pressure; an increased tendency to sweat and excessive hair growth.

What about CJD?

Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease is a side effect of the HGH that was made from the pituitary glands of dead people. The infective agent which causes CJD resides in the brain, and using HGH in live patients ran the risk of passing on the agent. CJD has an incubation period of up to 30 years. As a result, those who have received treatment may not know their fate for a long time. In scientific circles, it was clear as early as 1977 that there was a risk of transmission. This date has now become the determining factor in who can claim for compensation.

Synthetic HGH is clear of the infective agent that causes CJD.

This page contains basic information. If you are concerned about your health, you should consult a doctor.