Growth hormone

Interest in growth hormone (GH; also known as somatotropin) as a potential anti-aging agent stems primarily from the evidence that GH treatment in elderly individuals can reduce adiposity and produce other beneficial changes in body composition. While the lipolytic effects of GH are consistent and well documented, other benefits of GH therapy have been conclusively demonstrated only in individuals with GH deficiency. Moreover, GH treatment of individuals who are not GH deficient can produce various troublesome and potentially dangerous side effects. Evidence that suppression of GH signaling in experimental animals with genetic GH deficiency or GH resistance can lead to an impressive extension of health span and longevity further undermines the rationale for using GH in attempts to slow or reverse aging. Nevertheless, GH and various ill-defined GH-related products continue to be promoted and used as an anti-aging therapy, with research on the anti-aging potential of GH continuing and producing some intriguing results. It should be emphasized that the current consensus of major professional medical organizations and governmental agencies is that GH should be administered only to individuals with clearly diagnosed GH deficiency or other approved indications.