What Are the Functions of HGH?

HGH stands for human growth hormone. The brain's anterior pituitary gland secretes the chemical into the body, allowing people to achieve normal height. Protropin, a synthetic version of HGH, is prescribed to patients suffering from dwarfism, and is being researched as a weight-loss alternative.

Identification

• HGH stands for human growth hormone, which is a chemical secreted by the pituitary gland, located in the brain. Scientists have created a synthetic version of human growth hormone, called Protropin, which is fluid that is injected periodically until results of the chemical have been achieved.

Time Frame

• The pituitary gland secretes HGH from birth to the age of 21, when levels gradually decrease over the remaining life span of the individual. Synthetic HGH treatments continue until the desired height is achieved or desired weight has been reached.

Benefits

• The key benefit to HGH (secreted by the pituitary gland) is that it allows people to grow tall, based on the instructions in the individual's DNA. It also helps maintain organs, bones, muscles, body fat.

Effects

• Natural HGH allows people to achieve their hereditary height. Synthetic HGH causes blood pressure to increase, the body to retain fluids, joints to ache and swell. There are also reports of short-term resistance to insulin, causing high blood sugar.

Considerations

• Synthetic HGH injections are very expensive. Many claims exist about the benefits of synthetic HGH injections in normal life, but these are largely unsubstantiated, and no definitive research and results exists.