Until recently, few people realized how important growth hormone was to an adult body. However, recent medical advancements have shown exactly how the adult relies on growth hormone. However, Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency is not a usual condition. Therefore, if you are searching for information which is outside of the usual realm of medical use for this hormone, we strongly suggest that you research all of the information on Adult Growth Hormone use and consult your physician.
Most everyone understands that children need growth hormone to grow taller. Most also know that growth hormone is available for children as a medication and is necessary therapy for children who are deficient in this hormone, to achieve their inherited potential height. What has been discovered recently is that adults also need growth hormone for a number of very important reasons. The problems associated with growth hormone deficiency in adults have been discovered and documented. It is now a medical fact that adults need growth hormone too!
Where Does Growth Hormone Come From?
Growth Hormone is a chemical substance produced by the pituitary gland, a small dime sized gland that extends from the base of the center of the brain located right behind the eyes. A number of important hormones are produced by the pituitary, including growth hormone. part of the brain just above the pituitary called the hypothalamus controls the amount of growth hormone released by the pituitary.
The amount of growth hormone released by the pituitary over our lifetime changes with higher amounts during childhood, especially during the pubertal growth spurts, and declining amounts as we get older.
Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, which, in turn, deposits this hormone into the bloodstream.
This hormone can be measured in blood by taking a blood sample. The hormone normally leaves the bloodstream and enters into the tissues of the body to exert an effect. Growth hormone affects many of the tissues of the body, including bone, fat and muscles, to name a few. We need growth hormone all of our lives to maintain these tissues in proper balance.
What Does Growth Hormone Do?
Growth hormone maintains muscle, bone and fat tissues in healthy balance. Without growth hormone, these tissues get out of balance. Deficiency of growth hormone in children is easy to recognize. Children with low levels of growth hormone grow poorly and remain short. In adults, growth hormone deficiency is not easy to spot since adults have achieved adult height and have used their bones, thereby preventing further growth. The deficiency of growth hormone in adults can be appreciated by looking at body composition. Since growth hormone maintains a proper amount of fat, muscle and bone, these important parts of our bodies are not nurtured properly and change in an unhealthy direction. With this deficiency, fat is deposited more easily, especially around the middle of the abdomen, what doctors call visceral or abdominal fat. Since growth hormone affects muscles, they also change for the worse, which means there is less muscle and less ability to exercise. Bones, too, participate in the deficiency by becoming weaker (but not shorter). We call this weakening osteoporosis. This combination of more fat, less muscle and less bone structure represents the body composition changes as the result of growth hormone deficiency in adults.
Adults experience an additional problem with growth hormone deficiency. Since growth hormone controls fat metabolism, adults with growth hormone deficiency will have a change in their blood fats referred to as cholesterol. These changes result in a higher overall cholesterol level in blood, which is undesirable. The “good” cholesterol level to be as high as possible. This good cholesterol (also referred to as HDL cholesterol) changes to a lower level as the result of growth hormone deficiency, which is the opposite of what we want to be healthy.
What are some of the Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults?
Adults who develop growth hormone deficiency often do not feel their usual selves. Most notice a decrease in their energy level and endurance for exercise. Some may avoid social contact or avoid meeting with or talking to their friends. Others will have deficient interest in sexual activity. Other people with growth hormone deficiency think they feel normal, but do not remember the way they felt before they developed the deficiency. These people may feel a dramatic improvement only after growth hormone therapy is started.
Causes of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
Most children who develop growth hormone deficiency do so because the hypothalamus, for unknown reasons, fails to function and does not stimulate the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. There is not a visible cause of pituitary injury in most children with growth hormone deficiency. Adults, however, who develop growth hormone deficiency usually do so because of some damage to the pituitary gland. This damage results in an inability to make growth hormone in sufficient quantities. The most common cause of pituitary damage in adults is a pituitary tumor. Either the tumor itself, or surgery to remove the tumor or radiation therapy of the tumor, can result in damage to the pituitary and an inability to produce growth hormone. Less commonly, pituitary underproduction of growth hormone may result from head injury or irradiation to the head for treatment of a brain tumor. Some adults may also have under active thypothalamic drive (activity) as a cause of growth hormone deficiency similar to the most common reason for children to develop low growth hormone, but this is rare.
What Methods Are Used to Prove Growth Hormone Deficiency?
Your doctor will choose a test to prove growth hormone deficiency. Since growth hormone in blood can often be low in normal individuals, a low level in blood does not prove growth hormone deficiency. Your doctor will choose a stimulation test that will cause growth hormone to be released by your pituitary gland into your bloodstream, By measuring your blood at intervals after the stimulation has been given, your responses to the stimulus can be obtained. In normal individuals there is a rise in blood growth hormone after a stimulus. In deficient individuals there is not rise or an insufficient rise, which will prove you are growth hormone deficient. A few of the growth hormone stimulants (growth hormone stimulation tests) include arginine, L-dopa, clonidine or insulin. Your doctor will choose one of these that best fits your lifestyle.
How Is Growth Hormone Therapy Administered?
Growth hormone is given by injection. It is given daily underneath the skin into fat tissues. Most individuals give it in the fat in the lower abdomen. The needles and syringes are the same used by diabetic patients. These are dispensed by the pharmacist with a prescription for insulin syringes and attached needles. You will also need a container to dispose of these needles and syringes. They should not be disposed of in the usual trash. You will need a special “sharps container” for disposal. The dose of growth hormone will be calculated by your doctor. The dose may change depending upon your responses and blood tests taken to monitor therapy.
What Symptoms Suggest Too Much Growth Hormone Therapy?
If you are receiving too much growth hormone you may have symptoms such as swelling of the ankles, aching in your joints, or pain in your hands. Your blood pressure may also rise to a level above normal. If these symptoms occur, you should notify your physician. Most patients feel more energy and an improved sense of well-being shortly after beginning therapy. You can expect to feel better in two to three weeks, but may not feel the full improvement for three to six months as your doctor slowly increases the does to the right level for you.
Summary
We need growth hormone all of our lives, not only as children for growth purposes. We need growth hormone as adults to keep our bodies in proper balance. Without growth hormone as adults we have reduced energy and our body composition changes to more fat, less muscle and less bone. Replacement of this hormone in adults, when this hormone is deficient, will restore the body to a more normal and healthy balance. This continued, lifelong therapy should help you live a more normal and healthy life.
Contributed by:
David Cook, M.D.
Oregon Health Sciences Univ.
Portland, OR
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If you are an adult affected with Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency, we would be glad to put you in touch with other affected adults, keep you posted on our annual Educational programs, receive our Adult GHD Newlsetter and other services tailored to Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency. Feel free to contact us at your convenience.
