The Growth Hormone is gaining popularity these days especially among personal trainers and body builders who are looking to build lean body mass and decrease body fat, and those that are looking to defy the aging process and stay youthful, so what is the growth hormone ( human growth hormone or somatotropin and what is the function of this hormone in our body ? How is it tested and what information does testing results offer on your health status?
Growth hormone (or Human Growth Hormone) , also known as somatotropin, is a 191 – amino acid peptide that is naturally released by the pituitary gland, is an anabolic hormone, which promotes muscle growth and the break down of body fat for energy as well, stimulates both bone and soft tissue growth. It also stimulates the secretion of somatomedins from the liver. Somatomedins, also called insulin – like growth factors (IGFs) which are structurally related to insulin, act with the growth hormone to stimulate both bone growth and soft tissue growth.
How does the growth hormone affect our body?
Growth in humans is a continuous process that begins before birth. Without this hormone, children simply will not grow. The growth hormone is released through out life, but peaks in teenage years, and the biggest role for the growth hormone is in children. In adults, the largest pulse of growth hormone is released in the first 2 hours of sleep. Metabolically, the growth hormone is anabolic for proteins, directing energy and amino acids into protein synthesis, an essential part of tissue growth. It increases fat breakdown and glucose output from the liver. The growth hormone also acts with the insulin like growth factors that stimulate bone and cartilage growth. During exercise, this hormone is increased in the plasma and helps regulate metabolism along other hormones.
The amount of growth hormone released is affected by the following factors:
1. Hormones such as the thyroid hormone, insulin and sex steroid hormones.
2. Diet – with adequate proteins, caloric intake, vitamins and minerals.
3. Stress – Presence or absence there of stress affects the amount of cortisol released which has significant anti-growth and anti- metabolism effects.
4. Genetics.
5. Circadian rhythm.
How is the growth hormone tested?
The growth hormone can be tested through blood testing. We do offer testing for this hormone at our naturopathic clinic. For more information on testing the growth hormone and other hormones, please click here.
Nearly half the growth hormone released in the blood is bound to a plasma growth hormone binding protein, which protects the plasma growth hormone from being filtered in the urine, extending its half life from 7 – 18 minutes and works as a reservoir for the growth hormone in the blood. Somatomedin or insulin- like growth factor – IGF-1 is important because it is a reliable indicator of human growth hormone. IGF-1 needs to be within the expected range for this reason: Low IGF-1 levels indicate Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency associated with rapid aging, decreased muscle and bone mass, slowing cognition, low libido and poor quality of life.
By: Sushma Shah, Toronto Naturopath, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.