Since its emergence in the world of bodybuilding, growth hormone for muscles has always been surrounded by controversial opinions, sometimes bordering on mysticism, regarding its effectiveness and health risks.
In this article, we will discuss what growth hormone is in bodybuilding, why it is needed, take a brief excursion into the history of its penetration into professional bodybuilding, and also talk about the dangers of excess and deficiency of growth hormone for health.
Main thoughts:
Human growth hormone is a substance produced within the human body to stimulate physical growth
Muscles grown with the help of growth hormone are non-functional
Excess and deficiency of growth hormone are causes of serious health problems
Starting from the 1970s, and especially in the 1980s, many professional bodybuilders began to acquire a more defined muscle relief, and, according to some of them, not thanks to more intense cardio workouts and an increase in protein intake. With the growing popularity worldwide, criticism of growth hormone also increased: many were absolutely convinced of its serious health dangers, while others claimed that there was nothing particularly special about it. Those who used it knew how effective it could be in building muscle mass. Today, growth hormone is one of the most actively used hormones in the world of bodybuilding, both among professionals and amateurs.
By its type, this drug occupies a place on the same shelf as anabolic steroids and other similar magical substances, which, starting from the 1950s, muscular hands of bodybuilders reached for in a powerful desire to be even bigger, even more defined. This era began precisely with steroids in the 1960s, “thanks” to which the world of bodybuilding realized that chemistry can help achieve a new level of physical perfection. There could be no return to the past. More and more athletes strayed from the path of natural bodybuilding.
Growth hormone entered the game in the 1970s when there was a need for substances that would not be detected in doping tests.
What is growth hormone?
Human growth hormone, also known as gonadotropin, is a hormone with anabolic effects, i.e., it promotes muscle growth. It is a natural substance produced within the human body to stimulate physical growth. It is responsible for the growth of children and adolescents.
Athletes take it to improve muscle mass and performance.
Human growth hormone is a substance produced within the body to stimulate physical growth
In our bodies, the level of growth hormone decreases with age: after 30, it drops by 25% every ten years, reaching 25% of the original level by the age of 60. According to some opinions, if it did not change, the average lifespan would be 140 years, height would be greater, and muscle mass would be larger.
How growth hormone entered bodybuilding
The role of growth hormone in the body of an adult is not fully understood. Its level gradually decreases with age (like other hormones). This fact has led to the hypothesis that additional intake may influence the slowing of aging processes.
Proponents of this hypothesis were particularly excited after a small experiment conducted in 1990, the results of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1. In the study, 12 men received 2 mg of growth hormone intravenously three times a week for six months. At the end, it was found that the result was an increase in muscle mass, a decrease in fat levels, and thickening of bones. Although such research is not sufficient for definitive conclusions (the sample size is too small, the duration of the experiment is short, and there is no placebo group for comparison), it provoked the emergence of a whole industry of hormonal and other similar acting drugs.
Subsequent studies were less optimistic. It was found that growth hormone injections do improve the ratio of muscle mass to fat in older adults, but do not lead to an increase in muscle strength and endurance 2. Additionally, the intake of growth hormone can lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (manifesting as prolonged wrist pain and numbness in the fingers, caused by swelling of the tissues around the median nerve), coarse facial features, bone enlargement, joint pain, and leg swelling.
Growth hormone injections lead to an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in fat deposits, while muscle strength and endurance do not change
Nevertheless, the results of these later studies were unable to stop the marketing machine’s mechanism for promoting and selling growth hormone in bodybuilding (and sports in general), which was initiated by just one single study.
The New England Journal of Medicine was so alarmed by the misuse of the study’s results that it even published an article online warning against the misinterpretation of information from their publication by manufacturers to stimulate sales 3. But this was futile. The madness continues to this day.
What is the purpose of growth hormone in bodybuilding?
The benefits of growth hormone are numerous. Although it was discovered in the 1920s, studies occasionally emerge today that discuss new possibilities for its use. The most important functions include:
- Stimulating muscle protein synthesis
Growth hormone indeed plays a very important role in increasing muscle mass: it counteracts the action of insulin (which hinders fat burning) and promotes muscle anabolism and the acquisition of “lean” muscle definition. It is involved in the processes of recovery and repair of muscle tissue. This is how muscle mass grows.
Important: However, the effectiveness of growth hormone injections for increasing muscle strength or endurance has not been proven.
- Body fat metabolism (fat burning)
Growth hormone stimulates the use of fat as energy. Recent studies on overweight individuals have unequivocally confirmed this fact.
There are also known cases of growth hormone use by individuals on diets seeking to lose weight, where a reduction in fat levels was accompanied by an increase in muscle mass (in the absence of physical activity!).
Growth hormone enhances fat burning, as well as carbohydrate and protein metabolism both in a fasting and fed state. In a fasting state, the natural production of growth hormone increases to oxidize fats to provide energy to protect against catabolism (the state of muscle cell breakdown for use as an energy source).
P.S. The next time you come across an advertisement for yet another fantastic product promising grand transformations, kilograms of muscle mass, and rapid weight loss without the need to go to the gym – keep in mind that its active ingredient is most likely growth hormone or testosterone (anabolic steroids).
- Improves sleep quality
- Boosts energy levels
- May enhance sexual health
- Strengthens bones and joints
- Promotes heart and kidney health
Growth hormone increases muscle mass and stimulates the burning of body fat, but its effectiveness for increasing muscle strength or endurance has not been proven.
As noted above, muscle growth through growth hormone injections does not lead to an increase in muscle strength and physical performance 5,6,7. Moreover, scientists note that muscles grown using growth hormone are non-functional, mere shells: there is volume, but no strength. Usually, size is indeed related to strength. But when muscle tissue growth occurs without training, during which tendons and ligaments are strengthened, the increase in strength is minimal, and under significant loads, tendon ruptures can occur, and the muscle “bulk” can simply tear off.
Muscles grown with the help of growth hormone are non-functional.
It is worth noting that some athletes take growth hormone not only to improve athletic performance but also for faster recovery from injuries, for example, as well as to ensure more intense training.
Growth hormone surpasses testosterone and its derivatives (steroids) in some aspects of stimulating muscle growth, as its use is not accompanied by the manifestation of male traits (androgenic effect), odors, and does not have serious side effects if used in limited doses.
Effects of Growth Hormone Use: Scientific Research
A systematic review of scientific studies indicates that while the use of growth hormone does indeed increase muscle mass, muscle strength does not change 12. Moreover, tolerance to physical loads may decrease 12.
Researcher Birzniece and colleagues 8 conclude that the use of growth hormone in bodybuilding does not increase physical performance, but may influence anaerobic capacity (the body’s ability to utilize oxygen during breathing: the higher, the better).
Overall, only a few studies indicate a positive effect of growth hormone injections on increasing athletic performance 9-11.
Experiment
In one of them, scientists studied sprinter athletes who received a combination of moderate doses of growth hormone and testosterone. The result: the intake of the combination of drugs (growth hormone and testosterone) led to some improvement in sprinting power, but six weeks after stopping the use of the drugs, the results returned to previous levels 10. P.S. Although the results of improvement in sprinting may seem insignificant to many, it should not be forgotten that in professional competitions, even thousandths of a second matter.
Very few scientific studies confirm the effectiveness of growth hormone for increasing sports performance
As for the benefits of growth hormone for increasing muscle mass, the results of scientific experiments are unlikely to provide much insight: they usually use mild doses of growth hormone, far from those administered by athletes on a course.
Observations of real athletes to determine the benefits of growth hormone for muscle mass gain are also not very effective, as athletes rarely limit themselves to just one hormone, but usually combine it with other banned substances (for example, steroids). Therefore, it is very difficult to say what specifically in the cocktail of drugs causes muscle growth in a particular athlete (the same applies to side effects).
Nevertheless, there is enough experimental data to say – growth hormone for increasing muscle mass does indeed work. Although its effectiveness may be individual.
Experimental data clearly indicate that growth hormone for increasing muscle mass does indeed work
What are the dangers of excess and deficiency of growth hormone?
Growth hormone is a natural substance for the human body, critically important for health. It must be present in precise amounts for the proper functioning of a number of physiological processes, including the growth of biological tissues, including muscles. Both excess and deficiency of growth hormone can lead to serious health problems.
Excess and deficiency of growth hormone are causes of serious health problems
1 Deficiency of growth hormone
Sometimes, there may be a disruption in the natural production of growth hormone in the body. Its deficiency leads to a decrease in body muscle mass, an increase in fat mass, a decrease in bone mineral density, reduced muscle strength, and the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. The result: decreased physical performance and quality of life.
The deficiency of growth hormone in children manifests as a halt in growth.
Most of these growth hormone deficiency symptoms are reversible with hormone therapy, but recovery can take several months or even years and may be incomplete 4.
In adults with growth hormone deficiency, hormone replacement therapy improves fat and protein metabolism, leading to partial correction of muscle mass and fat, but not a complete restoration to normal levels 4. The process can take several years, but even after 3 years, muscle strength is typically significantly lower than that of healthy individuals. The ability to endure physical exertion, however, is restored almost to the level of healthy individuals.
2 Excess of growth hormone
Excess leads to a serious condition known as Acromegaly (“gigantism”) – abnormal growth of tissues and organs (limbs, jaws, internal organs), accompanied by insulin resistance (diabetes) and muscle weakness.
One of the most common causes of excessive growth hormone secretion is a pituitary tumor; the most notable example is André the Giant, who was 187 cm tall at the age of 12.
In both cases, monitoring and adjusting the levels of this hormone can lead to the restoration of impaired functions, increased muscle mass, reduced body fat levels, increased bone density, decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and improved brain function.
How Growth Hormone is Used in Bodybuilding
The best way to administer growth hormone is through intravenous injection, as its molecules are very large and cannot be absorbed during the digestive process; they simply break down. Other methods of internal administration include oral intake, sublingual drops, or in the form of a spray in the nose or throat.
The most effective method of administering growth hormone is intravenously, via injection.
Side Effects of Growth Hormone
Although growth hormone is a “familiar” substance to our body, self-adjusting it with the help of medications leads to hormonal imbalance, which affects overall health. This imbalance is the reason for the potential serious harm to health when using growth hormone in bodybuilding. For detailed information on the side effects of using growth hormone, read here:
Recommended:Growth Hormone: Side Effects and Consequences of Use | Scientific Facts
Growth Hormone for Muscles is Illegal
Special growth hormone preparations are illegal and are classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as prohibited substances or doping.
For a long time, the only source of growth hormone was the corpses of animals. Its use was accompanied by the risk of serious infectious disease – bovine encephalitis, which could be fatal within weeks. Today, growth hormone is synthesized artificially.
The method of distributing the drug is also of interest. In the USA, for example, the concept of legal/illegal is determined by the concentration of the prohibited substance. Therefore, growth hormone is dissolved in alcohol to a “legal” concentration. It is taken in the form of sublingual drops or nasal spray (this is a way to quickly get it into the bloodstream, as it cannot withstand gastric juice processing). Another method of the most “economical” administration is intravenous injection, but in this form, its release is also prohibited by law.
Conclusion
Growth hormone is illegal, not very effective in building muscle mass (without testosterone), but effective in recovery, not a cheap drug, the use of which is associated with the risk of serious harm to health, as well as physical transformation towards an ogre-like deformity.
Overall, scientists recommend using natural ways to increase growth hormone levels.
If a quick external effect is important to you, then this drug may be of interest. Just remember the serious side effects.
