Somatotropin: Understanding Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Somatotropin is another name for human growth hormones. It is produced by the pituitary glands and works in conjunction with a hormone made by the liver to aid in growth. It also helps with the body's metabolic rate.

Function

• Somatotropin helps the cells in the body to reproduce, thus aiding in the process of growth. Children have higher levels of somatotropin than adults.

Adult Use

• In adults, somatotropin helps the body to heal. Because somatotropin decreases as we age, it causes a cellular deficit. That deficit correlates directly to the symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles and weaker bodies.

Uses

• People inject themselves with somatotropin to stop the effects of aging or to increase athletic performance. Abuse of somatotropin can cause long-term effects, such as arthritis and high blood pressure.

Other Side Effects

• Other side effects include carpal tunnel syndrome, thickening of the bones and enlarged organs.

Dwarfism

• Somatotropin is administered to children with the pituitary dysfunction that causes dwarfism.