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Can a Pill Keep You Young?
By Robert J. Davis, the Wall Street Journal
November 18, 2003
Even if you're not on a quest to turn back time, you've probably noticed Internet ads for dietary supplements that claim to fight aging . Among the most popular are pills, patches and sprays that supposedly boost levels of human growth hormone, or
HGH.
While research shows that prescription-strength injections of HGH may decrease body fat and increase lean mass, bone density and skin thickness, most doctors don't recommend the hormone as an anti-aging remedy. And even proponents of HGH agree that supplements aren't an effective way to raise levels.
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HGH, which is produced by the pituitary gland, is essential for children to grow normally. Levels decline as we age. A synthetic version, given by injection, is sometimes prescribed to make short children taller. But increasingly, adults who want to look and feel younger are also receiving HGH shots, typically from doctors at "anti-aging" clinics. The practice is controversial, largely because most aging experts say too little is known about the possible risks for adults, which include swelling, joint pain and diabetes. Though there's no direct evidence, there's also concern that high HGH might lead to cancer, or ironically, an earlier death. What's more, the injections are expensive -- $1,000 or more a month.
At $40 to $80 a month, HGH supplements would seem to be a cheaper alternative to injections, and unlike injections don't require a prescription. One type of supplements, known as "releasers," consist of amino acids such as arginine and glutamine. Research suggests that relatively high doses of amino acids -- higher than levels typically found in supplements -- may raise HGH, but for only less than an hour. Such transient increases have not been shown to be beneficial.
Another type, homeopathic HGH supplements, are often sold as patches and oral and nasal sprays. These contain very tiny amounts of HGH, measured in nanograms or billionths of a gram. According to homeopathic principles, extremely diluted concentrations of a substance have therapeutic effects. But few physicians buy this idea, and there's no definitive evidence from independent studies that such small amounts of HGH have any effect. Plus scientists say injections are the only effective way to get HGH into the body.
To make their case, supplement manufacturers often cite a 1990 study from the New England Journal of Medicine. But like most other HGH research, this study involved injections, not supplements, and was preliminary. The journal's editor recently wrote that if consumers buy HGH supplements based on this study, "they are being misled."
Because HGH supplements are only loosely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, there's no way to be certain about safety. Don't assume that HGH formulas with multiple ingredients are any more effective. If you want to boost your levels, you're better off exercising and getting a good night's sleep, which have been shown to have an effect. At the very least, you'll feel better.
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