HGH (Somatropin)
Also known as: Human growth hormone, Somatropin, Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), GH, Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Omnitrope, Saizen, Zomacton
FDA-approved prescription hormone for specific indications; distribution for anti-aging illegal in the US (21 USC 333(e)); prohibited by WADA
4 notable studies · 5 references
TLDR
HGH (somatropin) is the 191-amino-acid pituitary growth hormone, available as an FDA-approved recombinant drug for growth hormone deficiency and several growth disorders; in healthy older adults it modestly increases lean mass and reduces fat without clearly improving strength and with more side effects, so it is not recommended for anti-aging, and distribution for that purpose is illegal in the US.
At a Glance
Classification: Endogenous 191-amino-acid, 22-kDa pituitary polypeptide hormone; growth hormone receptor (GHR) agonist; approved recombinant hormone therapy
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a 191-amino-acid protein made by the pituitary gland. Somatropin is the recombinant version with the identical sequence. It is an established prescription drug, approved for: • Growth hormone deficiency in children and adults • Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and Noonan syndrome • Children born small for gestational age, idiopathic short stature and chronic kidney disease-related growth failure • HIV-associated wasting (specific products) • Short bowel syndrome (specific products). Use as an "anti-aging" therapy is not approved, and distributing HGH for anti-aging is illegal in the US. A systematic review of trials in healthy older adults found small changes in body composition but more adverse effects, and did not recommend it as anti-aging therapy. HGH is prohibited in sport by WADA.
What Is HGH (Somatropin)?
Growth hormone is released by the pituitary in pulses, mostly during sleep. It is controlled by GHRH (stimulates), somatostatin (inhibits) and ghrelin (stimulates). Somatropin → exogenous growth hormone itself Sermorelin / tesamorelin / CJC-1295 → GHRH-receptor agonists that make the pituitary release its own GH Ipamorelin / GHRP-2 → ghrelin-receptor agonists that also release the body's own GH HGH fragment 176-191 → a small piece of GH studied for fat metabolism; not growth hormone Long-acting GH products (for example somapacitan, somatrogon and lonapegsomatropin) are separate approved formulations.
What Are Researchers Studying?
Growth hormone deficiency
Adult GH deficiency diagnosis and treatment are covered by Endocrine Society guidelines, which describe benefits for body composition, bone density and quality of life in people with confirmed deficiency, along with monitoring requirements.
Body composition in older adults
In 21 healthy men aged 61-81 with low IGF-1, six months of GH increased lean body mass 8.8% and decreased fat mass 14.4% versus an untreated group. In a 26-week RCT of 131 healthy adults aged 65-88, GH increased lean mass and decreased fat, but strength did not improve significantly, and side effects included swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel symptoms and glucose intolerance or diabetes.
Anti-aging use
A systematic review of 18 study populations (220 GH-treated healthy older adults) found GH reduced fat by about 2.1 kg and increased lean mass by about 2.1 kg, with no change in weight, but raised rates of soft-tissue swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and gynecomastia.
Athletic performance
A systematic review of GH in healthy young adults found increased lean body mass, but GH did not appear to improve strength or exercise capacity, and adverse effects increased.
How Does It Work?
Somatropin (GH) ↓ growth hormone receptor dimer on liver, muscle, fat and bone cells ↓ JAK2 / STAT5 signaling ↓ liver IGF-1 production plus direct GH effects (fat breakdown, reduced insulin sensitivity, protein building) ↓ linear growth in children, and changes in body composition, bone and metabolism.
What Does the Research Show?
Human research
VERY HIGH for approved indications (GH deficiency and specific growth disorders). MODERATE for body-composition changes in healthy older adults, but without clear functional benefit and with more side effects. LOW / NOT SUPPORTED for anti-aging, strength or athletic performance.
Animal research
Extensive animal physiology; human data dominate for clinical questions.
In-vitro research
Receptor and signaling biology well established.
Notable Studies
Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old
humanJournal: New England Journal of Medicine. 21 healthy men aged 61-81 with low IGF-1: 12 received GH three times weekly for six months, 9 were untreated. GH raised IGF-1 into the youthful range, increased lean body mass 8.8%, decreased fat mass 14.4%, and increased lumbar bone density 1.6%.
Limitations: Small, not blinded or placebo-controlled; six months; widely misused in anti-aging marketing.
View publication →Growth hormone and sex steroid administration in healthy aged women and men: a randomized controlled trial
humanJournal: JAMA. 26-week double-blind 2x2 factorial RCT in 131 healthy adults aged 65-88 testing GH, sex steroids, both or placebo. GH increased lean body mass and decreased fat in both sexes; strength did not improve significantly; adverse effects included edema, carpal tunnel symptoms, joint pain and, in men, glucose intolerance or diabetes.
Limitations: 26 weeks; modest group sizes; doses higher than later practice.
View publication →Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly
humanJournal: Annals of Internal Medicine. Review of 31 articles (18 study populations, 220 GH-treated participants). GH reduced fat mass by about 2.1 kg and increased lean mass by about 2.1 kg, without weight change, and increased soft-tissue edema, arthralgias, carpal tunnel syndrome and gynecomastia. The authors concluded GH cannot be recommended as anti-aging therapy.
Limitations: Small, short underlying trials; limited data on hard outcomes.
View publication →Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance
humanJournal: Annals of Internal Medicine. Review of 44 articles (27 study samples, 303 GH-treated healthy, fit adults aged 13-45). GH increased lean body mass by about 2.1 kg, but strength and exercise capacity did not appear to improve; soft-tissue edema and fatigue were more common. The authors concluded performance-enhancement claims are not supported.
Limitations: Mean treatment duration was only about 20 days; trial doses may not reflect real-world use; few studies measured athletic performance directly.
View publication →What We Still Don't Know
• Long-term risks of non-medical GH use in healthy adults (including cancer and diabetes risk) • Whether GH-related lean-mass gains improve strength, function or longevity in healthy people • Real-world doses and outcomes of illicit use • Comparative long-term outcomes of daily versus newer long-acting GH formulations • Quality and identity of non-pharmaceutical HGH sources
Related Compounds
Recent publications
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Sources & References
- Rudman D et al. Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old. New England Journal of Medicine. 1990.
- Blackman MR et al. Growth hormone and sex steroid administration in healthy aged women and men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002.
- Liu H et al. Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2007.
- Liu H et al. Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2008.
- Molitch ME, et al. Evaluation and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011.
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