HGH or human growth hormone is sometimes also referred to as Somatotropin. HGH is a protein which is naturally produced by the brain and is an essential chemical messenger. HGH is responsible for a number of vital functions in the human body. All vertebrates have some form of HGH in their body. Although for non human species this is just referred to as a growth hormone or GH.

Compared to the other hormones in the human body, Somatotropin or HGH is a very large hormone. HGH is made up of a full 191 amino acids. The somatotrope cells of the brains anterior pituitary gland are responsible for producing HGH. Chemical signals from the nearby hypothalamus gland control the secretion of HGH into the body’s bloodstream. Both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland can be found in the middle of the brain.

During sleep the body releases small amount of Somatotropin into the bloodstream. Once there is helps to control cellular repair, metabolism, lean muscle growth and the normal maintenance of brain function. HGH has also been proven to help boost the function of the immune system. While the body’s ability to produce HGH starts to decrease after the age of thirty or forty the hormone still continues to play a very vital role in an individual’s overall health.


While HGH is a powerful protein, serious medical condition can develop if there is too little or too much of it in the body. If an individual takes too much HGH or is prescribed too much by their doctor then it can lead to a tumor on the pituitary gland which eventually develops into a condition known as acromegaly. The symptoms of this condition include thickening of fingers and toes, impinged nerves, blurred vision and sometimes diabetes. Sometimes individuals can choose to have the tumor removed in order to reverse the effects of this condition. Although if the tumor happens during childhood then an abnormal amount of permanent growth can cause gigantism.

However, there are also problems associated with having too little HGH in your body. If there is a genetic mutation in the hormone gene code, a problem with the chemical signal that releases HGH into the body or any kind of structural malfunction to the pituitary and hypothalamus gland then an individual can suffer from a lack of HGH production. If this deficiencies occurs in children then that will be a lack of overall growth that leads to a condition commonly known as dwarfism. If the deficiency happens in adulthood then some symptoms can be fatigue, loss of lean muscle mass and heart disease.

Today there is a synthetic form of HGH and pre-curser forms that can help treat conditions that result from a lack of the natural HGH. Many diseases are currently being treated with HGH injections including AIDS patients so that they can maintain their weight in the last stages of the disease. HGH has also been used to treat fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease. HGH supplements have also been used to help bodybuilders gain muscle mass, obese people to lose weight and elderly people to reverse the symptoms of aging.