" Great question. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, and blood levels of this hormone do tend to drop as we get older, as do many other hormones, including estrogen, testosterone and DHEA."

"The field of anti-aging medicine has become popular in the United States over the past two decades, especially since a small study done in the 1980s suggested that GH injections in healthy older men might improve muscle mass and energy levels."

"The anti-aging industry has since exploded, and organizations such as the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (known as "A4M") promote the use of many such supplements and hormones, touting them as fountains of youth. It's important to note that the use of growth hormone to prevent aging has not been approved by the FDA, and it is currently illegal to distribute growth hormone as an anti-aging substance in the U.S."

"Is there any good science behind all of this? In otherwise-healthy adults, the benefits of growth hormone use are not clear-cut. A recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine reviewed what was felt to be the best of the studies on the use of GH in healthy older adults. The people in these studies were treated for about 27 weeks; they lost on average 4.5 pounds of fat and gained about 4.5 pounds of muscle. There was no significant change in serum cholesterol levels or bone density."

"People getting growth hormone had a significantly higher risk of soft- tissue swelling, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. They were also more likely to develop elevated blood sugar and diabetes. There is also some concern that inappropriate use of growth hormone may increase the risk of certain cancers. Other studies have found no improvement in muscle strength, endurance, or thinking ability in people getting growth hormone."

"Are there other side effects to growth hormone use? It definitely has a negative effect
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