July 24, 2008
Human Growth Hormone and Testosterone by Candice Lane, M.D.
The latest Indiana Jones movie disappoints me with the shuffling, slurring, grumpy old man that used to be Indy. In contrast, Sly Stallone last Rambo is as physical and dynamic as ever. My 17 year old dubbed Ford an old man, but pegged Stallone as in his 40s. Playing action figures, both men are in their 60s. Whats the difference? Growth hormone and testosterone.
When Rambo came out in January 2008, Stallone publicly admitted to using growth hormone and testosterone. HGH (human growth hormone) is nothing, the 61-year-old actor told Time Magazine in its Feb. 4 issue. Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed. Testosterone to me is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older,he says. Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life. Mark my words. In 10 years it will be over the counter.
Thank goodness a prominent male celebrity has the guts to talk about hormone health for men!
Sly is right! Growth hormone is not a steroid and testosterone and growth hormone are very important to quality of life in men over 40. Both growth hormone and testosterone get a bad rap due to sports figures over-using them to gain unfair advantage. We are not talking about abuse with synthetic, liver-toxic poisons sold in the back rooms of gyms. We are talking about molecularly bioidentical growth hormone and testosterone native to the human body given in healthy physiologic amounts.
With age, men steadily lose both these hormones starting at about age 30. By the time a man is 60, he may have only the testosterone and growth hormone of a 25 year old man. This is natures way of shutting us down, except we stay alive due to our living conditions and disease-oriented medicine. You may have normal hormone levels for a 60 year old, but this is not medical for health. The healthiest adults are in their 20s, who have medical levels of testosterone and growth hormone.
Human growth hormone is biosynthetic and has the exact same molecular structure as in the human body. It is responsible for growth, healing, immune function, increased muscle mass, minimizing body fat, controlling cholesterol, maintaining sexual energy, and increasing bone strength. It improves heart function and cognitive ability including memory, alertness, motivation, work capacity, speed of information processing and sociability. Growth hormone replacement at physiologic levels does not cause cancer. Growth hormone acts synergistically with testosterone in that their beneficial effects together are greater than either one alone. Growth hormone is approved for use in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency, which is a common occurrence in adults over 40 years old.
Decreased testosterone in men results in increased aging of the heart and circulation including increased heart attacks and strokes. There is increased brain aging with decreased memory, decreased intelligence, increased dementia, and increased Alzheimers. Men lose their drive and competitive edge. They get stiffness and pain in muscles and joints, decreased effectiveness in workouts, and a falling level of fitness. In addition they get more fat and less muscle, osteoporosis (yes, like women), and anemia. Fatigue, depression, mood changes and irritability (grumpy old man syndrome) are common. And of course, there is reduced libido and potency. Testosterone does not cause prostate cancer.
These declines in men happen more gradually than menopause and often become accepted as just getting old. Sadly, some men perceive hormone loss as a matter of ego instead of health. Remember, we may get old, but do need to feel old!
Candice Lane, M.D
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