A right balance of hormones is essential for the human body. Without all the hormones being produced in their designated amounts, it would be almost impossible for a human being to function and live a healthy life. However, when there is a deficiency of a crucial hormone like the Growth Hormone, it is important to understand what it means and how it is going to affect.
What is Growth Hormone?
Growth Hormone, also known as Somatotropin, is a peptide-based hormone which is responsible for growth, cell reproduction and cell regeneration. It is secreted by somatotropin cells which are present in the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland of the brain. A balanced secretion of the Growth Hormone is essential for the healthy life of a person as it regulates and controls the physical and mental growth of an individual. While an excessive production of this hormone is detrimental to the health of a person, to the point of causing physical deformity, a deficiency of it also has immense negative effects on the human body.
How does the deficiency of Growth Hormone affect a person?
When the pituitary gland fails to produce adequate amount of the Growth Hormone, commonly abbreviated as GH, it can have several consequences on a person. In children a deficiency of the growth hormone leads to a stunted growth of the child, both physically as well as mentally. In children suffering from low levels of GH, development of bones and muscles takes substantially longer than those of other children the same age, and hence, these children reach their height, weight and development goals slower. Since it also controls the cognitive faculties, children with a GH deficiency as also seen to suffer from an impairment of cognitive functions and memory.
In fully grown adults although GH doesn’t control the height, it is essential for maintaining a healthy functioning of the body. Adult onset of deficiency of Growth Hormone leads to fatigue, lethargy, emotional distress, skewed balance of the right amount of fat, muscle and bone in body etc. This leads to a loss of bone mass, osteoporosis and makes the bones brittle. The deficiency of GH is seen to cause reduced muscle mass, loss of concentration, baldness in men. It can even affect the levels of cholesterol and lipid anomalies.
Treatment of Growth Hormone deficiency
Deficiency of GH can be either congenital or acquired. It might be caused due to several reasons which include genetic issues, disease, trauma, reaction to radiation therapy etc. and it can lead to severe consequences. Hence, it is important to consult an endocrinologist and start on a hormone replacement therapy as soon as possible. Jintropin and other such growth hormone supplements help by making up for the lack of growth hormone and aids in the maintenance of a healthy balance of hormones in the body. It regulates the bone, muscle and fat ratio of the body ensuring that the person maintains a desired physical shape. It is useful in developing stronger bones, better muscle mass and cutting down on excessive flab.
Growth Hormone is important for the healthy functioning of an individual and a deficiency of this should be treated with immediate medical care in order to minimise the damage.
- Wikipedia – Growth hormone
- Academic.oup.com – Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adulthood and the Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement
- Pharmacer – Jintropin®