HGH- HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
As with no other doping drug, growth hormones are still surrounded by an aura of
mystery. Some call it a wonder drug which causes gigantic strength and muscle
gains in the shortest time. Others consider it
completely useless in improving sports performance and argue that it only promotes the growth
process in children with an early stunting of growth. Some are of the opinion that growth hormones
in adults cause severe bone deformities in the form of over-growth of the lower
jaw and extremities. And, generally speaking, which growth hormones should one
take -the human form, the synthetically manufactured version, recombined or
genetically produced form- and in which dosage? All this
controversy about growth hormones is so complex that the reader must have some basic information in
order to understand them. The growth hormone is a polypeptide hormone consisting of 191 amino
acids. In humans it is produced in the hypophysis and released if there are the
right stimuli (e.g. training, sleep, stress, low blood sugar level). It is now
important to understand that the freed HGH (human growth hormone) itself has no
direct effect but only stimulates the liver to produce and release insulin-like
growth factors and somatomedins. These growth factors are then the ones that cause various
effects on the body The problem, however, is that the liver is only capable of producing a limited
amount of these substances so that the effect is limited. If growth hormones are injected they only
stimulate the liver to produce and release these substances and thus, as already mentioned, have no
direct effect.
During the mid 1980's only the human, biologically-active form was available as exogenous sour-cc of
intake. It was obtained from the hypophysis of dead corpses, an expensive and costly procedure. In
1985 the intake of human growth hormones was linked with the very rare Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, an
invariably fatal brain disease characterized by progressive dementia. In response, manufacturers
removed this version from the market. Today, human growth hormones are no longer available for
injection. Fortunately, science has not been asleep and has developed the synthetic growth hormone
which is genetically produced either from Escherichia coli (E coli) or from the transformed mouse cell
line. It has been available in numerous countries for years (see list with Trade Names .
The use of these STH somatotropic hormone compounds offers the athlete three performanceenhancing
effects. STH (somatotropic hormone) has a strong anabolic effect and causes an increased
pro-tein synthesis which manifests itself in a muscular hypertrophy (enlargement of muscle cells) and in
a muscular hyperplasia (in-crease of muscle cells.) The latter is very interesting since this in-crease
cannot be obtained by the intake of steroids. This is probably also the reason why STH is called the
strongest anabolic hormone. The second effect of STH is its pronounced influence on the burning of fat.
It turns more body fat into energy, leading to a drastic reduc-tion in fat or allowing the athlete to
increase his caloric intake. Third, and often overlooked, is the fact that STH strengthens the connective
tissue, tendons, and cartilages, which could be one of the main reasons for the significant increase in
strength experienced by many athletes. Several bodybuilders and powerlifters report that through the
simultaneous intake with steroids STH protects the athlete from injuries while increasing his strength.
You will say that this sounds just wonderful. What is the problem, however, since there are still some
who argue that STH offers nothing to athletes? There are, by all means, several athletes who have tried
STH and who were sadly disappointed by its results. However, as with many things in life, there is a
logical explanation or perhaps even more than one:
1.The athlete simply has not taken a sufficient amount of STH regularly and over a long enough period
of time. STH is a very expensive compound and an effective dosage is unaffordable by most people.
2.When using STH the body also needs more thyroid hormones, insulin, corticosteroids, gonadotropins,
estrogens and - what a surprise! - androgens and anabolics. This is also the reason why STH, when taken alone, is considerably less effective and can only reach its optimum effect by the additive intake
of steroids, thyroid hormones, and insulin, in particular. But we must point out in this case that STH has
a predominately anabolic effect. There are three hormones which are needed at the same time in order
to allow for maximum anabolic effect. These are STH, insulin, and an LT-3 thyroid hormone, such as,
for example, Cytomel. Only then can the liver produce and release an optimal amount of somatomedin
and insulin-like growth factors. This anabolic effect can be further enhanced by taking a substance with
an anticatabolic effect. These substances are---everybody should probably know by nowanabolic/
androgenic steroids or Clenbuterol. Then a synergetic effect takes place. Are you still
wondering why pro bodybuilders are so incredibly massive but, at the same time, totally ripped while
you are not? It is "Polypharmacy at its finest," as W Nathaniel Phillips described to the point in his
bookAnabolic Reference Guide (5th Issue, 1990). But coming back once more to the "anabolic
formula": STH, insulin, and L-T3. Most athletes have tried STH during preparation for a competition in
that phase when the diet is calorie-reduced. The body usually reacts by reducing the release of insulin
and of the L- T3 thyroid hormone. And, as was described under point 2, this is not an advantageous
condition when STH is expected to work well. Well, we almost forgot. Those who combine Clenbuterol
with STH should know that Clenbuterol (like Ephedrine) reduces the body's own release of insulin and
L-T3. True, this seems a little complicated and when reading it for the first time it might be a little
confusing; however it really is true: STH has a significant influence on several hormones in the human
body; this does not allow for a simple ad-ministration schedule. As said, STH is not cheap and those
who intend to use it should know a little more about it. If you only want to burn fat with STH you will only
have to remember user information for the part with the L-T3 thyroid hormone as is printed by Kabi
Pharmacia GmbH for their compound Genotropin: "The need of the thyroid hormone often increases
during treatment with growth hormones. "
3. Since most athletes who want to use STH can only obtain it if prescribed by a physician, the only
supply source remains the black market. And this is certainly another reason why some athletes might
not have been very happy with the effect of the purchased com-pound. How could he, if cheap HCG
was passed off as expensive STH? Since both compounds are available as dry substances, all that
would be needed is a new label of Serono's Saizen or Lilly's Humatrope on the HCG
ampoule. It is no
longer fun when somebody is paying $200 for 5000 I.U. of HCG, only worth $12, and thinking that he
just purchased 4 I.U. of STH. And if you think this happens only to novices and to the ignorant, ask Ben
Johnson. "Big Ben," who during three tests within five days showed an above-limit testosterone level,
was not a victim of his own stupidity but more likely the victim of fraud. 'According to statistics by the
German Drug Administration, 42% of the HGH vials confiscated on the North American black market
are fakes." (Der Spiegel, no. 11, 1993.) One can only say, "Poor Ben." Even Deutsche
Apothekerzeitung is aware of this problem. The magazine wrote in its issue no. 26 of 07/01/93 in the
article "Wachstumshormon--Praparate: Arzneimittelf5lschungen in Bodybuilder-Szene": "The currentlyknown
cases are traded with Dutch or Russian labels... in addition to a display of labels in the Dutch or
Russian language the fakes are distinguished from the original product, in-so far as the dry substance
is not present as lyophilic but present as loose powder. The fakes confiscated so far use the name
"Humatrope 16" under the name of Lilly Company (with Dutch denomination) or "Somatogen" (in
Russian)." Nowhere can this much money be made except by faking STH. Who has ever held original
growth hormones in his hand and known how they should look?
4. In a few very rare cases the body reacts by developing-antibodies to the exogenous STH, thus
making it ineffective.
Before discussing the extremely difficult matter of dosage and intake the following question suggests
itself: Generally speaking who is taking growth hormones? A whole lot of athletes as the following
quotation suggests: "Charlie Francis, the Canadian athletic trainer of Ben Johnson tells how he
improved the performance of Ben and numerous other Olympic athletes by the use of growth hormones
in 1983. Francis also had conclusive evidence that the U.S.-American field and track athletes were
using growth hormones. In a 1989 interview with a pro bodybuilder, an interview not meant for
publication, this massive athlete made clear that he was convinced that almost all professional top
athletes were using Protropin. He also said that it did not bother him if the IFBB were to introduce
doping tests for men in 1990 as long as there would be no testing for growth hormones (Anabolic
Reference Update, June 1989,