A Stimulating Subject: Human Growth Hormone © VR By Chris O'Brien A driving force in the Dietary Supplement Industry is anti-aging, and vying for first place within that market is the category of human growth hormone (HGH) supplements. Though we have yet to see an HGH, or even an anti-aging section established across the natural and mainstream markets, reports from manufacturers say sales of HGH are up, distribution channels are expanding and the customer feedback is extremely positive. The benefits of HGH, said to include increased strength, better sleep and more energy, are relevant to almost all consumer groups: young to older adults, men and women, athletes, retirees and the ordinary working stiff. But to know how to merchandise HGH products, retailers need to understand the biological actions and implications of HGH. Also, there are dozens of HGH-related products, each with its own unique twist that may or may not have a special benefit for the individual consumer. HGH History HGH used in prescriptions and supplements today is a synthetic, recombinant replica of the growth hormone found in the human body; it was created by scientists in the mid-1980s. Before this, HGH was extracted from the pituitaries of human and animal cadavers–the only "natural" source of HGH–but it was usually only used to treat dire cases, such as children with dwarfism, because of the expense and risk of subsequent infection. In fact, a June report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry featured a 27-year-old Dutch man who recently died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease–a form of mad cow disease–after receiving cadaver-derived HGH treatment at the age of nine. But since the advent of a safe and reproducible supply of HGH in the mid-80s, more and more people have been using HGH free from the risk of infection. Up until the 1990s, the only available form was injections, and they were costly–usually running upwards of $25,000 a year. Also, HGH injections have potentially serious side effects including possible heart disease, diabetes, carpal tunnel, arthritis, edema, elevated blood sugar and the repression of the pituitary's natural growth hormone secretions. Even so, the vain-and-wealthy sought out injections for the incredible youth-preserving benefits. (Today, the same materials that go into HGH injection prescriptions is found in supplements–just in smaller doses.) Studies and personal accounts have found that HGH increases energy, strength and stamina; burns fat and builds lean body mass; affords better sleep and more concentration and focus;improves libido, regrows hair and nails, improves skin tone and strengthens bones and nerves. In his book, Grow Young with HGH (Harper, 1997), Ronald Klatz, MD, president of the American Academy for Anti-Aging states: "Human growth hormone is the first substance that has been clinically shown to actually reverse the effects of aging. It has the potential to change the way we live and grow young." HGH and other growth factors are normally produced at peak levels from puberty to the mid to late 20s. However, a few injections won't bring back one's 21st birthday–it takes continuous, usually daily, injections to produce drastic results. There are some disparate viewpoints about the ultimate safety of HGH. According to some, these same biological growth factors that regrow hair and muscle may also enhance rapid cell division and proliferate cancer growth. But new research is finding this theory to be untrue. According to Chuck Mesko, president of Fountain of Youth Technologies, Inc., in Millersport, OH, the latest science has determined that HGH can help prevent, and may even combat, cancer and other degenerative illnesses. "Much of the worldwide research right now supports using HGH to combat cancer and enhance the immune system," he said. "Researchers have shown that HGH enhances T, B, and natural killer cell activity in the body. Also, HGH is the ultimate antioxidant. Unlike traditional antioxidants, which can only reduce existing cellular damage from free radicals, HGH promotes the healing and rejuvenation of cells." Mesko explained that the waste given off through normal cell growth includes free radicals such as the cell-mutating protease enzyme. "HGH prevents this type of damage by activating cellular protease inhibitors, thus preventing cellular damage before it starts," he said. Getting even safer, natural products manufacturers have created non-injection alternatives in an effort to lower risk but attain the same great benefits. The two main product categories available today are homeopathic HGH products and secretagogues. Both types of products encourage the body's natural production of HGH, homeopathics by using infinitesimally small levels of HGH and secretagogues with ingredients other than HGH. Although some companies manufacture HGH sprays and other dietary supplements with more tangible levels of HGH, this article will focus on homeopathics and secretagogues. Homeopathic HGH Homeopathy is a two century-old science that uses minuscule amounts of a substance–often beyond even a single molecule–to coax the body's natural biological "intuition," or "knowledge." In other words, a homeopathic HGH typically contains phantom doses of HGH, not enough to force a biochemical change, but intended to trigger the body to increase its own pituitary secretions. "The idea is that HGH is a drug with well-known potential toxic side effects," explained Barbara Brewitt, PhD, chief scientific officer and CEO at Biomed Comm, Seattle, WA. "You don't want it in really high concentrations where it can cause problems. So homeopathy was the logical approach for us. If something causes a problem at the injectible concentration, we can get rid of that at the homeopathic level." "No homeopathic product has ever been recalled because it hurt someone," said Robert Johnstreet, president of Always Young, in New York, NY. "Our homeopathic HGH products have been on the market for three and a half years and we have had no problems whatsoever." Here are some of the homeopathic HGH products available: Always Young offers the Renewal line of HGH products including HGH Original, homeopathic HGH; HGH Advanced, with eight complementary ingredients such as ornithine, zinc and colostrum; IGF-1 and Workout For Men. By year-end, the line will also include Workout For Women and Trim. "We have found that homeopathic HGH products overall are showing great results in terms of the percentage of people getting the benefits. Also, homeopathics offer results across age groups (30 to 70-plus years), gender and ethnicity, whereas some other releasers work better in younger people." Liddell Labs, in Moraga, CA, manufactures Vital HGH and Vital II. Vital HGH contains three homeopathic ingredients: HGH and pituitary and liver extracts. "There are two reasons for the homeopathic liver extract: one is safety, the other is efficacy," said president Randy Powers. "In our five-month clinical trial, we found that adding the liver extract not only supports the liver, but supports the whole growth hormone process in the body. Also, we found that HGH alone raised glucose levels. With the addition of liver extract, glucose levels remained normal." Vital HGH is not a stimulator, Powers explained, it is designed to rebalance the body and enable the pituitary to secrete the normal amounts of growth hormone for the individual's age and gender. He recommends Vital for people age 30 and up who want more energy, better sleep, healthier skin, less wrinkles, fat loss and muscle gain. Vital II is a non-HGH containing, six-ingredient homeopathic designed to provide the similar benefits to HGH. Biomed Comm makes homeopathic Naturally HGH tablets. "The formula contains three different concentrations," said Brewitt. "The 6C is the one considered to work best at the physical level, and 100C and 200C work best to provide both physical and psychological benefits." Brewitt is one of the few scientists with published double-blind clinical trials on a formulation. Along with several other doctors, she tested her homeopathic HGH in three separate test groups and three separate locations, generating reproducible, statistically significant results. In total, the studies included 162 subjects ranging in age from 18 to 72. "We found a combination of physical and psychological benefits," Brewitt explained. "Physically, people experienced better sleep, changes in body composition–less fat and more lean tissue, lower blood pressure and more energy. Psychologically, they developed a new attitude, vitality and zest for life. A reduction in anxiety and anger also resulted in fewer headaches, less joint discomfort, body pain and shortness of breath." Trimedica, in Tempe, AZ, makes Live Young Oral HGH, a homeopathic tablet in three potencies: 6C, 100C and 200C. The product is sourced from Biomed Comm and marketed under a different name. Randy Ratclif, sales manager for Trimedica, suggested an effective cycling regimen: "We recommend one tablet daily for the first week, two daily for the second week, then three tablets five days a week–three days on, one day off," he said. "After three months, discontinue use for one month, then start over again." Secretagogues Though secretagogue is a common term for an HGH product that contains no HGH, many manufacturers are hesitant to give their products such nomenclature. They prefer to refer to a secretagogue as a specific amino acid combination intended to increase levels of HGH in the body, using instead the term "potentiator" or "activator." For the sake of classification, in this section we will look at several non-HGH containing products–even ones that are not called secretagogues–and their effect on the body's HGH levels. "A secretagogue is any product that promotes or supports growth hormone release in the body," said Kevin Hopkins, biochemist at Maximum Human Performance, in Cedar Grove, NJ. "The advantage with secretagogues is that the body isn't exposed to anything above the physiological norm. Secretagogues enable the body to produce as much HGH as it can naturally." According to some, one potential downside to secretagogues, particularly amino acid combinations, is that the body's HGH cycle needs to be triggered in order to release more HGH. Certain activities, including strenuous exercise and deep sleep, trigger HGH pulses by the pituitary. Under these circumstances, secretagogues can be very beneficial. However, older, more sedentary individuals may be less likely to get the full benefit. "What we have found, and what anti-aging doctors I have talked to have found, is that releasers [secretagogues] tend to work better in younger people," said Johnstreet. Others disagree, claiming that secretagogues act, in part, by suppressing somatostatin, the antagonist hormone to HGH that lowers or represses HGH levels in the body, thereby allowing all potential HGH to be available in the body. Matrix Health Products, in San Diego, CA, produces Longevitrol, a velvet antler supplement containing natural growth factors. "According to Dr. Klatz, growth factors are the downstream products of HGH and are 10 times more powerful than HGH," said Steve Kravitz, president of Matrix. "Longevitrol gives you growth factors plus other ingredients." The blend of velvet antler extract with green tea extract and other ingredients is combined in a polymer matrix for better absorption. "The main benefits of Longevitrol are increases in libido, stamina and endurance; better nail, hair and skin health; improved sleep, faster exercise recovery and more flexibility and muscle tone," Kravitz said. Maximum Human Performance, in Cedar Grove, NJ, makes Secretagogue One, a combination of amino acids, glycoamino peptides and anterior pituitary substance. "It works by suppressing HGH's inhibitory hormone, somatostatin," said Hopkins. "The combination of arginine, glycine and glutamine has been shown in patient studies to lower somatostatin. Age isn't really an issue. By inhibiting the antagonist hormone somatostatin, you enable higher levels of HGH." Millennium Nutritionals, in Hopewell, NJ, makes Maxitropin, a secretagogue containing arginine, ornithine, glycine, lysine and glutamine in a 10 g single-dose powder and in bulk powder. "Research has suggested that people produce HGH at a regular level through their 60s, but levels of somatostatin increase as you get older," said Chris Castagna, pharmacist and owner. "This secretagogue prohibits excess somatostatin release, resulting in an increase of HGH. Anyone can benefit." The product also contains lysine to prevent the arginine from exacerbating a high viral load, such as herpes cold sores. Fountain of Youth Technologies, Inc. makes two HGH products. The enteric-coated Triple Strength Growth Hormone contains naturally occurring L-dopa from the Indian herb Mucuna pruriens, combined with a strain of Tribulus terrestris to help keep the L-dopa active in the body for longer periods of time. "Because these herbs work on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis to signal the pituitary's release of growth hormone while suppressing somatostatin, I prefer to call the product an HGH potentiator rather than a secretagogue," said Mesko. Mesko's company also makes a homeopathic Doctor's Growth Hormone Gel using liposome technology to provide a time-released, transdermal delivery of homeopathic HGH. "When rubbed on the skin, the gel releases small doses of homeopathics and herbs into the body, approximating the rhythm of HGH secretions from the pituitary," Mesko said. The FDA- registered product is said to provide rejuvenation of cells, tissues and organs, fat loss, restful sleep, and relief from dry, wrinkled, flabby and ill-nourished skin. Maximum Nutrients, Inc., in Grand Rapids, MI, offers Somatasome, an HGH-containing sublingual spray with other growth factors. "We performed a 30-day test at UCLA with 19 participants ranging from out-of-shape to in-shape men and women," said Craig Berens, national sales manager. "We tested for increases in growth hormone levels by measuring blood levels of IGF-1 [the standard technique]. We found that older, out-of-shape women fared the best, showing increases in IGF-1 of up to 54 percent. The lowest increase was in the in-shape men category at 16 percent." Merchandising As a product category whose claims many customers may find dubious, you will have to do quite a bit of consumer education. Ask manufacturers for copies of their studies and their pre-printed materials. Homeopathics carry claims, which makes it easier to tell the customer exactly what benefits they can expect. You can cross-merchandise HGH products with antioxidants, skin and beauty products as well as in the senior health section. And the strength, energy, muscle building and fat loss benefits of HGH make it a sure-fit for the sports and weight loss categories. "Most of the people who come in for HGH products have read the articles and heard about it," said Tom Hess, lecture coordinator at Clark's Nutrition, in Riverside, CA. "But they want to know how it works, where it comes from, what kind of results they can expect and how quickly. Our best seller is Omega Growth Hormone by Health Direct–probably 90 percent of the people who have tried it have reported positive results." Warren Cochrane, president of Beyond a Century, a natural foods store in Greenville, ME, has been involved with HGH since the early 1980s. "That's how I got into business back in 1983, using arginine and ornithine to stimulate pituitary secretions of growth hormone," Cochrane said. "Today, there seems to be some reputable companies and some copycats. Right now we are selling our own blends and a good amount of Maximum Human Performance's Secretagogue One." According to Cochrane, in the 1980s, amino acid secretagogues seemed to be effectively stimulating HGH release and showing benefits. Then in the 1990s, the same regimens weren't showing the same results. "We realized that a lot of people, even athletes, had bought into the low-fat, high-carb diet," he said. "We discovered that a big insulin release [which comes after eating a high carb load] is completely antagonistic to growth hormone release." Some stores won't carry HGH yet simply because of the negative connotations. "We don't carry any human growth hormone products, because it's too controversial," said Amanda Page-Lopez, manager at Wild Oats in Albuquerque, NM. Several calls to corporate headquarters to find out why were not returned. Overall, retailers reported that consumers are not aghast with the idea of HGH. To the contrary, many of them are inquisitive. But because so many HGH products exist, and they all act as potentiators, stimulators or releasers, no one product will work for everyone. You're best bet, Cochrane said, is to carry a variety of products and let the customers find out which one works the best for them. VR
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