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Growth Hormone (Somatotropin) – Function and Therapy

Growth hormone (somatotropin) is a natural hormone produced by the pituitary gland that regulates growth, metabolism, and cell regeneration throughout the body.

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Things worth knowing about "Growth Hormone"

Growth hormone (somatotropin) is a natural hormone produced by the pituitary gland that regulates growth, metabolism, and cell regeneration throughout the body.

What is Growth Hormone?

Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, STH (somatotropic hormone), or GH, is a protein hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. It is one of the most important hormones in the human body, influencing body growth, metabolism, and cellular repair.

Growth hormone is not released continuously but in pulses – most intensely during deep sleep, physical exercise, and periods of physiological stress.

Mechanism of Action

Growth hormone exerts its effects through two main pathways:

Direct effects: It binds to specific receptors in various tissues, directly influencing fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
Indirect effects via IGF-1: In response to growth hormone, the liver produces insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which promotes cell growth and division – particularly in bones, muscles, and cartilage.

Functions in the Body

Growth hormone serves a wide range of physiological functions:

Promoting linear growth in children and adolescents
Building and maintaining muscle mass
Stimulating fat breakdown (lipolysis)
Supporting bone health and density
Regulating blood glucose levels
Enhancing wound healing and tissue regeneration
Strengthening the immune system

Disorders of Growth Hormone Balance

Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone deficiency can be congenital or acquired. In children, it leads to reduced growth (short stature); in adults, it causes changes in body composition, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. Diagnosis is made through stimulation tests and measurement of IGF-1 levels in the blood.

Growth Hormone Excess

Excess growth hormone – most often caused by a pituitary adenoma (a benign tumor of the pituitary gland) – results in gigantism (excessive height) when it occurs during childhood, and acromegaly (enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features) when it develops in adulthood.

Diagnosis

Because growth hormone is secreted in pulses, a single blood test is not sufficient for diagnosis. The following methods are used:

Measurement of IGF-1 in serum as a stable indicator of GH activity
Stimulation tests (e.g., insulin tolerance test) to confirm deficiency
Suppression tests (e.g., oral glucose tolerance test) to confirm excess
MRI of the pituitary gland for structural imaging

Therapeutic Use

Synthetically produced recombinant growth hormone (somatropin) is used medically for:

Children with confirmed growth hormone deficiency
Short stature due to Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, or chronic kidney disease
Adults with severe growth hormone deficiency
Patients with HIV/AIDS-related lipodystrophy

The use of growth hormone for non-medical purposes – such as doping in sports or anti-aging treatments – is not supported by scientific evidence and carries significant health risks.

Side Effects of Growth Hormone Therapy

Fluid retention (edema)
Joint and muscle pain
Elevated blood sugar / increased risk of diabetes mellitus
Carpal tunnel syndrome
In children: potential impact on bone growth (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)

References

Melmed S. et al. - Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 14th Edition. Elsevier, 2020.
Laron Z. - Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1): a growth hormone. Molecular Pathology, 2001. PubMed PMID: 11598185.
Molitch M.E. et al. - Evaluation and Treatment of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2011.

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