Can growth hormone help me to lose weight?
Asked by anonymous on Nov 05, 2009
in Alternative & Integrative Nutrition
Can you tell me how growth hormone affects weight loss? A friend of mine has had success with it but she has Chronic Immune Fatigue Syndrome.
Answer
Never take a hormone without consulting with a doctor. Pharmaceutical grade, injected Human Growth Hormone (HGH) can increase muscle and bone density and decrease fat when calorie intake is adequate; however, the HGH sold over the Internet and in health stores is usually ineffective. Over-the-counter HGH is not actual HGH but a formulation of amino acids that allegedly trigger the release of HGH. Clinical studies proving the effectiveness of these formulations are lacking, and because over-the-counter HGH is sold as a dietary supplement, it is not regulated as a drug by the FDA. Consult an endocrinologist if you are interested in HCG, but expect to pay $3,000 - $10,000 for a year of treatments.
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