As inevitable as the summer season, the sports pages are littered with the casualties of athletic ambition. In every field of competitive human endeavour individuals have always searched for that elusive edge, whether it is in the form of pheromone-laced scents, cosmetic surgery or performance-enhancing drugs. Whether the aim is to rise socially, to appear more attractive, to prove the fitness of one’s genes, to ace an exam, or just to delay the relentless advance of our biological clock, individuals within our eugenic society strive to gain that slender advantage which defines the brightest and the best within a ‘winner-takes-all society’. Cocaine and amphetamines sharpen mental performance, steroids increase physical strength and sexual drive, and Viagra enhances sexual performance. The dilemma for the mortal majority is that in our attempts to keep up with the competition, many feel pressured to cross that line and follow suit. Yet all of these drugs are easily detected and, within certain walks of life, being caught means social and professional destruction. American companies routinely screen employees for psychoactive drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines, even though they are widely consumed within our global capitals, and sports bodies are able to detect even the slightest variation in levels of even naturally occurring steroids.
The most frequent confusion surrounding the term ‘human growth hormone’ is that many believe that there is only one. In fact there is an extensive family of these protein growth factors which act to promote growth within the body and to influence the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Human growth hormone (hGH), or 'somatotropin', is the most widely known of these, and previously the only way it could be produced was by extracting it from the pituitary gland of the brain. Biotechnology has revolutionised its availability, as vast quantities can now be grown in bacteria or other cells, harvested and purified. There are however a number of other powerful growth factors which have related actions, including insulin and insulin-like growth factors. Insulin is in actual fact one of the most powerful growth hormones known, and has been widely used or abused by strength athletes without detection for a generation. However insulin carries a potent problem, in that it depresses blood glucose levels as powerfully as it stimulates growth. As any diabetic will tell you, one mistake with the dosage or the timing could be fatal. The more recently discovered family of insulin-like growth factors are particularly effective in stimulating muscle growth, although they are less potent in lowering blood glucose levels. This makes them seemingly ideal anabolic agents.
Clinically, hGH is far more than just a powerful tool for bodybuilders. Its use has become widespread in delaying the onset and effects of aging, in the treatment of wounds and burns, and also to promote fat loss. hGH release peaks during childhood and adolescence, but is also released in smaller quantities in adults, especially in response to exercise, hypoglycaemia, dietary protein, and the sex steroids estradiol and testosterone. In essence hGH functions as part of our biological clock, as its levels continuously decline throughout adult life. This explains why it has become much sought after as an ‘essence of youth’. hGH is naturally released in sharp bursts, or pulses, especially during sleep, which makes it an ideal hormone for injection to achieve best results. It is perhaps interesting to note that spontaneous hGH levels are naturally around twice as high in women than men. These periodic surges in hGH levels within the blood rapidly fall to baseline within hours, making injections of the hormone effectively all but undetectable.
hGH has a number of key actions which are beneficial to health and vitality. It stimulates the growth of muscle tissue and cartilage, and stimulates the production and release of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) from the liver and other target tissues. In addition hGH increases calcium retention, strengthening bone, induces the formation of new muscle cells, and promotes the breakdown and release of fatty deposits. As if the attractions of hGH were not already sufficient, it also increases protein synthesis, stimulates the growth of internal organs, boosts the immune system and reduces uptake of glucose into the liver. Aside from helping athletes to heal from injury or to promote muscle bulk, hGH differs sharply in its effects from insulin in that it causes the breakdown and release of fat rather than its deposition. This makes it ideal for strength athletes and models seeking to ‘shape and trim’.
Aside from its insulin-like effects, IGF-1 also promotes growth and DNA synthesis. As with hGH, IGF-1 production peaks during the adolescent growth spurt and progressively declines in adults with age. So is IGF-1 the new wonder drug? Not quite. The problem with IGF-1 lies in the very localised nature of its actions, as in the blood it has only a relatively short life span of some 10 minutes. This is the principal reason why early trials with IGF-1 were abandoned. There is also a heated debate in medical science as to whether IGF-1 acts exclusively as a local hormone which is produced principally at its site of action, or whether its has significant actions as a circulating hormone like insulin or hGH. Combining hGH and IGF-1 injections achieves the dream effect of strength athletes, namely a dramatic increase in lean muscle mass and a reduction in body fat, especially when administered in combination with testosterone. One solution to the dilemma has been to develop a synthetic form of IGF-1, known as IGF-1 ‘long’ R3, which has a longer half-life in the blood than its natural form, allowing it to be administered into the bloodstream as a single injection. Consequently IGF-1R3 appears to be both longer-lasting and more potent in its actions, generating a wave of excitement amongst strength athletes.
As you may by now already have guessed, it may all be simply too good to be true - a growth hormone which prolongs youth indefinitely and without any consequence, other than to the purse strings. It has been recognised that a prolonged excess of hGH leads to a thickening of the bones of the jaw, fingers and toes, leading to physical deformity. hGH excess may also cause insulin resistance leading to a form of type 2 diabetes, as well as diminished sexual function. Other risks inherent in using hGH include swelling of the hands and feet, excessive organ growth, and a reduced release of thyroid hormones. Further, both hGH and IGF-1 may play a role in the development of both cancer and diabetes. IGF-1 has been shown to powerfully stimulate the growth of both prostate and breast cancer cells. It is now clear then that it is not only normal cells that hGH and IGF-1 stimulate to multiply and grow, and it is also well known that the risk of cancer increases with age. The inherent risks do not end there however, as in clinical trials IGF-1 caused hypoglycemia, the excessive growth of fatty deposits, and a coarsening of facial features.