HGH Doctors

True HGH doctors (human growth hormone doctors) are endocrinologists, also known as internal medicine specialists. These medical professionals have specialized in the study of endocrine glands in the body that produce hormones and other substances. The pituitary gland, which produces human growth hormone, is one of these glands. No one understands the function of the pituitary gland, the production of HGH, and the implications of abnormalities in growth hormone secretion better than an endocrinologist.

HGH therapy is appropriate and recommended in specific situations. The most obvious of these is growth hormone deficiency, a condition most obvious in children who experience arrested growth. Adults with growth hormone deficiency suffer from a more subtle group of symptoms: the hormone regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar levels, fat deposition, muscle strength, emotional health and energy levels. When medical tests confirm an HGH deficiency, HGH doctors can provide hormone replacement therapy by injection.

It's no surprise that thoughtful physicians and consumers have noticed that many of the typical signs of aging - increased body fat, muscle loss, weakness, declining energy levels, declining mental status and even an increased risk of abnormal blood sugar levels - correlate with symptoms of HGH deficiency. The association has lead to the investigation of HGH therapy not only for age-related illnesses but also for anti aging in general. The lack of solid supporting evidence and the difficulty of providing injected hormone therapy, in turn, have resulted in a split between endocrinologists and other medical specialists calling themselves HGH doctors.

The first issue is that medical trials, while they have shown positive effects of HGH therapy, have not provided evidence that hormone supplementation prolongs life or alleviates disease any better than other standard treatments. Nor have they proven that long term growth hormone injections are safe. There remain only a handful of medical conditions for which growth hormone injections are approved, and aging is not one of them. Anti aging HGH doctors continue to interpret the evidence as being supportive of hormone replacement for anti aging, and some even provide hormone injections for this purpose (expensive and, again, not an approved use for the therapy).

Another group of HGH doctors, made up of physicians, naturopaths, homeopaths, and other health care professionals have tackled the problems of HGH treatment by attempting to provide hormone replacement without injections. Products available on the market include dietary supplements that are supposed to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more natural HGH, and supplements meant to actually mimic the action of HGH in the body, producing the same beneficial effect. While these products may do as they claim, at least in some people, and be as safe as any vitamin, mineral, or dietary supplement, the bottom line is that scientific evidence doesn't (or at least doesn't yet) support this type of HGH therapy for human anti aging. For now, the consumer must decide for herself or himself whether the published studies and testimonials support HGH supplements sufficiently to try them.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. You can learn more about HGH doctors on the AntiAging Information site.