Dr. Henry CliffLast Updated on July 30, 2024
The human body consists of many internal parts which is not essentially all blood and bones. Well, technically they are but there are other tissues and ligaments like cartilage which play an important role in the overall body buildup. Going by the number of research going on the effect of various hormones on the healing capacity of the body, it is not wrong to state that growth hormones are most vital hormones necessary for proper healing.
Bones are also considerably affected with the levels of growth hormones present in the body. In many medical studies it is found that proper levels of growth hormones help a lot in overall growth and development of bones. Here in this piece of writing we will bring you an insight related to the connection between HGH and healing of the broken bones.
The Connection- HGH and bones
Bones are the skeletal functions which provide the much needed internal strength to the body. Like all other organs of the body, bones are also affected by the presence of growth hormones. As the name suggests these hormones lead to growth of the body. Scientifically speaking, growth hormones are important for the capability of the body to absorb calcium and other minerals which form bones. Not just for the production of bones but these hormones are also necessary to keep the bones dense with aging.
Human body is bound to age. With aging, however the pituitary gland present in the body losses its capability to produce growth hormones. This affects the level of growth hormones adversely thus leading to many side effects on the overall body buildup as well as bone density and health.
What is HGH?
HGH or human growth hormone is the protein made by anterior pituitary gland which helps in controlling body growth and using fat and glucose in the body. HGH is the natural hormone that promotes overall growth in kids, helps to maintain body structure in adults and plays a vital role in regulating metabolism in both kids and adults.
HGH and growth- what’s the link?
HGH triggers growth in all tissues and organs in the body. However its effects are well known for growth promotion on bones and cartilage, mainly in the adolescent years. The cells in the cartilage known as chondrocytes and cells in the bones called osteoblasts get signals from growth hormone to increase the replication process and allow for optimal growth. So as the growth plates in the bones get fused, HGH doesn’t increase the height any longer. Rather, it helps to maintain the overall body structure through the rest of one’s life.
What are the normal levels of HGH?
The pituitary gland releases growth hormone in pulses. The duration and size of these pulses change with time in a day, age and sex. Due to this, any random HGH measurements are hardly useful for the healthcare professionals in ruling out or confirming any diagnosis. Rather, HGH measurement tests are of great help when measured as a part of suppression or stimulation test. The normal range of HGH include
For adults (males) – 0.4 to 10 nanograms per millilitre
For adults (females) – 1 to 14 nanograms per millilitre
For children – 10 to 50 nanograms per millilitre
The normal values may differ from one lab to another. So it is important to refer to your lab’s range on the report when analyzing results.
HGH for bones- how does Human growth hormone help heal broken bones?
The cells in the cartilage and the cells in bones get signals from HGH as mentioned above. IGF-1 or insulin like growth factor 1 stimulates the bone forming as well as bone resorbing cells, however the main effect is on the bone formation, thus leading to increase in bone mass.
General effects of HGH on growth and metabolism
HGH is highly important for modulating growth in the adolescent years. Thus, the aberrations in regulating HGH may lead to growth defects. HGH hyper secretion also leads to acromegaly or gigantism while in the other hand, HGH deficiency results in growth deficit in kids and GH deficiency syndrome in case of adults.
HGH is essential for growth, cell reproduction as well as cell regeneration. It further helps to maintain, repair and build healthy tissues in the brain and other body organs. The hormone also helps to speed up the healing process after some injury and further repairs the muscle tissues. This aids in building muscle mass, burn fat and boost metabolism.
Role in cell regeneration and repair
Growth hormone is the peptide hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain, containing 191 amino acids. It further plays a vital role in growth and development through promoting bone growth, growth or the internal organs, promoting protein synthesis and at the same time influencing mineral and fat metabolism.
Bone fractures and HGH
A normal bone fracture is a common injury. The healing process can take time depending on the mode of medication used. The healing process takes place in 3 stages, the inflammatory phase, infiltration of inflammatory cells and finally the vascularization.
In the first phase, there is development of a hematoma after the vascular injury caused due to fracture. After the formation of hematoma then infiltration and fibroblasts attack the area of the injury. In the final stage there is vascularization of the injured bones which is the final stage of healing. Now that we have provided a glimpse of how the bone fractures healing process takes place, it is now time to tell the importance of HGH in the healing process.
First of all have you ever tried to question why bone fractures in children heal quickly as compared to fractures in adults? This is because of the levels of growth hormones which affects the process of osteoblasts which help in increasing the density of bones.
HGH or human growth hormones are polypeptides which are not soluble in fat. This is why these hormones are able to pass through sarcolemma and this leads to induction of some properties of these hormones to the target cells which are cartilage. As a result there is establishment of a second messenger mechanism due to which there is stimulation of division and multiplication of chondrocytes which helps in bone production. Also HGH boosts the production of insulin like growth factor, IGF-1 which also enhances chondrocyte activity and osteoblast which also promotes bone development.
HGH and bone development
In children
The bones need sufficient growth hormone during the childhood and adolescent years to lengthen to the adult proportions. HGH also prompts the liver to make IGF-1. These along with other compounds are involved in overall bone growth. High doses of HGH treatment provide acceleration of the skeletal maturation and early onset of puberty in kids with idiopathic short stature.
In adults
The pituitary gland releases GH which, as the name implies, controls the bone growth in different ways. It further triggers the chondrocyte proliferation in the epiphyseal plates, leading to increasing length of the long bones. The epiphyses i.e. the ends of long bones in case of mature skeleton are fused in the adults. High dosage of HGH can thicken the bones instead of lengthening them.
Adults with GH deficiency may be prescribed HGH treatment by healthcare providers. GH and IGF-1 are considered as the potent stimulators of bone development. In case of GH deficiency in kids, the bone age is delayed to a great extent as compared to the chronological age. After the GH treatment is given, increased IGF-1 or GH stimulate the growth plate and result in bone age progression.
Mechanisms of Action
How does growth hormone interact with osteoblasts?
Apart from its effects on differentiation of cells of osteoblasts, GH stimulates directly or indirectly through IGF-1, which is the differentiated function of mature osteoblast. Growth hormone also promotes osteocalcin carboxylation, which is the marker of the osteoblast function. HGH directly or through IGF-1 stimulates the osteoblast proliferation and function, thus promoting bone formation. It even stimulates the osteoclast differentiation and function, promoting bone resorption. Thus the result is the increase in rate of bone remodelling and a net effect of bone accumulation. HGH stimulates the osteoclastic bone resorption through direct as well as indirect action on osteoclast differentiation and indirect mature osteoclast activation.
Does HGH improve joints or does growth hormone heal injuries?
People who face a dip in their growth hormone levels below a specific threshold experience various impairments in their physical health. While this poses inconveniences to one’s life, HGH helps in improving people’s joints.
Joint problems increase with age
Getting old comes with benefits like high confidence, stability and self esteem. But with aging, also comes physical problems like joint pains and other issues. There are various scientifically proven processes that help people address these joint problems.
One may face joint problems due to-
- Fractured or broken bones
- Gout
- Tendinitis
- Rickets
- Strains
- Autoimmune disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Lyme disease
As there are different treatments for many of these issues, HGH is one of them. As one gets old, the body stops producing the level of HGH that is required for optimal functioning. With the help of HGH treatment, one can address these joint problems and other aspects of physical health.
How does HGH help kids?
HGH travels in the bloodstream all through the body and helps to body to grow. It is an important hormone in the body that is needed for children to develop normally. HGH further ensures that there are sufficient amounts of fat and muscle in the body.
HGH for wound and fracture healing- is growth hormone good for bones?
Using HGH has been shown to really speed up the bone regeneration, making it an important part of bone healing process. Applying IGF-1 growth factors is further known to stimulate bone metabolism. In a study that was published in BONE journal, HHGH was applied systematically to the recombinant species- rats by injections and was then compared to placebo group. And as a result, the growth factor application showed stronger effect on healing the fracture than systemic GH injection.
Such observations show that the local application of HGH speeds up the healing process without offering any adverse effects. Researchers have shown the benefits of HGH in overall enhancing of the healing process. A controlled, randomized and double blinded study of HGH therapy done for 6 months showed that the healthy older men who were given GH faced enhanced collagen during their wound healing process.
Increased Muscle Strength
HGH has also been known to improve the physical capacity of people by stimulating the collagen synthesis in skeletal muscles and tendons, thus increasing overall muscle strength and enhancing exercise performance. 14 healthy men between 50 to 70 years in the International Journal of Endocrinology were randomized in 2 groups for a study. 7 subjects were given HGH therapy with 7 placebo subjects and all were evaluated after 6 months.
After 6 months, there was increase in leg press responsiveness muscles in GH group.
Stronger Bones with HGH- does HGH heal bones faster?
As the pituitary gland stimulates the production of growth hormone, it is important for regulating bone development especially during the puberty years. GH stimulates IGF-1 production that is produced in the liver. With advancing age, HGH levels decrease and may be the reason of older people not being able to replace of form bone at a rapid pace. IGF-1 and GH duo both stimulate the bone resorbing and bone forming cells, thus resulting in increased bone mass.
How to Increase HGH Naturally?
How can one increase HGH naturally? Here are the top methods-
High intensity exercises
Studies show that exercise induced GH and endurance exercise is linked with load, duration, intensity and frequency are the main factors behind regulating HGH secretion. So what is it that triggers HGH? Exercise intensity above the lactate threshold and for at least 10 minutes elicits highest stimulus to HGH secretion. High intensity training is effective to promote overall wellbeing, positive training and health, while at the same time stimulating HGH.
Liver detox
In a study done on animals, it was shown that growth hormone stimulates liver in producing IGF-1, which when released in the body stimulates cell production which are responsible for increased muscle mass, cell proliferation and enhanced energy.
L-glutamine
Taking L-glutamine is popular for enhancing the exercise performance, increasing storage of glucose in the muscles and maintaining the acid base balance. Also, in an Iranian study on 30 healthy males who were divided into glutamine and placebo supplementing groups were put through 3 days a week, 8-week resistance training. Both the groups increased in overall performance but glutamine group showed more increase in lower and upper body strength, blood testosterone, HGH, IGF-1 and muscle power as compared to the people in the placebo group.
Vitamin C
Studies have shown the correlation of decreased Vitamin C in reduced GH secretion, increased health risk, increased hip waist ratio and obesity. Thus, a well balanced HGH diet should have foods that are rich in Vitamin C. so what are the foods that increase GH naturally? Well, there are a lot of foods. Some of them include kiwi, broccoli, strawberries and red pepper.
L- Arginine
A lot of studies have shown that when administering L-Arginine orally, it increases the GH levels in the resting phase by at least 100%, while exercise can help to increase HGH by 300%-500%.
Fasting
Fasting is generally not recommended to children but as adults, past the stage of puberty, fasting is something that you should try. One of the various benefits that fasting offers is that it naturally boost the secretion of HGH in the body.
Lose Weight
As it is true that low HGH levels can lead to weight gain, carrying excess weight can contribute to low HGH production. Having high levels of fat in the body interferes with body functions including that of pituitary gland.
Sleep Well
One should aim for at least 8 hours night sleep. An undisturbed sleep at night boosts the production of HGH in the body, mainly during deep sleep. It is thus important to ensure that you get proper, quality sleep if you wish to increase HGH production in the body naturally.
Melatonin supplements
Melatonin is produced naturally in the body but supplementing with melatonin can boost the HGH level more. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about right dosage of melatonin.
Reduce your sugar intake
High insulin causes the HGH levels to drop. As sugar is the top HGH inhibitor, cutting down on carbs and sweets can help improve HGH levels in the body.
Protein intake
As you consume protein, the body breaks it down into several amino acids, thus increasing HGH levels naturally. Some of the popular amino acids like Arginine help prevent bone and muscle degeneration, which are the top symptoms of having low HGH. Some of the high protein foods include chicken and turkey.
Amino acids
As amino acids are considered the building blocks of body tissues, they help in boosting HGH levels too. Examples of taking amino acids for HGH include Ornithine, Arginine, Lysine, Glycine and Glutamine. Also, make sure that you check with the healthcare professional before taking these amino acids as per your health conditions.
How is growth hormone used as medication?
The FDA or Food and Drug Administration has approved synthetic form of growth hormone for treating certain conditions. The synthetic form of GH is available by prescription and is there in injectable form.
In case of children, the healthcare professionals prescribe HGH for:
- Treating conditions like short stature- Turner syndrome, Prader Willi syndrome and chronic kidney disease
- Treating HGH deficiency
In case of adults, the professionals prescribe HGH for treating-
- Short bowel syndrome
- Loss of muscle tissues
- GH deficiency
It is essential to take synthetic HGH only when prescribed.
To sum up
HGH is a potent hormone that is required for various important bodily functions. Sometimes, the pituitary gland can produce too much or little HGH. So if an adult or child is facing symptoms related to HGH excess or deficiency, it is good to talk to the doctor and then start with your HGH treatment.
Best HGH Supplements for Broken Bones
HGH surely helps in recovering from broken bones and here we are informing you about the HGH Supplement for Broken Bones which you should use after fracture.
#1 GenF20 Plus
GenF20 Plus in not just the Best HGH Supplement for broken bones recovery but it’s also No 1. rated HGH Supplement. Its natural ingredients make it safest product to use & it helps in getting recover after broken bones. It comes with 1, 3 & 6 months supply which you can purchase online from its Official Website. Its unique Pills + Oral Spray formula makes it much more effective than the any other supplement around. It comes with 2 Months money back guarantee so you can use it hassle-free, if you don’t find it effective, you can get your money back, no questions asked. You can read more about GenF20 Plus on our detailed GenF20 Plus Review Page.
#2 Sytropin
Sytropin is another very good HGH Supplement for broken bones, it helps in quick recovery after you break/hurt any of your bone, Sytropin is an Oral Spray which need to be taken twice a day as per the easy instruction given on the package, its natural ingredients helps in recovering from Broken bone Injury. You can read more about the product on our detailed Sytropin review. If you want to purchase Sytropin, you can visit Official Website of Sytropin & Enjoy 30 days Money Back replacement Warranty too.
So the HGH Supplements do help in recovery after fractures. It helps in recovery from the broken bones & make it strong.
References-
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-break-bone-what-happens
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9494780/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-ways-to-increase-hgh