Dr. Henry CliffLast Updated on July 29, 2024
Many people have been wondering about the effects of alcohol while taking HGH. Alcohol cannot be consumed with many treatment medications, so HGH is one of them. HGH, or human growth hormone, is used by sports personalities and bodybuilders and has become a popular anti-aging and muscle-building supplement. However, taking alcohol and, at the same time, using HGH can prove to be really dangerous for your health.
Human Growth Hormone treatment is taken as a solution to improve performance by athletes and as a means to combat the effects of aging by women. However, the efficacy of treatment can be significantly influenced by lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption.
This article explores the direct and indirect effects of taking HGH and drinking alcohol, examining the physiological mechanisms at play.
Should I take alcohol with HGH?
When considering the combination of taking HGH and drinking alcohol, you have to understand how the two events are correlated at the biological level. It is advisable that you do not take HGH treatment while drinking alcohol.
Direct Effects of Alcohol on HGH Production and Function
Let’s understand how alcohol affects the HGH cycle.
Suppression of HGH Secretion
One of the direct impacts of alcohol consumption while taking HGH is the suppression of natural HGH secretion. In some cases, alcohol consumption is found to reduce HGH secretion by up to 70%. This is because of the alcohol’s effect on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Here’s how alcohol suppresses HGH production:
- Alcohol stimulates the release of somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits HGH secretion.
- It interferes with the production of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which stimulates HGH production.
- Alcohol alters the sleep-wake cycle, disrupting the natural pulsatile release of HGH, which typically occurs during deep sleep.
For those who are on HGH therapy, the alcohol-induced suppression can potentially counteract the benefits of the treatment.
Hormonal imbalance
Also, alcohol leads to hormonal imbalance, and when alcohol is there in the body, it stimulates the production of some substance in the liver that is very toxic to testosterone. Well, testosterone is essential for recovery as well as the growth of your muscles. As alcohol is basically absorbed through the small intestine and stomach and into the cells, it can badly disrupt the overall water balance in the muscle cells and thus change their ability to produce ATP or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is basically the source of energy for the muscles. ATP also provides the fuel required for the muscles. So, irrespective of how much growth hormone you use, you will not get good results if you keep on taking alcohol with HGH.
Impact on Liver’s HGH Metabolism
One of the most critical functions of growth hormone is to act as the raw material for producing insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). When growth hormone enters the liver, it is digested and converted to IGF-1. When taking HGH and drinking alcohol simultaneously, the alcohol can significantly impair liver function. It leads to decreased IGF-1 production and reduced effectiveness of HGH in the body.
Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis, all of which can further compromise the liver’s ability to process HGH and produce IGF-1.
Sleep and less HGH release
Alcohol, indeed, in any quantity, reduces HGH releasing effects of amino acids and even blunts the natural HGH release. Using alcohol to get sleep can suppress the natural HGH production to a great extent. It is to be noted that we develop our muscles while we are asleep, and HGH is mainly released from the anterior pituitary gland during sleep. So, anything that comes in between the sleep also meddles with HGH release. In particular, alcohol interrupts the sleep pattern, and due to this, it also prevents GH release from the anterior pituitary gland.
Moreover, as alcohol puts the body through the ringer to a level and even prevents one from sleeping peacefully, this simply means that you will not have the energy levels that you should otherwise have. Also, you will see that you can barely stay awake, let alone do the workout.
Interference with HGH Receptors
Taking HGH and drinking alcohol can cause potential interference with the body’s HGH receptors. Alcohol can reduce the sensitivity of these receptors to the hormone, leading to poor response. If the body has reduced insensitivity in HGH receptors, even if HGH is present in the bloodstream – whether naturally produced or administered as part of treatment – the body’s cells may not respond as effectively.
This can cause high HGH resistance, requiring higher doses of the growth hormone to achieve the desired effects.
Alteration of HGH’s Anabolic Effects
HGH is known for its anabolic effects, promoting muscle growth and fat breakdown. However, the combination of taking HGH and drinking alcohol can disrupt these beneficial effects. The catabolic properties of alcohol can counteract muscle gain benefits.
The most common thing that a lot of people wish for these days is to get out, have some alcohol, and relax. But what about the muscles you are looking forward to building? You have been working hard, training throughout the week, and following a proper diet. As protein synthesis is essential for muscle development and growth, this process is hampered to a large extent with alcohol use.
Well, even scientific research has seen that drinking alcohol inhibits protein synthesis, so alcohol adversely stops the muscles from growing and developing. Alcohol consumption can lead to increased fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area, working against HGH’s fat-burning effects.
Summary
Simply put alcohol in any form or quantity blunts HGH production and suppresses the natural release. Indeed, an ounce or less of alcohol consumption 2-3 hours before consuming the HGH supplement will have less effect on the release of growth hormone, but taking alcohol for sleep can suppress your natural production of HGH by a considerable amount.
So, these are some of the major effects of alcohol on the body. It is recommended that you do not take alcohol with HGH therapy.