All peptide hormones produced in the human body exert a physiological effect on the individual. Various undesirable diseases and conditions occur when there is a deficiency in any peptide hormone. Therefore, means to mass-produce such peptide hormones have been long sought so that they may be used in the treatment of such diseases or conditions. Among the peptide hormones for therapeutic utility for which means of mass production have been particularly sought, are human growth hormone (HGH). Human growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, is a single polypeptide chain of 191 amino acids having two disulfide bonds. Purified hGH is a white amorphous powder in its lyophilized form. Human growth hormone is a protein hormone produced and secreted by the somatotropic cells of the anterior pituitary. Secretion is regulated by a releasing factor, i.e., the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and by an inhibitory factor, somatostatin. Human growth hormone plays a key role in somatic growth through its effects on the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.
HGH levels fall with age. When the HGH levels are restored to more youthful levels, by a schedule of either injections of HGH, or the oral consumption of certain combinations of amino acids, over the ensuing 20 to 180 days, anti-aging effects occur, including boosting of the immune system, restoration of more youthful vigor and libido, increase of the percentage of lean muscle mass, reduction of the percentage of body fat, increase in the thickness of skin with more youthful texture, increased skin turgor and a decrease of brown aging spots. Human growth hormone is presently in commercial use as a therapeutic agent. It has been produced by processes such as chemical synthesis, in vitro tissue culture or cultivation of genetically recombined microorganisms. Recombinant hGH is generally marketed as vials containing hGH plus additional excipients, e.g., glycine and mannitol, in a lyophilized form. Growth hormone replacement therapy has been criticized because of side effects. Recombinant HGH therapy is currently used in clinics, but a large number of studies have shown that side effects occur frequently, including peripheral edema, joint swelling, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthralgias (particularly in the hands), and carpal tunnel syndrome.
It is known that HGH releasing hormone (hGHRH) stimulates the release of HGH. Thus, the biological activity of hGH can be indirectly obtained by administering GHRH or a functional derivative, salt, variant, analog or fragment thereof which retains the biological activity of GHRH, i.e., the ability to stimulate the release of human growth hormone. In addition to activities such as sleep and exercise which indirectly cause growth hormone to be released from the pituitary gland by acting in some fashion on the hypothalamus, perhaps either to decrease somatostatin secretion or to increase the secretion of the known secretagogue growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF), or an unknown endogenous GH-releasing hormone, or all three of these. HGH stimulators can be used for stimulating production and release of human growth hormone (HGH) for the purpose of producing anti-aging effects. Physiologic and pharmacologic stimulators of human growth hormone secretion include arginine, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), glucagon, vasopressin, and insulin induced hypoglycemia. Arginine, 2-amino-5-guanidinovaleric acid, is a basic amino acid with a positively charged guanidinium group. Arginine is considered to be a semi-essential amino acid. It can be synthesized in animal tissue at a rate sufficient for maintenance in the adult but not rapidly enough to support growth in the young animal. It is thus an essential amino acid for growth but not for maintenance. It has been reported that the best four amino acids to ingest for the stimulation of HGH release are L-ornithine, L-arginine, L-glutamine and glycine. However, L-lysine may be substituted for L-ornithine because L-ornithine has a very bad taste. It has been found that supplementation of L-lysine, together with L-arginine, will suppress somatostatin, which is especially important in those over age 60, because somatostatin is increased in the older age group. Suppressing somatostatin allows more release of HGH. L-glutamine and glycine are also recommended as stimulants of the natural hypothalamic hormone (GHRH) which in turn stimulates increased HGH production and release. Glucagon is a 29 amino acid hormone produced by the alpha cells of pancreatic islets. Glucagon is responsible for the maintenance of normal levels of glucose in many animals, including humans, by acting as an insulin-counteracting hormone. It is also known that taking melatonin one hour prior to vigorous exercise can triple the increase in HGH resulting from vigorous exercise alone. |
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