Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland — a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain — to fuel childhood growth and help maintain tissues and organs throughout life. Beginning in middle age, however, the pituitary gland slowly reduces the amount of growth hormone it produces. This natural slowdown has prompted an interest in the use of synthetic human growth hormone (HGH) to stave off the realities of old age. However, there's little evidence to suggest human growth hormone can help otherwise healthy adults regain youth and vitality.

Synthetic human growth hormone, which must be injected, is available only by prescription. It's approved to treat adults who have true growth hormone deficiency — not the expected decline in growth hormone due to aging. For example a 20 year old may secrete 4 to 5 times more of the growth hormone than a 60 year old. Clinical studies suggest that symptoms associated with aging may be due to the decline of growth hormone levels in our bodies. HGH is vital in helping prevent the aging process.

Studies of adults who have a growth hormone deficiency show that injections of human growth hormone can:

Human growth hormone is also approved to treat AIDS or HIV-related muscle wasting.