Human growth hormone (HGH) is a peptide hormone produced naturally by the pituitary gland. It stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration. As we age, our HGH levels decline. Some athletes and bodybuilders use synthetic HGH to try to increase muscle mass and performance. However, the effects on muscle growth are somewhat controversial.
HGH causes increased protein synthesis and muscle cell growth. Numerous studies show it can contribute to builds lean tissue and muscle mass. However, the gains are often modest compared to other performance enhancing drugs. Genetics, diet, exercise and stacking HGH with testosterone or insulin play a big role in results.
- Short-term studies found HGH increased lean body mass by about 2 kg after 6 weeks at high doses. However, lean mass does not always equate to increased muscle size.
- The most dramatic changes in appearance seem to occur when HGH is combined with testosterone or anabolic steroids.
So HGH alone may not make you dramatically “big,” but can enhance other muscle-building factors. The key considerations around HGH include:
Dosage
- Therapy doses for growth disorders rarely exceed 6 IU per day, split into morning and evening injections.
- Athletes and bodybuilders may take between 5-10 IU daily, but often ramp over 20 IU per day. This greatly increases side effects risks.
Timing and Cycling
- HGH works by causing hyperplasia (increase in cell number) and hypertrophy (increase in cell size) in muscles. This process takes considerable time - months rather than weeks.
- Cycling 6-12 week on, 6-12 week off is common.
Genetics
- Those with naturally higher HGH levels or genetic propensity to build muscle tend respond best.
Other Stacked Compounds
- Insulin works synergistically with HGH for adding muscle bulk. But it significantly increases health risks.
- Adding testosterone and/or anabolic steroids amplifies the anabolic, muscle-building effects of HGH.
Side Effects
- HGH can cause joint pain, water retention, carpal tunnel syndrome and hyperglycemia, even at moderate doses.
- Long-term use or high doses raise risk of diabetes, heart enlargement, cell mutation and cancer.
Is It Worth It?
- Synthetic HGH is banned in professional sports. But its detection window is short.
- For those set on rapidly gaining major muscle bulk quickly, combining high-dose HGH, insulin and testosterone/steroids will work. But accept heightened health and legal risks.
- Those with average genetics may be disappointed with HGH-only muscle gains versus the cost, injection burden and side effect risks.
I aimed to provide an overview of key considerations around using HGH to gain muscle size. In summary:
- HGH contributes to building lean muscle mass, but gains are often modest without other anabolic compounds
- Results depend greatly on genetics, diet, exercising and stacking agents
- Side effects risks rise sharply at higher doses
- Those focused solely on gaining muscle bulk rapidly may be disappointed with HGH-only results
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