What is Human Growth Hormone?
Human Growth Hormone is an essential hormone produced by the pituitary gland. HGH stimulates growth, cellular reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans. It is crucial for children and adolescents for their physical growth and development. Apart from this, it also has important roles in adults. HGH increases protein synthesis, increases muscle mass, and promotes lipolysis.
How does sleep affect HGH levels?
Woman in Deep Sleep
Natural methods to increase HGH production in humans are high-intensity physical exercise and adequate sleep. Sleep and exercise are both keys to inducing the release of human growth hormones. Studies reported the maximum release of HGH to be during sleep, with as much as 75 percent being released during sleep.
Normally, in healthy adults, HGH release is highest during Stage 3 of the sleep cycle. Stage 3 i.e. deep sleep or slow-wave sleep begins after the first hour of sleep. This stage constitutes 24 percent of the total sleep cycle in a night. Stage 3 is the most recuperating phase of the sleep stages. It is during this stage that the body releases HGH and simultaneously restores as well as rebuilds the damage to the muscles and cells resulting from the stresses during the day.
Can HGH impact sleep?
A recent study has found compelling evidence regarding the positive impact of HGH therapy on sleep.
The Research
Impact of growth hormone replacement therapy on sleep in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency of pituitary origin
Objective:
To examine the impact of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy, compared to placebo, on objective sleep quality in a subset of patients from the same cohort.
Participants:
Fourteen adults with untreated GHD of confirmed or likely pituitary origin, aged 22–74 years, participated in the study.
Methodology:
Patients with HGH deficiencies were on appropriate HGH replacement therapy. Polygraphic sleep recordings, with bedtimes individually tailored to habitual sleep times, were performed after 4 months on rhGH or placebo.
Research Findings:
Four months of rhGH replacement therapy partly reversed sleep disturbances previously observed in untreated patients. The decrease in delta activity associated with rhGH treatment adds further evidence to the hypothesis that the excess of high-intensity SWS observed in untreated pituitary GHD patients is likely to result from overactivity of the hypothalamic GHRH system due to the lack of negative feedback inhibition by GH.
Conclusion
The HGH replacement therapy proved to be effective in not only treating Growth Hormone Deficiency but also was successful in reversing previous sleep disturbances.
The effects of HGH on Health, Weight, and Aging
As a person ages, the natural production of HGH declines gradually. Apart from aging, sleep deprivation and sleep disturbances can also result in diminished HGH production. Either cause of the reduction in HGH levels can adversely impact health, weight, and the aging process. Low HGH levels result in weight gain, increased fat deposition, reduced muscle mass, and increased effects of aging such as hair fall, reduced skin elasticity, etc. Along with this, the risks for diabetes and heart disease are also higher in patients with HGH deficiency.
Are HGH supplements suitable for better sleep?
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland produces Human growth hormone (HGH). Many decades ago, the only way to obtain GH for therapeutic use was by directly extracting it from the pituitary glands.
Currently, many methods of HGH replacement are available including recombinant HGH therapy and supplements that increase natural HGH production.
With increasing awareness of the benefits of HGH replacement therapy, the market for HGH quickly expanded to meet the demands. However, many of these products are ineffective and unsafe. It is important to understand that these supplements are not as effective as medical-grade HGH.
References
FEEDBACK:
