What are human growth hormone (HGH) supplements? What are the benefits? Are they safe?

Answer:

Human growth hormone (hGH or HGH) is a substance that the body secretes to promote the growth of children and teenagers. After full growth is reached, it is not clear what role growth hormone plays in the body.

Because levels decline with age, HGH is often promoted and believed to slow signs of aging. While growth hormone injections improve muscle to fat ratio in older people, they have not been shown to increase muscle strength or function (Vance, N Eng J Med. 2003). Growth hormone injections may also cause adverse effects such as carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist and hand pain caused by swelling around the median nerve), coarsening of facial features, enlargement of bones, joint pain and leg swelling.

HGH injections are approved by the FDA by prescription only for conditions such as poor growth due to Turner’s syndrome (in children and teens) and HGH deficiency. Injections used to enhance athletic performance or for bodybuilding are currently illegal (DEA 2019).

HGH itself must be taken by injection, because it is a very large molecule. It cannot be absorbed intact when taken orally, dissolved under the tongue, or sprayed into the nose or throat.

Supplements, nasal sprays, diluted homeopathic formulations, and other products are promoted for stimulating or enhancing HGH, although they do not contain HGH.

Types of “HGH” supplements:

There are four types of supplements:

• HGH Releasing Agents (also called "HGH enhancers" or "HGH stimulators")
• Nanogram Strength HGH
• Homeopathic HGH
• IGF-1 Enhancers

HGH “Releasing Agents”
HGH releasing agents, i.e., supplements that claim to stimulate HGH release, contain amino acids such as arginine, glutamine, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, and lysine, which appear to cause a temporary rise in growth hormone when given as combinations in doses of at least 1,500 mg or individually at doses of more than 2,000 mg (Chromiak, Nutrition 2002). Effects of these supplements last approximately one to two hours, and the only evidence that these short effects bring about changes to human growth hormone levels comes from two small studies. However, statistical analysis of these studies found serious errors, which rendered them untrustworthy (Jacobson, Phys Sportsmed 1990; Tam Am J Ther. 2020).

Athletes are unlikely to benefit from growth hormone releasers because they are already exercising heavily. Studies have found that athletes need to take extremely high doses of growth hormone releasers to have any effect on growth hormone levels, even in the short term doses, so high that they cause diarrhea (Chromiak, Nutrition 2002). Seniors also show a reduced response to growth hormone releasers (Bartke, World J Mens Health 2019; Lui, Ann Intern Med 2007).

Also be wary of products that don't specifically list the amounts of active ingredients, and even if a product has a large number in its name, like "HGH 2000," this does not necessarily reflect the amount of any ingredients in the product.

Examples of “HGH” supplements include the following:

Name: SeroVital-hgh
Company: SanMedica International, Utah
Claims to contain (per 4 capsule serving): 2,900 mg blend of L-lysine HCl, L-arginine HCl, oxo-proline, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, l-glutamine, and schizonepeta (aerial parts) powder
Suggested serving: 1 serving per day
ConsumerLab.com comment: Appears to temporarily raise HGH levels according to study published by the company. Side-effects not reported. There is little clinical research with its herbal ingredient, shizonepeta, but it is known to contain pulegone, which can cause liver toxicity at high doses. The amount of shizonepeta in the product is not disclosed.

Name: Botanic Choice HGH Booster Formula
Company: Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc., Hobart, IN
Claims to contain (per tablet): 300 mg L-arginine pyroglutamate, 300 mg L-lysine, 150 mg Mucuna pruriens extract (15% L-dopa), 73 mg calcium, 56 mg phosphorus
Suggested serving: 1 tablet every 8 hours
ConsumerLab.com comment: Amounts of amino acids in daily dose are lower than those shown to increase HGH levels. Mucuna pruriens contains L-dopa which may benefit patients with Parkinson's disease but at a dose several times greater than in this product (Cilia, Neurology 2017).

Name: HGH-X2 (HGH)
Company: Crazy Bulk, United Kingdom
Claims to contain (per serving): 20 mg L-arginine, 150 mg Mucuna pruriens extract (15% L-dopa), 150 mg hawthorne berry extract, 150 mg maca root
Suggested serving: 2 capsules, 20 minutes before breakfast
ConsumerLab.com comment: Amount of amino acid is much lower than shown to increase HGH levels. Mucuna pruriens contains L-dopa which may benefit patients with Parkinson’s disease, but at a dose several times greater than in this product (Cilia, Neurology 2017).

Name: GenF20 Plus HGH
Company: GenF20 Plus, Manchester, USA
Claims to contain (per serving): 520 mg L-arginine, 460 mg L-glutamine, 400 mg GTF chromium, 100 mg L-ornithine, 200 mg colostrum
Suggested serving: 4 capsules
ConsumerLab.com comment: Amounts of amino acids in daily dose are lower than those shown to increase HGH levels.

Nanogram Strength HGH
Nanogram strength HGH includes products taken sublingually (under the tongue) or as a nasal spray. These are measured in nanograms (one-millionth of a milligram), however these amounts are negligible in comparison to amounts of HGH given by injection by doctors. For example, injection doses are generally about 2 milligrams (equal to 2,000,000 nanograms), so a supplement with 2,000 nanograms of HGH provides only one-thousandth of that normally prescribed by doctors, and it is not clear how much of the orally taken HGH is absorbed.

Homeopathic HGH
Homeopathic products utilize real human growth hormone but at such high dilutions that they are not likely to contain a single molecule of HGH. However, homeopathic practitioners believe that some kind of "energy" remains.

Quality studies have found little, if any, effect of homeopathic HGH preparations (Ernst, J Clin Epidormiol 2000; Grabia, Homeopathy 2003).

IGF-1 Enhancers
When growth hormone levels rise, levels of another substance rise too: insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is thought to carry out some of the effects of HGH. However, because the effects of HGH in adults is unclear, knowledge about potential benefits and risks involved in raising IGF-1 levels is unclear as well.

Colostrum supplements, derived from cow’s milk produced immediately after giving birth, contain carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and some IGF-1. It is often added to HGH products. There is no evidence, however, that taking colostrum orally substantially raises IGF-1 levels in the blood.  

Cost:

Prices of non-prescription “HGH” products seem to range in price, from as little as $29.99 to as much as $200. More popular products such as GenF20 Plus HGH and HGH-X2 sell for approximately $65 to $70.

Safety:

It is wise to check if caffeine or other stimulants, such as guarana, are added. These ingredients can cause increases in blood pressure as well as changes in heart rhythm. Other side effects such as nausea, insomnia, and increased anxiety have also been reported (Foster, Clin Pharm & Ther 2013). See ConsumerLab’s Weight Loss Supplements Review for more information.

How to Naturally Raise HGH Levels:

There are a few natural ways to raise growth hormone in the body.

• Exercise is perhaps the strongest stimulus for growth hormone release, capable of raising levels by up to 10-fold (Raastad, Eur J Appl Physiol 2000). Exercise can also lead to increased muscle mass and reduced fat, although it is not clear that these benefits are related to HGH.
• Getting a good night’s sleep and eating plenty of protein can also help raise growth hormone levels (J Clin Endocr 1969).

However, it is not clear that these benefits are related to HGH. Exercise, for example, may increase muscle size because it causes microscopic muscle damage, not through effects on growth hormone.

The Bottom Line:

Human growth hormone injections are prescribed for treatment of children and teens with growth failure or for adults with HGH deficiency. However, the evidence that HGH works for increased athletic performance, among other benefits, is sparse. HGH injections in particular should not be used for purposes other than specific treatments outlined by the FDA, as stated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. HGH is not legally permitted in dietary supplements, and there is little evidence of benefit for supplements with ingredients that claim to boost, enhance, or stimulate HGH. However, if you are looking to increase your HGH level, exercise and a good night’s sleep can help.