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Federal prosecutors charged a kinesiologist and naturopathic therapist from Texas on Wednesday with providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics, including a sprinter who was banned from the Games last summer.

Eric Lira, 41, of El Paso, is the first person charged under a federal anti-doping act signed into law in December 2020, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release.

Lira is charged with providing banned drugs, including human growth hormone and bacteriostatic (a masking agent), to the athletes, starting in November 2020. Among those was a track and field star, identified only as Athlete 1 in the federal complaint.

At a moment that the Olympic Games offered a poignant reminder of international connections in the midst of a global pandemic that had separated communities and counties for over a year Eric Lira schemed to debase the moment by peddling illegal drugs, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams said in a statement.

The promise of the Olympic Games is a global message of unification. Today, this office sends a strong message to those who would taint the Games and seek to profit from that corruption.

Athlete 1 was not identified, but federal prosecutors said the athlete was banned from running in the 100-meter semifinals at the Olympics.

Nigerian track star Blessing Okagbare, one of the favorites in the event, was banned from further competition after testing positive for HGH at the same time as Athlete 1.

Investigators said Lira got the drugs from Mexico and South America.

He is charged with one count each of international sports doping and misbranding conspiracy because prosecutors said the drugs were allegedly mislabeled to defraud and mislead authorities.

Lira lists himself as a managing member of Med Sports LLC, but is not licensed as a therapist in Texas, Florida or New York, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, Athlete 1 reached out to Lira on Nov. 17, 2020, and requested that Lira provide her with 4 vials or doses of honey, which federal investigators said is code for human growth hormone.

The request came months before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were held in 2021 instead.

In a text message in April 2021, Lira allegedly told Athlete 1, I will send you the 2 honeys an [sic] 4 bac water, referring to bacteriostatic water, used to dilute injected medications, the complaint said.

In June 2021, Athlete 1 wrote Lira and told him, I just sent you $2,500, can you confirm it via Zelle? And also remember I told you [a second unnamed athlete] had hurt his hamstring, so anything that will help the hamstring really fast you can actually bring it as well, ok?

In another exchange, Athlete 1 wrote Lira about having just run the 100 meters in 10.63 seconds.

Eric my body feel so good, the athlete wrote. Whatever you did is working so well.

But Athlete 1 ran into trouble in July after testing positive, the feds said.

Call me urgently, the athlete messaged Lira on July 30, 2021. [T]hey said one of my result came out positive on HGH I dont understand.

According to the federal complaint, investigators also got tipped off about PEDs in the Jacksonville, Fla., home of a person referred to as Athlete 2 in July 2021, including a box of 100 hypodermic needles and IGF (insulin-like growth factor).

Lira faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He was taken into custody Wednesday and was expected to be in Texas federal court later in the day.

Lira is charged with violating the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which was signed into law on Dec. 4, 2020.

Originally posted here:
Feds charge Texas therapist with doping Olympians - New York Post

The 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame writers ballot might very well be the most fascinating and polarizing such referendum in the museums history. This week, ahead of the results being announced Jan. 25, The Posts Ken Davidoff will break down the many issues and debates in play before revealing his ballot.

Rule 5 used to be the Baseball Hall of Fame equivalent of a Brood X cicada, emerging every 17 years or so to prompt a discussion about a specific candidate and his foibles before disappearing once again.

Now, Rule 5 stands as ubiquitous as the mosquito. Thanks a lot, steroids.

Rule 5, in the Baseball Writers Association of Americas rules for election, reads, Voting shall be based upon the players record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

Its that integrity, sportsmanship and character trio (some overlap there) that has thrown the Hall into uncharted chaos, with this 2022 writers ballot set to close some doors while opening others. All those doors lead right back to illegal performance-enhancing drugs, the issue that has defined this process since Mark McGwire became eligible in 2007, many of his critics contending that he lacked those three overlapping qualities, and shows no hope of abating.

To the contrary, time has only muddied the matter, the games evolving rules on illegal performance-enhancing drugs creating subclasses of suspects. Consider that a certain tier of players headlined by Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez overcame whispers of illegal PED usage due to a lack of evidence beyond the eye test (and the subsequent raised eyebrows) to gain the 75 percent support necessary for election.

Lets break down the other subclasses, none of which has hit that 75 percent threshold. Some players raised enough hell to gain entry into multiple groups; here, they have been assigned to the demographic that arguably damns them the most.

McGwire, when he joined the Cardinals coaching staff in 2010, admitted that he used steroids during his record-breaking home run (70) season in 1998. He didnt fare particularly well prior to that disclosure, topping out at 23.7 percent in 10 (doubts loomed about both the authenticity of his accomplishments and their worthiness) and did even worse in the subsequent six years, additionally coming up small in a Todays Game Era Committee tally.

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens came aboard in 2013 and have seen their votes move in virtual lockstep Bonds hit a new high last year with 61.8 percent, Clemens with 61.6 percent for good reason: The two all-time greats both saw government agents capture their purported suppliers, although the feds nevertheless couldnt convict either legend. This year marks their last chance on the writers ballot.

Sammy Sosa, also on his last chance, peaked last year at 17 percent, a far cry from induction. He allegedly failed his 2003 survey test, yet its possible his most indicting moment occurred when he pretended to not speak English competently at the infamous 2005 Congressional hearings on illegal PEDs in baseball.

Gary Sheffield said in 2004 that he had unknowingly used the cream, an illegal PED manufactured by BALCO and given to him by Bonds during the 2001-02 offseason. He surged to 40.6 percent last year and has three years to go.

Andy Pettitte confirmed the Mitchell Reports findings that he used human growth hormone in 2002 and later acknowledged using it again in 2004, at which point players were tested for steroids but not HGH. He climbed to 13.7 percent last year, his third year on the ballot.

Rafael Palmeiro became the first high-profile casualty of the testing era, which began in 04, when a 2005 sample came back positive. He lasted only four years on the ballot, his 4.4 percent showing in 2014 falling below the 5 percent necessary to stay on the ballot.

When Manny Ramirez failed a test in 2011, it marked his third skirmish with illegal PEDs, as he reportedly tested positive in the 2003 survey and drew a suspension in 2009 for a non-analytical positive. This will be his sixth go-round on the ballot.

A non-analytical positive is a conviction with evidence not gleaned from the actual drug test. Thats how Major League Baseball nabbed Alex Rodriguez in 2013, courtesy of the text messages between him and Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch that Bosch provided and verified. A-Rod also admitted to using illegal PEDs with the Rangers from 2001 through 2003 and reportedly failed the 03 survey test. A-Rod is a debutant at this dance and has about 40 percent of public-ballot support as per Ryan Thibodaux.

David Ortiz put up most of his numbers in the testing era and never came back positive except during that 03 survey test, which was used as a baseline to determine whether discipline-infused testing was necessary (it was) and supposed to be anonymous. The slugger has asserted his innocence, and commissioner Rob Manfred has defended Ortiz as well, saying his result could have been a false positive. Ortiz, joining A-Rod as a ballot freshman, has started strong and could be elected in his first try, which would be a significant milestone for those linked to illegal PEDs.

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PED debate will decide this year's MLB Hall of Fame class - New York Post

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a proteohormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It acts through binding to the hGH receptor, inducing either direct effects or initiating the production of insulin-like growth-factor I (IGF-I), the most important mediator of hGH effects. Growth hormone is primarily known to promote longitudinal growth in children and adolescents, but has also various important metabolic functions throughout adult life. Effects of hGH on the adult organism are well established from studies with recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in growth hormone deficient subjects. In this particular group of patients, replacement of hGH leads to increased lipolysis and lean body mass, decreased fat mass, improvements in VO(2max), and maximal power output. Although extrapolation from these findings to the situation in well trained healthy subjects is impossible, and controlled studies in healthy subjects are scarce, abuse of hGH seems to be popular among athletes trying to enhance physical performance. Detection of the application of rhGH is difficult, especially because the amino acid sequence of rhGH is identical to the major 22,000 Da isoform of hGH normally secreted by the pituitary. Furthermore, some physiological properties of hGH secretion also hindered the development of a doping test: secreted in a pulsatile manner, it has a very short half-life in circulation, which leads to highly variable serum levels. Concentration alone therefore cannot prove the exogenous administration of hGH.Two approaches have independently been developed for the detection of hGH doping: The so-called "marker approach" investigates changes in hGH-dependent parameters like IGF-I or components of bone and collagen metabolism, which are increased after hGH injection. In contrast, the so-called "isoform approach" directly analyses the spectrum of molecular isoforms in circulation: the pituitary gland secretes a spectrum of homo- and heterodimers and - multimers of a variable spectrum of hGH isoforms, whereas rhGH consists of the monomeric 22,000 Da isoform only. This isoform therefore becomes predominant after injection of rhGH. Specific immunoassays with preference for the one or the other isoform allow analysis of the relative abundance of the 22,000 Da isoform. Application of rhGH can be proven when the ratio of this isoform relative to the others is increased above a certain threshold. Because the "marker method" and the "isoform method" have a different window of opportunity for detection, complementary use of both tests could be a way to increase the likelihood of detecting cheating athletes.

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Growth hormone - PubMed

1. The easiest thing you can do, drink a shit ton of water and drink a shit ton of green tea.

All you gotta do is drink water and throw a green tea bag in there. Check out this article I wrote if you want more info. This first step may get your engine going and give you the energy, libido, and push to make you go to the gym at the end of the day.

2.Stop drinking.

Yeah, this one sucks, but it works. Alcohol destroys your HGH secretion which is basically what determines how in shape you are and how you feel.

Getting enough rest is essential to building bigger and stronger muscles. However, because drinking alcohol negatively affects your sleep patterns, your body is robbed of a chemical called human growth hormone (HGH) when you drink.1 HGH plays an integral role in building and repairing muscles, but alcohol can decrease the secretion of HGH by as much as 70 percent. Additionally, binge drinking can reduce serum testosterone levels. Decreases in testosterone are associated with decreases in lean muscle mass and muscle recovery, which can impair performance.

Now I am not saying stop drinking altogether, I'm just saying there are a couple of great alternatives to alcohol if you are habitually using it to chill out like l-theanine which is an awesome amino acid. Reducing alcohol consumption on the weekends would also be huge. In the studies of Liverking, he only drinks watered down Everclear which might be a move!

3. Find realistic opportunities to workout

For most people, finding time to work out is really hard. Your daily schedule does not necessarily allow for 30 minutes workout, you gotta get where you can. That's incorporating pushups and air squats in times where your shower is warming up or just taking the stairs. There are tons of places where you can get burn during the day, walk up the stairs, do the small little things to get into shape. These are the sustainable life choices that dont require you to buy a gym membership you won't use past February.

4. Practice Better Sleep Hygiene

I have been doing a ton of research on this. As a blogger, I look at a ton of screens every day, that lighting apparently fucks up my internal clock, which fucks up my hormone secretion that harms sleep. Now when it disrupts your sleep you end up with huge decreases in melatonin, HGH, all sorts of hormones that help your energy and health throughout the day. There's been tons of research on how looking at screens late at night can fuck up your whole system. I am not trying to sell you anything but blue light glasses would be a huge move if you have to work on the computer late at night. I can tell screens are a huge issue because legitimately when I wake up in the morning I turn my brightness up and go on my phone to help me wake up.

5. Stop Eating Like Shit, Dont eat breakfast.

This is easy to say hard to do. I am not going to give you a diet plan but easy quick fixes that can get you on track. Something I have been doing to cut calories I dont need working a sedentary job is straight-up dont eat breakfast. I take a bunch of supplements in the morning almost to act like a meal but they have little caloric value and kinda curb the hunger a little bit. Taking a handful of stuff like fish oil, creatine, theanine, b-12 vitamins etc. Can curb your appetite if mixed with a ton of water. If you want a list of supplements check out the Mintzy project.

Btw the Mintzy project is getting revamped January 1st he just has been traveling so much I haven't been able to get a hold of him.

6. Get Addicted to Workout Endorphins

This is the only way you are actually going to end up in killer shape. You have to get addicted to the endorphins. Hopefully, these small changes in your lifestyle will get your body into an anabolic state that will give you tons more energy and feel-good chemicals. Once your dopamine is jacked up you might start to take that extra step and wake up early to go to the gym every day. The huge component of that is healthy sleep. If you reach deeper sleep patterns you do not have to sleep for as long and feel more refreshed in the morning.

7. Schedule a Fight with Jose Canseco

Last year I had tons of motivation to work out because I had to train to fight Jose Canseco. That was literally the best way to wake up on January first and train hard as fuck and get in shape. Not all of us have that opportunity I am lucky. But Jesus that's a wake-up call to get in shape. Boxing workouts were the best for shedding fat and shocking your central nervous system into knowing it was changed or die. When you basically have to do basically wind sprints with your arms and do serious high-intensity movements for extended periods of time. If you are looking for the most efficient workouts for not putting on muscle but just getting in shape, fat-burning as many calories as you can, pick up boxing conditioning. Not necessarily strapping gloves on and hitting a bag, but the way boxers condition is the best way to get in shape. That's jumping rope, burpees, running stairs, wind sprints. Look into that type of workout. I can get a great workout by just getting the heart rate going and then extending it by jumping rope or hitting an ab wheel. Something to consider heading into the new year. At least you guys know I'm honest I could be jacked up on steroids and selling you supplements.

This is for everyone who missed last year.

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New Years Resolution to get in shape? Here's Where To Start - Barstool Sports

Hormones play a part in nearly every major body function, including growth. If the body does not produce enough, a person may need to have growth hormone injections.

Several glands in the body produce hormones, but health experts consider the pituitary to be the master control gland. Not only does it control other glands, but it also makes the hormone that triggers growth.

The pituitary gland is in the brain below the hypothalamus. It secretes hormones in response to chemical messages from the hypothalamus.

The human growth hormone (HGH) helps to influence height, as well as build bones and muscles in the body. It is crucial for processes involved in normal human growth and development.

Genetic factors can lead to a lack of growth hormone in children. Damage to the pituitary gland is a common cause of a deficiency in adults.

In this article, we look at the reasons to use HGH, the function of growth hormones, and possible side effects.

HGH is essential to growth, especially in children, but it is also involved in many other processes in the body, including bone density, muscle mass, and mood.

Different hormones control various body functions and processes, including growth and development, metabolism, sexual function and reproduction, and mood.

It helps process protein and increases fat breakdown to help provide the energy needed for tissue growth.

Growth hormone levels can change through the day, and physical activity plays a part.

Exercise and similar activities can cause the levels to rise naturally. Sleep, stress, and low blood sugar levels also increase growth hormone levels.

Even small changes in HGH levels affect the body.

Too little or too much growth hormone can cause significant growth problems. Too little HGH is one of the main causes of short stature and conditions such as dwarfism.

Some people use HGH because they believe it will build muscle, improve performance, or slow aging. However, the existing evidence does not support the use of HGH for these purposes.

Children with low levels of lack of growth hormone may or may not be smaller at birth. Growth problems may appear in time, for example, if they are smaller than their classmates and growing less than 2 inches a year.

Some children are unable to produce growth hormone when they are born and continue to have low levels throughout their life.

Symptoms of growth hormone deficiency in children are:

In some children, a lack of growth hormone is part of a genetic condition, but sometimes the cause of the deficiency is unknown.

In adults, a lack of growth hormone is often due to damage to the pituitary gland, which may be permanent. The damage could have occurred in childhood or adulthood.

Other causes include:

Problems in the pituitary with producing growth hormone are commonly due to a pituitary tumor.

The pituitary can be damaged by the tumor itself or by treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy.

In adults, a lack of HGH can cause a number of different problems including:

Growth hormone deficiency can also be a combination of one or more hormone deficiencies.

Some medical conditions may also benefit HGH treatment.

These include:

The most common treatment in both adults and children is growth hormone therapy using lab-developed HGH injections.

Doses occur several times per week or on a daily basis depending on how severe the deficiency is.Manufacturers designed the growth hormone to mimic the behavior of natural growth hormone in the body. It will be prescribed by a doctor.

HGH treatments can be self-administered or given by a doctor. Treatments are often given for several years. Patients will see their doctor every month or so to check their condition.

Blood tests will be carried out to see if extra growth hormone is needed and if treatments should be increased, decreased, or stopped. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and bone density will also be checked to see if they are healthy.

Taking growth hormone can affect the bodys response to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. Growth hormone deficiency can also lead to high cholesterol and brittle bones if it is not treated.

Specific treatment for growth hormone deficiency depends on the person.

Doctors base this treatment on certain factors, such as:

The earlier the lack of growth hormone is treated in children, the better chance they have to grow to a near normal adult height.

Children can gain as many as 4 inches or more over the first 3 years of treatment. Another 3 inches or more can grow during the next 2 years.

Many adults have to take HGH treatment for the remainder of their life.

Anyone taking HGH will undergo regular monitoring to assess the safety and effectiveness of the hormone.

The goal of growth hormone treatments in adults and children is to restore energy, metabolism, and enhance body development or shape. It can help to reduce total body fat, especially around the belly.

HGH injections can also help to improve strength and exercise tolerance and reduce the risk of heart disease in those who lack growth hormone.

Many people experience an increase in overall quality of life.

Most people tolerate HGH injection treatments well with few problems.

However, possible side effects include:

Those who experience these symptoms or other problems should talk to their doctor. They can change the dose if necessary to help remedy the symptoms.

HGH injections are not recommended for people who have:

HGH can affect insulin usage in the body, so people with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels carefully.

Other treatments may be required depending on the cause of the HGH deficiency.

Surgery or radiation may be necessary to treat a tumor in the pituitary. Pituitary hormones may also have to be taken to correct a gland that is not working properly.

If the levels of HGH are too high in adults, they may experience:

Long-term use of HGH injections can cause a condition called acromegaly.

Adults cannot grow taller by using the synthetic growth hormone. High doses will thicken the persons bones instead of lengthening them.

People with acromegaly will experience an overgrowth of bones, particularly in the hands, feet, and face.

The skin area can also be affected and may turn thick, coarse, and hairy. The excess HGH levels can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.

HGH injections have also become popular for nonmedical usage. Bodybuildersgro and athletes sometimes use them in an effort to get larger muscles, more energy, and increased stamina.

They are considered performance-enhancing drugs and are banned in professional sports.

HGH injections are also advertised as an anti-aging or weight loss treatment.

Many people aim to help increase their energy as well as fight the decrease in muscle and bone mass that happens with aging.

The Endocrine Society do not recommend HGH injections for adults or children unless they have a growth hormone deficiency.

Not enough evidence is available to prove that HGH injections can slow down the aging process, and studies show it does not improve athletic performance. Adverse effects often occur, especially fluid retention.

Using them for any nonmedical reason is illegal in the United States.

HGH injections are designed for adults or children who have a lack of growth hormone and should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Children and adults with low levels of growth hormone should ensure they have plenty of sleep, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and that they follow medical advice.

Read the rest here:
Growth hormone injections: Uses and side effects

Ever notice how the last place we tend to lose fat is in the belly? Abdominal fat oftentimes seems impossible to lose and chances are it's because it's visceral fat"a type of body fat that's stored within the abdominal cavity between your vital organs: liver, intestines, pancreas, etc," says Jillian Michaelscreator of The Fitness App by Jillian Michaels. While it can be challenging to lose, there are ways to help reverse visceral fat and get rid of the stubborn excess weight. Eat This, Not That! Health talked to Michaels, a personal trainer, nutritionist, life coach and former Biggest Loser fitness instructor, who explained everything to know about visceral fat. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

In order to know how much visceral fat to lose, you should know how much you have first. Michaels explains how to measure. "Outside of an MRI or CT scan the best way to know if you have visceral fat is the waist to hip ratio calculation. You simply

In women, a waist circumference of 35 inches or larger is generally considered a sign of excess visceral fat. In men, it's 40."

Visceral fat can be difficult to lose. Michaels says, "There are several reasons why visceral fat is difficult to lose, but they all tie back to hormone imbalances. Visceral fat gets stored like all fat because we are eating too much and moving too little. However, the body first aims to store the fat subcutaneously (just under the skin). When we take on too much excess body fat it then gets stored viscerally. The habits that created this excess fat in the first place have hormonal consequences that then beget a bit of a catch 22.

For example, visceral fat is linked to insulin resistance from too much sugar and not enough fitness, elevated cortisol levels from too much stress, and the secretion of excess inflammatory proteins called cytokines. When it comes to metabolism (the rate we burn calories, when, how and where we store fat) are directly connected to our hormone balance. Once insulin resistance begins and cortisol levels surge it makes it that much harder to get our metabolism out of fat storage mode and into fat burning mode. Plus, the habits/lifestyle that got us into this position in the first place are often the hardest to break. From desk jobs and sugar addiction to long work days and age-related hormonal shifts it can seem like an uphill battle."

RELATED: 5 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's, Says Dr. Sanjay Gupta

You can absolutely lose visceral fat with diet and lifestyle changes. Michaels says, "there is a lot we can do. Let's sensitize your body to insulin again by cutting out processed carbs and refined sugars, so nothing white. No white flour and no white sugar. So avoid eating processed salty or sweet snacks. Choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes instead."

RELATED: The #1 Reason You Can't Remember Something, According to Science

Michaels states, "Drink your water and keep sodium intake at bay. Try to avoid over 2000mg a day unless you sweat a ton and are very athletic and generally people with excess visceral fat aren't engaging in intense fitness training. Studies have linked excess sodium intake with increased insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and glucocorticoid production. An easy way to do this is to choose reduced sodium products, up your water intake, and don't salt your food."

RELATED: The #1 Habit That Ages Your Skin Faster

Michaels stresses how important it is to stay active. "Start moving your body. Exercise is the best way to get the body sensitized to insulin and reverse type two diabetes. If you have the ability, techniques like HIIT training and Strength training are the most effective for this. The Fitness App has many programs for this including HIIT workouts for beginners so you can be effective and safe."

RELATED: 5 Warning Signs Your Brain is in Trouble

Michaels says, "Get your 8 hours of shuteye. Lack of sleep increases our hunger hormones and dampens our satiety hormones making us feel the need to eat more. In addition, it inhibits our HGH production, which is a key hormone for muscle maintenance and fat metabolism. Lack of sleep is also associated with higher cortisol levels which is a hormone notorious for belly fat storage. So make sure to shut off the screens and get 7 to 8 hours of shut eye every night."

RELATED: How Can You Avoid COVID? A Virus Expert Weighs In

Taking a break from life's daily stresses isn't just good for us mentally, but physically as well. Michaels reveals: "Take your vacations, manage your stress levels, try meditating anything that helps you manage stress. Cortisol is our fight or flight hormone and when we are constantly stressed it's constantly surging so work to find your chill!"

Michaels says, "Up your vitamin C intake! Early studies have shown that vitamin C can help reduce our cortisol secretion. So consider a supplement or just eat your citrus!"

RELATED: The #1 Worst Supplements That Are a Rip-Off

"Last, we want to do what is going to help us reduce body fat overall and that is eating less calories and moving more often," Michaels explains. "Fat is stored energy and the calories in our food are units of energy. No matter how "healthy" a food is you can still eat too much of it. Take an organic avocado for example it's loaded with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats with likely zero chemical residue from pesticides, fungicides, herbicides etc. But it's very high in calories. If you eat too many calories than your body is burning in a day you will store that energy in your fat cells. So be mindful of your overall calorie intake. Cut the booze. Booze dampens fat metabolism by up to 73%. And as I mentioned repeatedly EXERCISE it burns calories and helps to bring our hormones back into balance." And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

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How to Reverse Visceral Fat, Say Experts Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a key hormone that helps maintain muscle tissue and is often associated with enhanced athletic performance, increased bone density, and reduced body fat.

This has led some athletic communities to attempt doping with hGH to improve strength and performance. That's why you may sometimes hear about illegal hGH use.

Note: HGH is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. And even though growth hormone is abused in competitive athletics, its benefits in a healthy, adult population are uncertain, according to a 2018 study.

However, if your doctor prescribes you hGH for hGH deficiency, then it's perfectly legal to use. There are also ways to increase hGH levels without medical aid, though they are not very effective long-term.

Here we discuss why some people have low hGH, how to boost hGH levels, and common side effects.

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a hormone you produce naturally. In childhood, it plays a key role in your physical growth and development.

However, hGH is also important in adulthood, helping maintain tissue and organ function. You can't get hGH from food, so if you're hGH deficient, it's important to see a doctor.

A doctor will typically prescribe injections of a synthetic version of the hormone called recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) to combat symptoms of low hGH.

HGH is produced by the pituitary gland, a small pea-sized organ located at the base of your brain. When that gland doesn't produce enough hGH, you're at risk of low hGH levels.

Children who are deficient in hGH may have short stature or stunted growth. Treatment requires daily injections of rhGH and typically continues until the child has stopped growing, around age 16 to 18, says Alan Rogol, MD, PhD, a pediatric endocrinologist and professor emeritus at the University of Virginia.

In adults, low hGH is often due to damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland. Damage is often from tumors in the area of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, Rogol says.

Symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency include:

To test for growth hormone deficiency, the first step is a blood test called IGF-1 to screen for a deficiency, and then a test called a growth hormone stimulation test, Rogol says.

Because you can't take growth hormone legally unless you're being treated for a deficiency, people may want to try to boost hGH levels naturally for its purported benefits.

Certain activities, such as exercise, do boost hGH levels, but the effects may not be significant enough to see the desired effects, Rogol says. "It's a controversial issue," he says.

Moreover, it's unclear from present research whether these changes are long-lasting or only temporary. So, whether these results are clinically relevant is unclear and more long-term research is needed.

With that in mind, here are some ways you may be able to boost hGH naturally, according to Shawn Arent, PhD, professor and the chair of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina and an ACSM fellow:

Fasting and avoiding sugars can also affect hGH levels, but the effects are complicated because of how growth hormone interplays with other hormones and activities, and exercise will have a much greater effect, Arent says.

Last, there are supplements you can buy that claim to stimulate the natural release of hGH. For example, some supplements contain the amino acid L-arginine, which "some studies ... show that L-arginine can increase growth hormone. Whether it's meaningful or not, though, is pretty debatable," says Arent.

Moreover, a 2008 review looked at how exercise and L-arginine supplementation affected growth hormone responses and found that L-arginine increases growth hormone levels, but that exercise increases them more dramatically.

Although hGH has important benefits for people who take it to treat a deficiency, hGH also has some potential long-term side effects, according to the FDA, including:

Other side effects can include:

Growth hormone injections are effective in treating people with hGh deficiency, but other ways of taking the hormone are illegal.

By exercising and getting a good night's sleep, you may help boost your hGH levels, but this effect may only be temporary and not lead to any significant long-term changes.

If you're looking to boost hGH to build muscle or lose fat, eating a well-balanced diet and incorporating high-intensity exercise and weight training may be a better approach.

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Human growth hormone (hGH): How to boost it and illegal use - INSIDER

Introduction

Human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is a 191 amino acid single-chain polypeptide produced by somatotropic cells within the anterior pituitary gland. As its name implies, scientists originally found it to be responsible forgrowth regulation during childhood. However, research has determined that HGH is also responsible for the regulation of many of the bodys other basal metabolic functions and operates as an acute phase stress reactant.[1][2]

Human growth hormone is produced viathe anterior pituitary of the brain in the acidophilic, somatotrophic cells. Its production is tightly regulated through several complex feedback mechanisms in response to stress, exercise, nutrition, sleep, and growth hormone itself. The primary regulation factors are growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) produced in the hypothalamus, somatostatin, produced in various tissues throughout the body, and ghrelin, which is produced in the gastrointestinal tract. GHRH functions to promote HGH production and release. Somatostatin inhibits the release of GHRH as well as the HGH release response to GHRH stimulus and increases in hypoglycemia. Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach as part of the hunger response. Functionally, the ghrelin response is protective against hypoglycemia. When elevated, ghrelin binds to somatotrophs to stimulate HGH secretion.Insulin-like growth factor-1 also acts to inhibit HGH by both directly inhibiting somatotrophic HGH release and indirectly through synergistically increasing the release of somatostatin. Additionally, HGH will negatively feedback into the hypothalamus, thus decreasing GHRH production. The net effect of this regulatory mechanism produces a pulsatile release of HGH into circulation that varies hourly. In general, HGH levels will be increased in childhood, spike to their highest levels during puberty, and subsequently decrease with increased age.[3][4][5]

HGH has two mechanisms of effect: direct action and indirect action. The direct effects of HGH on the body are through its action on binding to target cells to stimulate a response. The indirect effects occur primarily by the action of insulin-like growth factor-1, which hepatocytes primarily secrete in response to elevated HGH binding to surface receptors. Once activated, the Janusactivating tyrosine kinases (JAKs) 1 and 2 will bind to the latent cytoplasmic transcriptions factors STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5, and be transported into the nucleusinducingincreased gene transcription and metabolism to produce insulin-like growth factor-1 for release into the circulation. Insulin-like growth factor-1 then has an impact on the growth and metabolism of peripheral tissues. One can think of the effects of HGH as a combined effect of both HGH and insulin-like growth factor-1.

Growth

HGH induces growth in nearly every tissue and organ in the body. However, it is most notorious forits growth-promoting effect on cartilage and bone, especially in the adolescent years. Chondrocytes and osteoblasts receive signals to increase replication and thus allow for growth in size via HGHs activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases designated ERKs (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) 1 and 2 cellular signaling pathways. Activation of this phosphorylation intracellular signaling cascade results in a cascade of protein activation, which leads to increased gene transcription of the affected cells and ultimately causes increased gene replication and cellular growth.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 binds to its receptor, IGF-1R, on the cellular surface and activates a tyrosine kinase-mediated intracellular signaling pathway that phosphorylates various proteins intracellularly leading to increased metabolism, anabolism, and cellular replication and division. Furthermore, it acts to inhibit apoptosis of the cell, thus prolonging the lifespan of existing cells. The net result is to encourage the growth of tissue and to create a hyperglycemic environment in the body.

Metabolic Effects

HGH impacts metabolism primarily by up-regulating the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 and its subsequent effect on peripheral cells. The intracellular signaling activation that occurs, as stated above, also has a significant impact on the basal metabolic functions of organ tissues. In general, cells enter an anabolic protein state with increased amino acid uptake, protein synthesis, and decreased catabolism of proteins. Fats are processed and consumed by stimulating triglyceride breakdown and oxidation in adipocytes. Additionally, HGH suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate the uptake of glucose in peripheral tissues and causes an increased rate of gluconeogenesis in the liver, leading to an overall hyperglycemic state.[6][7][8]

Due to the pulsatile nature of HGH levelsfound in the blood, conventional measurements of serum HGH arealmost useless because the valuesmay vary from undetectable to extremely high depending on environmental stressors and conditions. If a clinician suspects HGH deficiency, it is best to evaluate insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels and to perform HGH stimulation tests.

In an HGH stimulation test, the patient fasts overnight, and a pharmacological challenge is added in the morning with either L-dopa, clonidine,propranolol,glucagon,arginine, or insulin-induced hypoglycemia. HGH serum levels are then evaluated hourly for a response to increased hormone levels. Failure of this test to increase HGH levels, therefore, indicates HGH deficiency.[9][10]

HGH is extremely importantfor modulating growth during adolescence. Therefore, the major aberrations in the regulation of HGH may result in growth defects. HGH hypersecretion results in gigantism or acromegaly, whereas HGH deficiencywill result in a growth deficit in children and the GH deficiency syndrome in adults.

Acromegaly

Acromegaly typically results from an HGH secreting pituitary adenoma with an onset after the closure of the epiphyseal growth plates, typically in adulthood. Therefore, bone growth primarily affects flat bones such as the skull, mandible, sternum, hands, and feet. Often the presenting complaint isof hats or gloves not fitting anymore due to swelling of the hands and head. Because the illness is due to a pituitary mass, hypopituitarism may also develop with secondary reproductive disorders and visual symptoms. In addition to bony growth, there is the growth of myocardium resulting in biventricular concentric hypertrophy and subsequent heart failure in later disease. Because HGH counteracts the effects of insulin on glucose and lipid metabolism, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlipidemia are strongly associated with this disease. Treatment consists of surgery and radiation therapy targeting the underlying adenoma as well as symptomatic relief of the secondary effects of HGH as above.

Gigantism

This illness is very similar to acromegaly in all aspects, except the underlying pituitary adenoma develops before the closure of long bone epiphysis. Therefore, bone growth occurs in long bones such as the tibia, fibula, femur, humerus, radius, and ulna. Since epiphyseal closure occurs before adulthood, this is typically an illness with an onset seen in children. The organ and metabolic impacts are similar to acromegaly.

HGH Deficiency

In children, idiopathic HGH deficiency is the most common. In adult-onset, HGH deficiency typically presents as a constellation of hypopituitary deficiencies. The triggering incident is typically a pituitary adenoma, most likely a prolactinoma. However, other treatments, such as radiation therapy or surgery, might be the cause. Childhood-onset is associated with decreased growth of all skeletal structures, leading to dwarfism.Adult-onset HGH deficiency is less easily diagnosed as it has no single identifying feature that is pathognomonic. Typically adults have decreased skeletal muscleand increased fat mass in visceral tissue as well as decreased bone density and remodeling, which leads to osteoporosis. Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance are prevalent, which lead to secondary cardiovascular dysfunction, depressed mood, increased anxiety, and a lack of energy.[11][12][13]

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Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) using recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been embraced by many age management practitioners as one of the most effective methods for opposing somatic senescence currently available. However, its routine use has been controversial because few clinical studies have been performed to determine the potential risks of long-term therapy. Also, certain medical and legal issues have not been resolved causing some practitioners to restrict their use of the product. Some of these issues include the fact that:

Improper dosing can lead to side effects that may be serious in some patients,

Injection of hGH creates unnatural conditions of exposure to the hormone that may erode normal physiology,

The Code of Federal Regulations specifically forbids the use of rhGH in adults except for treatment of AIDS or human growth hormone deficiency (GHD) diagnosed pursuant to regularly accepted guidelines.

While there is a wealth of information showing that long-term administration of rhGH reduces intrinsic disease and extends life in adults suffering pathogenic GHD, consensus on whether extrapolation of those data to the aging condition is justified has not been reached (Perls et al 2005). Most of the major concerns derive from the fact that rhGH is mitogenic and may awaken latent cancers, that improper dose selection may promote metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and perhaps that pharmacological presentation may exacerbate decline of endocrine function by distorting essential hormonal interactions. Of course, all these concerns are speculative and will not be resolved until sufficient scientific evidence for or against GHRT eventually accumulate. In the interim, the value of rhGH in GHRT will continue to be debated; unfortunately based more upon personal prejudice than objective information.

Despite the eventual outcome to the Great Hormone Debate as it has been titled in media articles (Landsmann 2006), certain negative aspects of GHRT using rhGH cannot be disputed and justify searching for a better alternative. For example, square wave or pharmacological presentation of the exogenous hormone cannot be avoided since it is administered as a bolus, subcutaneous injection. Since the amount of rhGH entering the general circulation is not controlled by normal feedback mechanisms, tissue exposure to elevated concentrations is persistent and eventually may lead to tachyphylaxis and reduced efficacy. Also, because the body cannot modulate tissue exposure to rhGH, the practitioner is required to best guess the appropriate dosage based upon little other than serum measurements of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and subjective comments from the patient about perceived responses to the hormone. Thus, it would seem that an alternative method(s) of GHRT that circumvented these problems would be of great value so long as it retained the positive attributes of rhGH.

One possibility that is receiving growing attention is the use of GH secretagogues to promote pituitary health and function during aging. An example of such molecules is growth hormone releasing factor 129 NH2-acetate, or sermorelin, that recently became available to practitioners for use in longevity medicine (Merriam et al 2001). Other alternatives include orally active growth hormone-releasing peptides that are currently being developed by pharmaceutical companies. Some of these have been reported to be effective at improving physical performance in the elderly (Fahy 2006). However, it is unlikely that they will be marketed for several years. On the other hand, sermorelin, an analog of naturally occurring growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) whose activity declines during aging, may presently offer a more immediate and better alternative to rhGH for GHRT in aging (Russell-Aulet et al 2001). The molecule was commercially produced and marketed for many years as an alternative to rhGH for use in children with growth retardation, but it could not compete with rhGH and was withdrawn as a therapeutic entity by the manufacturer. Paradoxically sermorelin failed as a growth-promoting agent in children for the very reason that it is a better alternative for GHRT in aging adults. Growth-deficient children need higher doses of growth hormone than can be achieved by stimulating production of their own hormone, whereas the beneficial effects of sermorelin on pituitary function and simulation of youthful growth hormone secretory dynamics in aging adults have little effect on growth rate in children. Unlike exogenous rhGH that causes production of the bioactive hormone IGF-1 from the liver, sermorelin simulates the patients own pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to increase production and secretion of endogenous hGH. Because sermorelin increases endogenous hGH by stimulating the pituitary gland, it has certain physiological and clinical advantages over hGH that include:

Effects are regulated by negative feedback involving the inhibitory neurohormone, somatostatin, so that unlike administration of exogenous rhGH, overdoses of endogenous hGH are difficult if not impossible to achieve,

Because of the interactive effects of sermorelin and somatostain, release of hGH by the pituitary is episodic or intermittent rather than constant as with injected rhGH.

Tachphylaxis is avoided because sermorelin-induced release of pituitary hGH is not square wave, but instead simulates more normal physiology,

Sermorelin stimulates pituitary gene transcription of hGH messenger RNA, increasing pituitary reserve and thereby preserving more of the growth hormone neuroendocrine axis, which is the first to fail during aging (Walker et al 1994).

Pituitary recrudescence resulting from sermorelin helps slow the cascade of hypophyseal hormone failure that occurs during aging thereby preserving not only youthful anatomy but also youthful physiology (Villalobos et al 1997).

Finally, there is the question of lawful practice. Unlike rhGH which has legal restrictions on its clinical use, the off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law. Thus, it can be carefully employed and evaluated by the practitioner to objectively determine whether it provides greater benefits with less risk to his/her patients. In support of this effort, the Society for Applied Research in Aging will be providing sermorelin free of cost on a competitive basis to practitioners willing to study its effects under protocol conditions and to report the outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal such as Clinical Interventions in Aging. Hopefully, through such efforts we can contribute to development of a paradigm for evidence-based GHRT in clinical age management.

For more information on this effort and to participate in the protocol, please contactmoc.sserpevod@nileromres.

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Sermorelin: A better approach to management of adult-onset ...

Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) has announced a temporary reduction in services as a result of a serious clinical staffing shortage. According to a statement issued by HGH, effective November 1, 2021, two departments areoperating at 50 per cent capacity: Perioperative Services (operating rooms) and the Family Birthing Centre. Other inpatient care and outpatient services will continue to operate at planned service levels.

The decision followed a detailed analysis and forecasts of activity levels and staffing capacity, as well as consultations with several healthcare leaders.

The nursing shortage has become an urgent issue in Ontario and across the countrys healthcare system. Our unique geographical location and the language needs of HGH patients make the staffing situation even more challenging. As Chief Executive Officer, I made the difficult decision in order to manage the risks to patients and for the well-being of the clinical and medical staff, said HGH CEO Marc LeBoutillier. The HGH Board of Directors unanimously supported this decision at its October 27 meeting.

Surgeries and procedures to be postponed and the decrease in the Family Birthing Centre activities will be selected on a set of clear criteria, including, among others, an ethical framework and consideration of the healthcare needs of the patients. The Hospital will notify patients directly affected by this reduction in services.

This decision was carefully weighed and taken to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Our teams of clinical staff and physicians are doing their best to reduce the impacts on expecting mothers, patients awaiting treatment and their families, explained HGH Chief of Staff, Dr. Julie Maranda.

We are doing our utmost to balance urgent and elective patient care for our community.

HGH urges anyone needing urgent care to come to the Emergency Department. We would like to thank our community for their support, and all healthcare workers for their continued hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic and during these exceptional times, said LeBoutillier.

HGH has not given a specific reason for the serious clinical staffing shortage. The Review contacted the hospital on November 2 seeking furtherinformation,but no response was received by publication time.

A policy requiring mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all HGH employees took effect on October 15. On October 9, HGHVice President, Human Resources and Corporate ServicesGisleLarocque stated 100 per cent of HGH physicians were vaccinated and 88.1 per cent of all other hospital staff. Larocque anticipated 99.1 of all HGH employees would be vaccinated by October 15.

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HGH temporarily cuts operating room and birthing centre capacity in half - The Review Newspaper

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