What are growth hormones?

Growth hormones are protein hormones made up of around 190 amino acids which are synthesized and secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary gland. They have a major role to play in several physiological processes, and strongly affect growth and metabolism. Growth hormones can have direct effects and indirect effects on a system. The direct effects include stimulation of the fat cells to break down triglyceride, as well as suppressing their capacity to build up circulating lipids. The Indirect effects of growth hormones include acting on a hormone secreted primarily by the liver, called insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Most of the effects of the growth hormone are a result of the combination of IGF-I and the growth hormone itself acting on the cells. Growth is a multifarious process, and is an effect of the combined action of several hormones. The major role of growth hormones in promoting body growth is by stimulating the liver and other tissues to secrete IGF-I, which in turn stimulates a plethora of cartilage cells, resulting in bone growth. IGF-I also plays a pivotal role in muscle growth, by stimulating the synthesis of amino acids and proteins in muscles and other tissues. Growth hormones also have an important effect on the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Besides stimulating protein metabolism in tissues by synthesising proteins and limiting their oxidation, growth hormones develop the utilization of lipids by stimulating the breakdown of triglycerides and by promoting oxidation in fat cells. Apart from this, growth hormones also help to maintain blood glucose within the normal limits by promoting glucose synthesis in the liver, and are often believed to suppress the functions of insulin, although paradoxically enabling insulin secretion. Production of growth hormones are modulated by many factors such as exercise, stress, nutrition, and sleep, although its primary controllers are two hormones secreted from the hypothalamus in the brain and one hormone from the stomach, called Ghrelin. Used as a prescription drug to treat growth disorders in children and growth hormone deficiency in adults, growth hormones should only be purchased on prescription by a certified medical practitioner. While legal, the effectiveness and safety of this use for growth hormones has not yet been tested in a clinical trial. Several athletes have used human growth hormones, as it is believed to improve athletic performance. However, this claim is under dispute, hence leading to a ban of the use of growth hormones by several athletic associations. In the US, growth hormones are legally available only under prescription from a certified medical doctor. Studies have also been conducted on the use of growth hormones in raising livestock, which has been administered to dairy cows for increasing milk production. However, the use of the growth hormone in dairy farming has also stirred up a controversy, and has not been approved yet by the government. One of the major hormones that control most bodily functions, growth hormones can be a boon or a bane, as an excess or a deficiency of this hormone may both have adverse effects. To know more about growth hormone supplement and to gain some insightful knowledge on human growth hormones then visit our website. This article has been taken from //bestgrowthhormonesupplement.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/what-are-growth-hormones/