Growth hormone

Growth hormone is a key hormone made by the pituitary gland that controls growth and helps regulate how the body uses nutrients in both children and adults.

📋 About This Biomarker

Growth hormone is like your body's natural growth promoter, playing a crucial role in how we grow and develop. Produced by the pituitary gland - a tiny but powerful gland at the base of your brain - it sends signals that tell your bones, muscles, and tissues to grow and repair themselves. Imagine it as the conductor of a symphony, coordinating different parts of your body to work together harmoniously. In children and teenagers, growth hormone is especially important for reaching normal height and body development. But it doesn't stop there; even in adults, it helps regulate how our bodies use fats, sugars, and proteins, supporting muscle mass and bone strength. By measuring growth hormone levels, doctors can understand how well this system is working, which is vital for diagnosing growth-related issues in children and metabolic health concerns in adults.

🎯 Why We Test This

Testing growth hormone levels can provide valuable insights into various health conditions. For children who are not growing as expected, measuring growth hormone can help determine if a deficiency is the cause. In adults, testing can diagnose growth hormone deficiency, which can affect muscle mass, energy levels, and bone health. Conversely, if there's suspicion of too much growth hormone - such as unusual growth in children or changes in physical features in adults - a test can help diagnose conditions like gigantism or acromegaly. Understanding your growth hormone levels aids in diagnosing and managing these conditions, leading to appropriate treatments that can improve health and quality of life.

⚠️ What Affects It

Several factors can influence growth hormone levels in your body. Age plays a big role - levels are higher during childhood and adolescence and naturally decrease as we get older. Sleep is another important factor because growth hormone is mostly released during deep sleep; poor sleep can reduce its levels. Physical activity, especially vigorous exercise, can boost growth hormone production. Nutrition also matters; low blood sugar levels can increase growth hormone, while high sugar intake can suppress it. Stress, both physical and emotional, can impact its release as well. Certain medical conditions, like growth hormone deficiency or tumours in the pituitary gland, can significantly alter levels. Medications, including hormone therapies and steroids, can also affect how much growth hormone your body produces.

📈 How to Improve

If levels are high or close to being high, it's important to work with a healthcare provider to find out why. Treatment might involve medications that reduce growth hormone production, surgery to remove a pituitary tumour if one is present, or radiation therapy. Lifestyle changes, like managing stress and maintaining normal blood sugar levels, might also help regulate hormone levels. If levels are low or close to being low, natural ways to boost growth hormone include getting enough deep sleep, since most growth hormone is released during sleep. Regular exercise, especially high-intensity workouts, can stimulate production. A balanced diet that's rich in protein and low in sugar can also support healthy levels. In cases where deficiency is significant, a doctor might recommend growth hormone therapy to help bring levels back to normal.

📊 Understanding Your Results (mIU/L)

Low
When growth hormone levels are below normal, it indicates that your body isn't producing enough of it. In children, this can lead to growth hormone deficiency, resulting in slower growth and shorter stature compared to peers. In adults, low levels can cause symptoms like decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, low energy levels, and weakened bones, which can lead to osteoporosis. It might also affect your overall well-being, causing feelings of fatigue or depression. Identifying and treating low growth hormone levels is important to help manage these symptoms and improve health.
Optimal
When your growth hormone levels are within the normal range, it's a good indication that your pituitary gland is functioning properly. This balance means your body can effectively manage growth, tissue repair, and metabolism, supporting healthy muscle and bone maintenance. It's like having everything running smoothly behind the scenes, helping you feel your best without any growth hormone-related concerns. If your growth hormone levels are nearing the upper limit of what's considered normal, it might be an early sign that your body is starting to produce more growth hormone than needed. While it may not cause immediate problems, it's something to keep an eye on. Factors like intense exercise or stress can temporarily raise levels, but consistently high readings might warrant further investigation. Monitoring these levels can help catch any potential issues early, allowing for timely treatment and preventing possible complications. If your growth hormone levels are near the lower end of normal, it might suggest that your body isn't producing as much as it could be. While still within normal limits, it could be a sign to watch, especially if you're experiencing symptoms like low energy, decreased muscle mass, or changes in bone strength. Factors like poor sleep, high sugar intake, or even normal aging can contribute to lower growth hormone levels. Keeping an eye on these levels helps ensure that any potential decline can be addressed promptly.
High (> 10 mIU/L)
When growth hormone levels are higher than normal, it suggests that your body is producing too much of it. In adults, this can lead to a condition called acromegaly, where bones and tissues grow larger than usual, causing features like enlarged hands and feet, and changes in facial appearance. In children, excessive growth hormone can cause gigantism, leading to abnormal increases in height and growth. High levels might indicate a benign tumour in the pituitary gland that's causing it to produce extra growth hormone. Recognising and treating high levels is important because, if left unchecked, it can lead to other health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
Also known as: Somatotropin, hGH