Human growth hormone is a substance in charge of human development produced in the pituitary gland. It promotes growth in children and adolescents and regulates body fluids, bone and muscle growth, body composition, fat and sugar metabolism, and even heart function.
It’s also popular among bodybuilders and athletes for its muscle-building and performance-enhancing effects, despite the controversy that surrounds it.
This article will familiarize you with all the essential details concerning HGH statistics, its effects, usage, legality, and just how (un)safe this drug truly is.
Top 10 HGH Stats and Facts:
- Growth hormone is a small protein produced by the pituitary gland.
- The global HGH market size was $4.6 billion in 2019.
- About 30% of HGH therapy patients experience side effects.
- The International Children’s Growth Awareness Day falls on the 20th of September.
- HGH deficiency affects less than one in 3,000 to 10,000 children in the US.
- HGH statistics show that GH secretion decreases about 14% per decade.
- HGH blood levels can increase up to ten times with moderate or intensive exercise.
- Many sports organizations and foundations banned HGH use.
- 11% of high school students used HGH as an anabolic agent in 2013.
- HGH secretion is slightly higher in women than in men.
Compelling Human Growth Hormone Facts and Statistics
HGH has seen widespread use over the years. Its users range from elite (and wannabe) athletes to people who merely want to slow down the ravages of time, despite the controversy surrounding its use. It’s also a vital part of particular medical treatments.
Without further ado, let’s delve into the most exciting human growth hormone facts, as well as HGH statistics for 2022.
1. Growth hormone is a small protein produced by the pituitary gland.
(Harvard Medical School)
The pituitary gland distributes HGH in bursts, especially after exercising, sleeping, fasting, or experiencing stress or trauma. Furthermore, HGH production is the highest during the night.
2. HGH secretion is slightly higher in women than in men.
(NIH)
The fact that females produce more estrogen than males could explain the difference in HGH levels. Namely, estrogen seems to stimulate GH secretion.
3. HGH statistics show that GH secretion decreases about 14% per decade.
(NIH)
Growth hormone production starts increasing during childhood, reaches its peak in puberty, and gradually decreases after middle age. This decrease is the main reason why adults start considering HGH supplement use.
4. HGH deficiency affects less than one in 3,000 to 10,000 children in the US.
(Grand View Research)
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HGH statistics indicate that HGH deficiency in children is pretty rare.
5. The International Children’s Growth Awareness Day falls on the 20th of September.
(ISENDO)
ICOSEP (the International Coalition of Organizations Supporting Endocrine Patients) initiated this movement in 2014. Every year on this day, various worldwide organizations spread awareness of the importance of regular growth checkups and health issues related to irregular growth.
HGH Supplement Statistics and Facts
6. HGH can be used for treating various health conditions.
HGH injections are commonly used for treating children born small for gestational age, chronic kidney disease, HGH deficiency, Turner’s syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
14. There are various human growth hormone benefits.
(Harvard Medical School)
HGH offers fantastic benefits to adult GH deficiency sufferers. Some of the most important benefits are:
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased stamina and energy
- Reduced risk of future heart disease
- Fracture protection
7. HGH produces many side effects.
(Grand View Research, Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic)
The human growth hormone side effects range from mild to severe and include:
- Allergic reactions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Elevated blood sugar levels
- Fluid retention
- Gynecomastia
- Increased insulin resistance
- Increased risk of particular types of cancer
- Knee, hip, or joint pains
- Rashes
- Edema (swelling in the arms and legs)
- Type 2 diabetes
7. About 30% of HGH therapy patients experience side effects.
(Harvard Medical School)
The most common side effects of growth hormone therapy are joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, high blood sugar levels, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
8. 11% of high school students used HGH as an anabolic agent in 2013.
(NIH)
The HGH supplement statistics indicate a significant increase in the incidence of teenage HGH use compared to the previous year when only 5–7% of them reported using this substance. Additionally, both male and female students reported trying HGH.
Current Human Growth Hormone Statistics—Recent Market Size Fluctuations
The infamous COVID-19 virus affected many global markets in 2020, HGH included. Let’s look at the changes pandemic brought about in this field in the past two years.
9. The global HGH market size was $4.6 billion in 2019.
(Grand View Research)
Investments, constant research and development, government initiatives, etc., all contributed to the market expansion.
10. The human growth hormone market size decreased in 2020.
(Grand View Research)
HGH statistics for 2020 indicate that the market size value decreased by $0.9 billion in comparison with 2019, dropping to the worth of $3.7 billion.
11. The HGH market size value is expected to double by 2027.
(Grand View Research)
The HGH market’s expanding, and there’s no doubt about it. Experts expect the market size to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% in the following years and reach a sky-high value of $8.5 billion.
Human Growth Hormones in Sports
HGH supplements, just like anabolic steroids, are used for their performance-enhancing and muscle-building benefits. The effects of human growth hormone on sports performance are impressive, which is why bodybuilders, crossfitters, and other athletes are attracted to (ab)using it. Let’s take a look at the status of this substance in sports today.
12. Many sports organizations and foundations banned HGH use.
(Harvard Medical School)
The International Olympic Committee, Major League Baseball, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the National Football League are only some of the organizations that don’t allow HGH use in competitions.
There’s a reason why the use of human growth hormone in bodybuilding, cross-fit, and other sports is strictly prohibited. The benefits of HGH supplementation could make the competition unfair.
Furthermore, a lot of money is on the line in all sports. For example, CrossFit alone generates $4 billion in revenue. That’s why major sports organizations don’t take chances, and they do rigorous testing for signs of HGH use before every important event.
13. The blood matrix is the best for detecting HGH.
(WADA)
The urine test isn’t as reliable since urine contains minimal amounts of HGH (less than 1% of what can be found in the blood). According to WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency), HGH testing can be performed either with the isoform differential immunoassays or the HGH biomarkers test.
15. Bodybuilders take growth hormones in cycles of four to six weeks, like anabolic steroids.
(NIH)
The HGH dosage for bodybuilding is difficult to determine, as there are no official records. Unofficial underground sources suggest that athletes abusing HGH usually take between 10 and 25 IU a day, three to four times a week, to increase lean body mass.
In other words, the mean dose amounts to about 4 IU a day, taken in combination with other doping agents such as anabolic steroids in power sports or EPO (erythropoietin) in endurance sports.
Natural Ways to Increase Pituitary Growth Hormone Levels
Supplementing with HGH is not the only way to increase the amount of human growth hormone. There are many natural options you can consider if you’re worried about decreasing levels of this hormone but not eligible for growth hormone therapy.
16. Optimizing your sleep can lead to a natural HGH levels boost.
(Healthline)
Most of HGH is secreted during the night when you sleep. Therefore, sleep deprivation can reduce the amount of this hormone your body produces. To avoid this, you should make sure to get enough deep sleep. Additionally, you should go to bed on time since the largest amounts of HGH are released before midnight.
17. HGH blood levels can increase up to ten times with moderate or intensive exercise.
(NIH)
The NIH’s human growth hormone statistics indicate that even moderate-intensity prolonged exercise can significantly increase HGH levels, causing a tenfold increase. The same applies to intense short-term exercise lasting up to 20 minutes. Even short exercises can raise human growth hormone levels. In this case, the HGH levels peak 15–30 minutes after physical activity.
18. Changing your eating habits could affect HGH levels.
(Healthline)
Giving a chance to intermittent fasting could be of great help elevate the HGH levels in your body. Research shows that only three days of fasting can increase HGH levels by 300%, while seven days of fasting result in the elevation by a whopping 1,250%.
19. Taking particular supplements can increase your HGH levels.
(Healthline) (NIH)
HGH supplement use isn’t the only way to increase your HGH levels. Other supplements like gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine, leucine, or melatonin can also significantly increase HGH production.
Additionally, drugs like L-dopa, gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, clonidine, as well as androgens and estrogens all increase HGH secretion.
FAQ
How to use HGH injections?
The best place for injecting HGH is in the fat tissue under your skin in the abdominal area, back and lower loins, and outer areas of the upper arms and thighs. Though injecting HGH into the stomach area (at least two inches from the belly button) results in the best absorption, you should rotate the injection sites to avoid lipoatrophy.
(Best HGH Doctors)
How many IU’s of HGH should you take a day?
The recommended HGH daily dose is between 1.5 and 2.0 IU (international units) for growth hormone deficiency patients between 40 and 60. Patients aged between 20 and 40, on the other hand, may require higher doses—about 2.5–3.0 IU of HGH per day.
Regardless of the patient’s age, growth hormone treatment should be started with lower doses, around 1.0 IU a day. If needed, the dosage can be gradually increased by around 0.5 IU a month until reaching the optimal amount.
(NIH)
What does growth hormone do in adults?
HGH can be substantially beneficial for treating adults suffering from HGH deficiency, short bowel syndrome, or muscle-wasting diseases resulting from HIV/AIDS. However, popular claims that HGH helps improve athletic performance, build muscle, and “reverse” aging are scientifically unfounded.
(WebMD)
Is HGH good for your body?
HGH treatment is only beneficial to individuals suffering from conditions requiring HGH treatment. There’s not much scientific evidence proving HGH use provides benefits to healthy individuals. What’s more, unnecessary HGH therapy treatments can even increase the risk of other medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or tumors.
To conclude, you should only use HGH if a licensed medical practitioner suggests it.
(Mayo Clinic)
How bad is HGH for you?
HGH can provide benefits to growth hormone deficiency sufferers. However, it might produce serious side effects and even be detrimental to healthy individuals. Some of the issues related to HGH consumption include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arms and legs swelling
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Further growth and development of tumors
(Mayo Clinic Newsnetwork)
Can you legally get HGH?
You can’t get HGH legally without a doctor’s prescription in the US. In order to be eligible for the HGH prescription, you have to have a valid medical reason (e.g., you have to be diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency or some other condition requiring this type of treatment).
(Health Gains)
Conclusion
Despite being a useful tool in professional medical settings, HGH remains controversial due to its common performance-enhancing (mis)use among athletes. Namely, unofficial HGH statistics show that despite the lack of evidence of HGH being a powerful muscle builder and eraser of age-related body deterioration, healthy individuals still resort to it as a supplementation product.
Hopefully this article managed to open your eyes to the risks of HGH use, as well as its usefulness in medicine.
