Grendel I agree 100%. I think that HGH would help CFers considerably, however doctors seem to hate the idea of it.
An anon posted a few months/years ago.
"I have undergone HGH therapy through an Endocrinologist who has done extensive CF research. The therapy was a complete success for me. I am a weightlifter as well, and have experienced sustained weight and muscular development, and am larger than many other non-CF amateur weightlifters my height. More importantly, I have experienced not only a maintaining of lung function, but an increase. In my opinion, HGH treatment represents a huge breakthrough in research for all CF patients. I started the treatment as a weak and stunted teenager, and joined an adult study a year and a half ago. HGH treatment for me was nothing short of a life-saver. However, everyone's body is different, and the HGH reacted with my body very well. So far, from what I have heard, there are no reported problems or side-effects and all the research has been very positive. Check with your CF Specialist for more info on adult studies for HGH."
From his story it seems like a success. I think there should be more research put into it. I tried to persuade my doctor into letting me try it, but to no avail ahah. They put me through a couple tests and since I was not "growth hormone deficient" I was not a candidate.
Just from a quick snippet from wikipedia...
"Effects of growth hormone on the tissues of the body can generally be described as anabolic (building up). Like most other protein hormones GH acts by interacting with a specific receptor on the surface of cells.
Stimulating the increase in height in childhood is the most widely known effect of GH, and appears to be stimulated by at least two mechanisms.
1. GH directly stimulates division and multiplication of chondrocytes of cartilage. These are the primary cells in the growing ends (epiphyses) of children's long bones (arms, legs, digits).
2. GH also stimulates production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, formerly known as somatomedin C), a hormone homologous to proinsulin.[5] The liver is a major target organ of GH for this process, and is the principal site of IGF-1 production. IGF-1 has growth-stimulating effects on a wide variety of tissues. Additional IGF-1 is generated within target tissues, making it apparently both an endocrine and an autocrine/paracrine hormone. IGF-1 also has stimulatory effects on osteoblast and chondrocyte activity to promote bone growth.
In addition to increasing height in children and adolescents, growth hormone has many other effects on the body:
* Increases calcium retention, and strengthens and increases the mineralization of bone
* Increases muscle mass through the sarcomere hyperplasia
* Promotes lipolysis
* Increases protein synthesis
* Stimulating the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain
* Plays a role in fuel homeostasis.
* Reduces liver uptake of glucose
* Promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver[6]
* It contributes to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets.
* It stimulates the immune system."
These effects seem pretty positive to me... especially to CFers who often have weaker bones, low body weights, weaker lungs, and slower/weaker running pancreas'.
I don't know maybe one day they'll wake up and realize, but for now we're out of luck. If anyone knows of any studies with CF and HGH let me know, I am extremely interested.
The only side effect on wiki is diabetes, which a majority of us are already heading to. I too think the diets we are put on assist in the high diabetes rate in people with CF, but that's another debate. I'm sure there are other side effects, but imo the possible positives of HGH should be looked at opposed to so quickly putting it down.
