All comments appreciated
Just an initial question, do you want to live long? Or do you want to (possibly) sacrifice longevity for some (possible) benefits of growth hormone?
How are you sacrificing longevity by using Arginine or HGH? Source any claims.
This was a yes or no question, it's not that difficult.
I'll get back to your request tomorrow, though.
I do like to source my claims whenever I provide some new or revolutionary insight, but the IGF-1 story is pretty old actually (and I have repeatedly written referenced responses on this topic).
We know that the GH/IGF-1 axis is of utmost importance to growth, obviously, but also to life span [1] (which is interrelated with growth). We know that growth hormone deprived animals tend to live longer and Dr. Bartke's impressive GHR -/- mice (the pendant of Laron dwarfism in mice) have proven themselves as the longest lived species of lab mice. [1][2]
Dr. Zvi Laron - and as I have recently discoverd Aubrey also - hypothesised, based on case-reports of (human) sufferers of Laron dwarfism, that growth hormone deficiency may slow down aging in humans. [3]
Don't forget inhibition of IGF-1 release has shown some, albeit limited if I remember correctly, promise as a cancer treatment. So it's not that far off to hypothesise what an increase would do.
Additionally all or most of the alleged benefits of growth hormone (although, in this case we are talking high doses and s.c. injections!) are completely hypothetical at this moment, because there's no evidence from controlled trials to support such claims in contrast to anabolic steroids, for instance.
Sorry if I quote the conclusion of a review which I have not yet read (but wanted to read for quite some time):
"Claims that growth hormone enhances physical performance are not supported by the scientific literature. Although the limited available evidence suggests that growth hormone increases lean body mass, it may not improve strength; in addition, it may worsen exercise capacity and increase adverse events. More research is needed to conclusively determine the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance." [4]
I think I am spot on saying: "Do you want to trade the (possible) loss in longevity against (possibly) increased fitness and performance?" ... and you still have not answered my simple "yes" or "no" question.
I know there are many benefits to physiologic growth hormone levels (and hGH hormone replacement therapy may have
some merit) and probably some limited benefits to supraphysiologic levels, but that is not up for discussion, I just wanted to point out the risks.
[1] Growth Horm IGF Res. 2008 Dec;18(6):455-71. Epub 2008 Aug 16.
Role of the GH/IGF-1 axis in lifespan and healthspan: lessons from animal models.
Berryman DE, Christiansen JS, Johannsson G, Thorner MO, Kopchick JJ.
[2] Curr Top Dev Biol. 2004;63:189-225.
Life extension in the dwarf mouse.
Bartke A, Brown-Borg H.
Or visit the mfoundation:
http://www.mprize.or...p_recordholders[3] The GH-IGF1 axis and longevity. The paradigm of IGF1 deficiency. 2008
Zvi Laron
http://hormones.gr/p...ew.php?c_id=204[4] Ann Intern Med. 2008 May 20;148(10):747-58. Epub 2008 Mar 17.
Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance.
Liu H, Bravata DM, Olkin I, Friedlander A, Liu V, Roberts B, Bendavid E, Saynina O, Salpeter SR, Garber AM, Hoffman AR.
Edited by kismet, 01 March 2009 - 08:20 PM.