GHD can be present at birth (congenital) or develop later (acquired). The condition occurs if the pituitary gland makes too little growth hormone. It can be also the result of genetic defects, severe brain injury or being born without a pituitary gland. In some cases, there is no clear cause identified.
Congenital growth hormone deficiency can occur if there are mutations in genes for factors that are important in pituitary gland development, or in receptors and factors (including growth hormone) along the growth hormone pathway; to date, however, the cause of most of these cases is unknown.
Causes and Risk Factors
A lack of growth hormone is usually caused by damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland. The damage may be due to a tumor; to surgery or radiation used to treat the tumor; or to problems with the blood supply to the pituitary gland.
Symptoms of adult-onset growth hormone deficiency
Reduced sense of wellbeing. Anxiety and/or depression. Decreased energy levels. Increased body fat, especially around your belly.
Foods such as chicken meat, dairy products (cheese, milk, or yogurt) and eggs are of vital importance. Their main function is the formation of new tissue, but also, being foods rich in amino acids, they stimulate the growth hormone (tryptophan, arginine, lysine, and tyrosine).
Exercise, stress, hypoglycemia, and some amino acids have been shown to stimulate hGH release, while elevated glucose, free fatty acids, and other amino acids have been shown to inhibit hGH release.
It is too late to start GH treatment once growth is complete and the child's growth plates are fused.” In 2003, the FDA approved GH for children with short stature when experts cannot identify the cause. Giving GH to children with idiopathic short stature is controversial because it's an elective, aesthetic choice.
Growth hormone deficiency affects one in approximately 4,000 to 10,000 people. It can be congenital (eg, if caused by genetic mutation), or acquired after birth, due to trauma, brain tumor, surgery, or radiation therapy. It can also be idiopathic, in which case its cause is unknown.
Moreover, these IGHD individuals are partially protected from cancer and some of the common effects of aging and can attain extreme longevity, 103 years of age in one case.
Stress can lead to changes in the serum level of many hormones including glucocorticoids, catecholamines, growth hormone and prolactin. Some of these changes are necessary for the fight or flight response to protect oneself.
How is adult-onset growth hormone deficiency treated? Adult-onset growth hormone deficiency is treated with growth hormone replacement therapy. . The growth hormone that is used is an artificial preparation that individuals can administer themselves.
The oldest death of an IGHD individual occurred at age 88. As of 2006, there were seven living IGHD subjects in Itabaianinha aged above 70 yr, including an 84-yr-old male and a 93-yr-old female.
What To Expect With Growth Hormone Treatment. The main thing to expect is growth! Although it takes about 3 to 6 months to realize any height differences, the important thing is that your child will grow — probably 1 to 2 inches within the first 6 months of starting treatment.
The pituitary gland is a structure in our brain that produces different types of specialised hormones, including growth hormone (also referred to as human growth hormone or HGH).
The action of growth hormone-releasing hormone on the pituitary gland is counteracted by somatostatin, a hormone also produced by the hypothalamus, which prevents growth hormone release.
To maintain a normal range of human growth hormones in the blood, foods rich in melatonin, such as eggs, fish, mustard seeds, tomatoes, nuts, grapes, and raspberries are highly recommended by experts.
Human growth hormone, also known as HGH and somatotropin, is a natural hormone your pituitary gland makes and releases that acts on many parts of the body to promote growth in children. Once the growth plates in your bones (epiphyses) have fused, HGH no longer increases height, but your body still needs HGH.
Adults with GH deficiency (GHD) often complain of impaired quality of life (QoL) (1), with frequent fatigue and easy exhaustion. Recent evidence indicates that in many chronic disorders, reduced QoL is associated with sleep disturbances (2).
Psychological studies of short GHD children referred for GH treatment sometimes show that they have a poor QOL, often due to their feelings of anxiety, depression, social isolation and difficulties maintaining attention.
Depressed individuals have been found to have abnormal GH response to physical and psychological stress, marked by hypersecretion of GH compared to non-depressed individuals (Krogh et al., 2010).
A pediatric endocrinologist (children's hormone specialist) or primary care doctor can help find out why a child is growing slowly. Most children with GHD grow less than two inches (5 centimeters) each year.