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I wanted to do a short write up to address some really common questions I see about growth hormone. One of the most common I see is "is it worth running GH for a short cycle or does it need to be run long term to be effective?"
I think the main reason for this question is the cost of GH. To run long term it can be quite expensive. Just to run a low dose like 2iu a day for a year it's going to cost guys thousands. So I constantly see guys weighing up if it is worth it. And many of these guys consider just running it for the duration of a say, a 12 to 16 week blast. A cheaper option for sure. But will it actually do anything if run for a short time? Or do you need to run it 6 months plus to see any results.
The main way I want to approach this is to look at the available research we have on the subject. Within the scope of muscle hypertrophy, strength, power, endurance, collagen synthesis and fat loss. That way you can see if GH will help you in relation to your goals.
Most of the research we have on GH involves individuals deficient in GH (for the obvious reason that GH is primarily used medically for GH Deficiency (GHD)). But we can still take a lot away from this research as we also have a good amount of comparative studies on GH use in health adults.
Protein metabolism:
A significant part of muscle hypertrophy comes down to protein turnover rates. We see in GHD adults, that the rate of protein breakdown exceeds the rate of protein synthesis, leading to reduced lean body mass (LBM).
GH replacement in adults with GHD improves protein balance by partitioning amino acids away from oxidative towards synthetic pathways. There are numerous studies on this. And all show significantly improved protein turnover rates within 12 weeks. Many showing an immediate improvement (within 2 weeks).
This improvement has also been found in studies involving healthy adults. Showing that GH treatment improving protein turnover rates is not just limited to GHD individuals.
An interesting result of these studies was that after 3 to 6 months of GH treatment, rates of protein protein breakdown returned closer to baseline. Indicating that GH causes a time-dependent change in whole-body protein metabolism. In the early weeks and months, GH reduces the rate of protein oxidation, leading to an accrual of protein mass. However, as the increase in LBM begins to plateau, this is with a gradual return in the rate of protein oxidation to baseline, protein balance reaches a new steady state. The metabolic mechanisms accounting for this adaptation are unknown.
Of note with these types of studies, treatment with igf1 only instead of GH gave slightly different results. They show that igf1 enhances protein anabolism by reducing the rate of protein breakdown. When igf1 is infused in rats, it leads to a reduction in protein breakdown without any change in protein synthesis. In contrast to GH which regulates the metabolic fate of amino acids from oxidative to synthesis pathways.
Muscle strength, power and endurance:
Aerobic capacity (endurance)
To keep this section short and sweet. GHD individuals have a reduced aerobic capacity which can be improved significantly with GH treatment. The reason for this is;
Oxygen delivery to exercising muscles depends on cardiac function, lung capacity and oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Adults with GHD have impaired cardiac function, diminished lung capacity and reduced red cell mass. These deficits are restored with GH replacement.
Though GH treatment in healthy adults has not shown to increase Aerobic capacity.
Anaerobic capacity and power:
This is the defined by total amount of work during a maximal exhausting exercise of a short duration, which is underpinned by anaerobic ATP supply. This work is executed by fast twitch type 2 muscle fibres.
Studies on GH's effect on anaerobic capacity are limited. Though one study showed a significant improvement in anaerobic exercise capacity after GH therapy in health adults after 8 weeks of treatment (tested via the Wingate test which is a 30 second 100% effort sprint on a stationary bike).
Participants in this study did not have any significant increase in lean body mass. Leading to the conclusion that muscle anabolism was unlikely to explain this significant increase in anaerobic capacity. The likely explanation was GH having a positive effect on energy supply stimulating ATP production from glycolysis, leading to an increase in anaerobic exercise capacity in skeletal muscle.
Muscle mass and strength:
Muscle strength and mass is significantly reduced in GHD individuals. It is believed that this reduced strength is a result of reduced muscle mass, rather than from reduced contractile function.
When it comes to GH treatment in GHD adults. Various studies have found that short term treatment (less than 6 months) did not see improvements in strength. Though significant improvements were seen in multiple studies over longer periods of treatment (6 months to 12 months +). Accompanying these improvements was a slow increase in lean body mass. Indicating that GH increases strength via an increase in muscle mass. And that in GHD individuals this takes more than 6 months of treatment.
Igf1 and its importance in the muscle building process is something I spoke about in my last hgh write up. Igf1 stimulates proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells into myoblasts and formation of new myofibres (muscle tissue).
There are a large amount of rodent studies showing the importance of igf1 in muscle growth. Mice with igf1 genes knocked out (inactived) show muscle hypoplasia (underdevelopment) while mice with igf1 overexpression leads to significant muscle hypertrophy and accelerates muscle regeneration after disuse atrophy. One study observed a significantly increased muscle mass and stimulation of satellite cells and myofibre hypertrophy in the skeletal muscle of mice treated with GH, but these effects were absent in mice that lacked a functioning IGF1 receptor in the skeletal muscle. These studies indicate that the action of GH on muscle growth and strength are mediated via IGF1.
In terms of GH treatment and muscle strength in healthy adults. Many studies have been conducted but none showed any significant increase in strength in participants treated with GH. None of these studies went past about 3 or 4 months of treatment. The effects on of long term GH treatment on strength in healthy adults is yet to be studies.
Collagen synthesis:
Its well known that GH can help us with recovery from training and injuries etc via increasing collagen synthesis. But is this only something that long term GH use can help with?
One study showed a significant increase in collagen protein synthesis in connective tissue in human skeletal muscle and tendon after just 14 days of GH treatment in healthy adults. Meaning it can be used short term for recovery and repairing of injuries.
Fat loss:
This is something I spoke at length about in my main GH write up. I explained how GH leads to the liberation of fat cells from adipose tissue into the blood stream as the body prepares to use this for fuel. This happens immediately after injection of GH. This is why taking GH before fasted cardio works so well for fat loss. It allows us to use that liberated fat as fuel.
Studies on GH treatment in obese individuals have also shown it to increase fat loss rates when compared to individuals eating the same cals per day who were given a placebo instead.
So the main takeaways:
-even with very short term use (3 months and less), GH will significant improves protein balance by partitioning amino acids away from oxidative towards synthetic pathways. This is obviously an anabolic effect which will help support muscle growth.
-GH is unlikely to improve your aerobic capacity.
-GH can significantly increase your anaerobic capacity within a short period of use. This could greatly assist athletes in certain sports and will also improve training intensity and capacity in the gym.
-GH will increase igf1 levels which can help create new muscle cells. This will begin as soon as igf1 is elevated, meaning it begins once you start using GH (not after x amounts of months).
-short term GH use is unlikely to give you a significant boost in strength.
-short term GH use can significantly increase collagen protein synthesis in connective tissue in human skeletal muscle and tendon. Meaning it can help in recovery from training and also from injury.
-short term GH use can greatly assist in fat loss.
So yes. Short term GH can be absolutely worth it. A lot of the results are dose dependant as the more you use, the better results you will get. And of course the longer you use it the more results you will see.
When GH is used alongside anabolic steroids, guys will commonly report a bit of a 1+1=3 effect. They work very effectively together. I do believe sometimes it is better to bring in a dose of GH rather than simply just increasing the amount of anabolice you are taking. Not only might you see better results through attacking muscle growth through different pathways, but GH is generally less harsh on the body and health than anabolics. If you have less inflammation and oxidative stress in your body on cycle, you will likely recover better and may be able to do things like increase calories or run a cycle longer etc leading to better results.
So maybe your last cycle was 12 weeks of 500mg test and 500mg primo per week. You are planning your next cycle and have thought "ah hgh isn't worth it for a short cycle I will just push up the test and primo to 700mg per week each". After reading this you may instead try 500mg test, 500mg primo per week and 2 or 3iu of GH per day. This may very well be just as effect as 700 of each without the GH and may have less or a negative impact on overall health.
Just my thoughts on this....
But I hope this helps guys in making a decision on whether or not they want to take the leap to using GH and for how long they use it for.
Happy to discuss more in the comments and always keen to hear guys thoughts and experiences.
I think the main reason for this question is the cost of GH. To run long term it can be quite expensive. Just to run a low dose like 2iu a day for a year it's going to cost guys thousands. So I constantly see guys weighing up if it is worth it. And many of these guys consider just running it for the duration of a say, a 12 to 16 week blast. A cheaper option for sure. But will it actually do anything if run for a short time? Or do you need to run it 6 months plus to see any results.
The main way I want to approach this is to look at the available research we have on the subject. Within the scope of muscle hypertrophy, strength, power, endurance, collagen synthesis and fat loss. That way you can see if GH will help you in relation to your goals.
Most of the research we have on GH involves individuals deficient in GH (for the obvious reason that GH is primarily used medically for GH Deficiency (GHD)). But we can still take a lot away from this research as we also have a good amount of comparative studies on GH use in health adults.
Protein metabolism:
A significant part of muscle hypertrophy comes down to protein turnover rates. We see in GHD adults, that the rate of protein breakdown exceeds the rate of protein synthesis, leading to reduced lean body mass (LBM).
GH replacement in adults with GHD improves protein balance by partitioning amino acids away from oxidative towards synthetic pathways. There are numerous studies on this. And all show significantly improved protein turnover rates within 12 weeks. Many showing an immediate improvement (within 2 weeks).
This improvement has also been found in studies involving healthy adults. Showing that GH treatment improving protein turnover rates is not just limited to GHD individuals.
An interesting result of these studies was that after 3 to 6 months of GH treatment, rates of protein protein breakdown returned closer to baseline. Indicating that GH causes a time-dependent change in whole-body protein metabolism. In the early weeks and months, GH reduces the rate of protein oxidation, leading to an accrual of protein mass. However, as the increase in LBM begins to plateau, this is with a gradual return in the rate of protein oxidation to baseline, protein balance reaches a new steady state. The metabolic mechanisms accounting for this adaptation are unknown.
Of note with these types of studies, treatment with igf1 only instead of GH gave slightly different results. They show that igf1 enhances protein anabolism by reducing the rate of protein breakdown. When igf1 is infused in rats, it leads to a reduction in protein breakdown without any change in protein synthesis. In contrast to GH which regulates the metabolic fate of amino acids from oxidative to synthesis pathways.
Muscle strength, power and endurance:
Aerobic capacity (endurance)
To keep this section short and sweet. GHD individuals have a reduced aerobic capacity which can be improved significantly with GH treatment. The reason for this is;
Oxygen delivery to exercising muscles depends on cardiac function, lung capacity and oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Adults with GHD have impaired cardiac function, diminished lung capacity and reduced red cell mass. These deficits are restored with GH replacement.
Though GH treatment in healthy adults has not shown to increase Aerobic capacity.
Anaerobic capacity and power:
This is the defined by total amount of work during a maximal exhausting exercise of a short duration, which is underpinned by anaerobic ATP supply. This work is executed by fast twitch type 2 muscle fibres.
Studies on GH's effect on anaerobic capacity are limited. Though one study showed a significant improvement in anaerobic exercise capacity after GH therapy in health adults after 8 weeks of treatment (tested via the Wingate test which is a 30 second 100% effort sprint on a stationary bike).
Participants in this study did not have any significant increase in lean body mass. Leading to the conclusion that muscle anabolism was unlikely to explain this significant increase in anaerobic capacity. The likely explanation was GH having a positive effect on energy supply stimulating ATP production from glycolysis, leading to an increase in anaerobic exercise capacity in skeletal muscle.
Muscle mass and strength:
Muscle strength and mass is significantly reduced in GHD individuals. It is believed that this reduced strength is a result of reduced muscle mass, rather than from reduced contractile function.
When it comes to GH treatment in GHD adults. Various studies have found that short term treatment (less than 6 months) did not see improvements in strength. Though significant improvements were seen in multiple studies over longer periods of treatment (6 months to 12 months +). Accompanying these improvements was a slow increase in lean body mass. Indicating that GH increases strength via an increase in muscle mass. And that in GHD individuals this takes more than 6 months of treatment.
Igf1 and its importance in the muscle building process is something I spoke about in my last hgh write up. Igf1 stimulates proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells into myoblasts and formation of new myofibres (muscle tissue).
There are a large amount of rodent studies showing the importance of igf1 in muscle growth. Mice with igf1 genes knocked out (inactived) show muscle hypoplasia (underdevelopment) while mice with igf1 overexpression leads to significant muscle hypertrophy and accelerates muscle regeneration after disuse atrophy. One study observed a significantly increased muscle mass and stimulation of satellite cells and myofibre hypertrophy in the skeletal muscle of mice treated with GH, but these effects were absent in mice that lacked a functioning IGF1 receptor in the skeletal muscle. These studies indicate that the action of GH on muscle growth and strength are mediated via IGF1.
In terms of GH treatment and muscle strength in healthy adults. Many studies have been conducted but none showed any significant increase in strength in participants treated with GH. None of these studies went past about 3 or 4 months of treatment. The effects on of long term GH treatment on strength in healthy adults is yet to be studies.
Collagen synthesis:
Its well known that GH can help us with recovery from training and injuries etc via increasing collagen synthesis. But is this only something that long term GH use can help with?
One study showed a significant increase in collagen protein synthesis in connective tissue in human skeletal muscle and tendon after just 14 days of GH treatment in healthy adults. Meaning it can be used short term for recovery and repairing of injuries.
Fat loss:
This is something I spoke at length about in my main GH write up. I explained how GH leads to the liberation of fat cells from adipose tissue into the blood stream as the body prepares to use this for fuel. This happens immediately after injection of GH. This is why taking GH before fasted cardio works so well for fat loss. It allows us to use that liberated fat as fuel.
Studies on GH treatment in obese individuals have also shown it to increase fat loss rates when compared to individuals eating the same cals per day who were given a placebo instead.
So the main takeaways:
-even with very short term use (3 months and less), GH will significant improves protein balance by partitioning amino acids away from oxidative towards synthetic pathways. This is obviously an anabolic effect which will help support muscle growth.
-GH is unlikely to improve your aerobic capacity.
-GH can significantly increase your anaerobic capacity within a short period of use. This could greatly assist athletes in certain sports and will also improve training intensity and capacity in the gym.
-GH will increase igf1 levels which can help create new muscle cells. This will begin as soon as igf1 is elevated, meaning it begins once you start using GH (not after x amounts of months).
-short term GH use is unlikely to give you a significant boost in strength.
-short term GH use can significantly increase collagen protein synthesis in connective tissue in human skeletal muscle and tendon. Meaning it can help in recovery from training and also from injury.
-short term GH use can greatly assist in fat loss.
So yes. Short term GH can be absolutely worth it. A lot of the results are dose dependant as the more you use, the better results you will get. And of course the longer you use it the more results you will see.
When GH is used alongside anabolic steroids, guys will commonly report a bit of a 1+1=3 effect. They work very effectively together. I do believe sometimes it is better to bring in a dose of GH rather than simply just increasing the amount of anabolice you are taking. Not only might you see better results through attacking muscle growth through different pathways, but GH is generally less harsh on the body and health than anabolics. If you have less inflammation and oxidative stress in your body on cycle, you will likely recover better and may be able to do things like increase calories or run a cycle longer etc leading to better results.
So maybe your last cycle was 12 weeks of 500mg test and 500mg primo per week. You are planning your next cycle and have thought "ah hgh isn't worth it for a short cycle I will just push up the test and primo to 700mg per week each". After reading this you may instead try 500mg test, 500mg primo per week and 2 or 3iu of GH per day. This may very well be just as effect as 700 of each without the GH and may have less or a negative impact on overall health.
Just my thoughts on this....
But I hope this helps guys in making a decision on whether or not they want to take the leap to using GH and for how long they use it for.
Happy to discuss more in the comments and always keen to hear guys thoughts and experiences.
