Growth hormone (GH) is a peptide hormone that is responsible for cell reproduction, regeneration, and growth. It is commonly referred to as human growth hormone (hGH) when it is used in humans. This hormone has been studied extensively and is associated with a variety of positive effects, particularly when it comes to physical performance and slowing down the aging process. GH has the potential to improve muscle mass, reduce fat, increase bone density, and improve stamina. It may even help to boost the immune system and promote better sleep.
What Science Tells Us About Amino Acids and Growth Hormone
Amino acids have been extensively studied in the search for nutritional approaches that can trigger the release of growth hormones. Athletes and other people looking to stay fit as they age have often used amino acid supplements to boost their hGH levels. There is evidence from scientific studies that amino acid supplements are effective growth hormone secretagogues, meaning they can stimulate GH release.
Intravenous administration of certain amino acids has been proven to result in a significant growth hormone release. For instance, doctors use an intravenous arginine infusion test to evaluate the pituitary gland’s GH response. In healthy individuals, injecting arginine (L-arginine) increases the concentration of arginine in the bloodstream by 52%, which in turn leads to a corresponding increase in GH concentrations.
Intravenous injections of L-ornithine have been proven to significantly increase growth hormone concentrations in the blood within 45 minutes. This is due to the fact that orally consumed arginine is quickly cleared by the liver, which limits the amount of arginine that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Furthermore, consuming large amounts of arginine orally can cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal side effects. As such, oral doses of arginine are not as effective as intravenous infusions in terms of stimulating growth hormone production. Studies have also been conducted to evaluate the use of various combinations of amino acids for growth hormone stimulation, such as arginine and ornithine, arginine and lysine, and glutamine and glycine. Each of these has been tested separately as well.
The findings of recent studies have been mixed, with some showing positive effects while others have failed to find any significant impact. It appears that when a person takes amino acids may play a role in the extent to which they influence growth hormone (GH) concentrations. For example, one study found that when participants ingested 250 mg/kg/day of oral arginine aspartate for a week, their GH levels during slow-wave sleep were around 60% higher than when they had taken a placebo. Additionally, a combination of arginine and ornithine are taken with resistance training appears to have fairly consistent results, although it is still unknown if these benefits are related to GH release.
In a double-blind study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, participants took part in a 5-week progressive strength-training program. Half the participants took an amino acid supplement containing 2 grams of L-arginine and 1 gram of L-ornithine, while the others took a placebo. Those who took the amino acid blend showed far greater improvements in total strength and lean body mass than those who took the placebo. The authors concluded that the combination of arginine and ornithine could enhance strength, muscle growth, and fat loss when combined with a high-intensity strength-training program. Additionally, the amino acids appeared to support muscle recovery and reduce inflammation related to tissue breakdown.
While the study did not measure growth hormone production, it is possible that this was the driving force behind the beneficial results. Other studies, however, have not seen the same success in individuals with lower activity levels or in older individuals. Furthermore, to date, no combination of amino acids has been proven to consistently improve growth hormone concentrations. Additionally, there is limited evidence that stimulating growth hormone release with one or two individual amino acids leads to an increased rate of protein synthesis in muscle.
Activating Growth Hormone with Essential Amino Acids
Amino acids, such as arginine, lysine, ornithine, glutamine, and glycine, have been known to stimulate the release of growth hormone in certain people. However, the effect that amino acids have on the production of hGH is often unpredictable and inconsistent, particularly in inactive or older individuals. As a result, it is better to supplement with a balanced blend of essential amino acids, such as Amino Co’s Active Aging blend Life, as this will directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis and increase IGF-1 in the muscle, which in turn will promote the creation of new muscle protein for 24 hours each day.
Beating Homeostasis
When an individual consumes amino acids, it sends a signal to the body to produce more Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH), which then signals the pituitary gland to produce more Human Growth Hormone (hGH). Although this reaction is beneficial, the body’s homeostasis system will attempt to counteract the effects of the amino acids in order to maintain a stable level of hGH. As a result, after a few days of taking these amino acids, the hGH levels of the subjects will return to their normal levels.
Researchers are still attempting to gain a better understanding of the exact mechanisms of the “homeostasis†which works to maintain a constant level of hormones within the body. However, some of the well understood mechanisms include: the production of somatostatin, a hormone released by the body in response to a surge in growth hormone levels, which signals the pituitary gland to cease producing more of the hormone. Additionally, when the body has taken in an excessive amount of amino acids, somatostatin also signals to the intestines to stop absorbing them. It is possible to counteract this action by using other ingredients that work via the cholinergic pathway. Therefore, it is essential to use a multi-ingredient HGH supplement that can work through various pathways in order to achieve a comprehensive effect.
Combining amino acids with somatostatin blocking ingredients
Interesting studies have suggested that the growth hormone-blocking hormone somatostatin can be inhibited by supplementing with choline-based compounds like Phosphatidylcholine, Alpha GPC, or CDP-choline, which would slow down the rate at which growth hormone decreases. The hypothalamus regulates the levels of growth hormone in the body by releasing two hormones that work in opposition: growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates the release of GH, while somatotropin release-inhibiting hormone inhibits it. If an individual could reduce somatostatin levels while taking Sermorelin peptides, CJC-1295 injections, or natural hGH supplements, they would be able to allow a continuous surge of GH to be released, provided that their body produces enough peptide. To do so, they would need to maintain a high protein diet, since peptides are formed from amino acids found in protein sources.
Experts may argue about the health and safety of increasing hGH, but it has the potential to yield results that are beyond anything that has been previously experienced with hGH. There is a class of substances known as Acetylcholineesterase inhibitors which inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is responsible for deactivating acetylcholine in the brain. It is worth noting that acetylcholine is an effective blocker of Somatostatin. Therefore, Acetylcholineesterase inhibitors work by increasing acetylcholine levels, which in turn reduce Somatostatin levels. This indirect method of inhibiting Somatostatin can lead to improved results with hGH.
Bottomline
The combination of amino acids and somatostatin-blocking ingredients can be an incredibly effective way of increasing human growth hormone (hGH) levels. That is why many hGH supplements include two key ingredients: Alpha GPC and Phosphatidyl Choline. These ingredients are essential for optimizing hGH production, as they have the power to stimulate the body to produce more hGH. Together, they create a potent formula that can help to significantly increase hGH levels in the body.