Is HGH an Anabolic Steroid?
No, human growth hormone and steroids are not the same. Their chemical makeups are vastly different. Steroids are androgens – variations of testosterone. HGH is a polypeptide consisting of 191 amino acids.
Androgen hormones are secreted by the testes and ovaries whereas HGH secretion occurs in the pituitary gland.
Why is HGH an anabolic steroid on some websites?
Non-medical websites that focus their content towards bodybuilders or illegal sales companies that market these drugs to unsuspecting buyers may sometimes lump steroids and HGH in the same category, although that should not be the case.
People who ask is human growth hormone an anabolic steroid are likely looking to buy HGH for all of the wrong reasons.
Here are the similarities between HGH and steroids:
- Both are necessary for metabolism
- Both are synthesized in the body
- Both are required for cell production in some way:
- Testosterone for red blood cells
- HGH for overall cellular regeneration
- Both are needed for tissue growth (muscles, bones) throughout life
The hormone specialists at HT Medical Center use specific diagnostic blood tests to determine what type of treatment each person requires.
Difference between HGH and Steroids
There are crucial differences between HGH and steroids. When asked to explain why growth hormone is an anabolic hormone rather than a steroid, the answer is that it stimulates the continual growth of the body’s tissues, namely skeletal and muscle. In this anabolic effect, HGH can decrease the efflux and increase the influx of amino acids entering the cells. As cells reproduce, there is a stimulation of protein synthesis and new tissue growth.
Steroids also play a role in protein synthesis, helping with lean muscle mass and bone density, but they do it in different ways. Whereas steroids will help increase strength and muscle size, HGH will not impact strength or speed, but it will provide a boost in lean muscle mass – but only in those individuals with a GH deficiency. Known as performance enhancing drugs, steroid use is banned in sports and bodybuilding.
It is important to point out that HGH is also banned at this time; however, research is currently underway to determine if human growth hormone has benefits for injured athletes. Part of the reason for concern with human growth hormone & anabolic steroids is that they can induce an unfair advantage on the playing field and in competition. Both are abused by some individuals.
Another difference between HGH and steroid hormones is the mechanism of how they work. Here are some examples:
- Metabolism – HGH releases stored fat into the bloodstream for conversion into energy by the mitochondria. Steroids instead boost the body’s metabolic rate which helps to increase energy consumption while supporting muscle growth.
- Muscle growth – HGH stimulates insulin growth factor 1 production that increases protein synthesis in the muscles through cellular division. Steroids bind directly to muscle receptors and increase cellular size to bulk up the muscles.
How to Decide Whether to Choose HGH or Steroids
The debate between HGH vs. anabolic steroids is ongoing, and probably will be for years to come. In the sports world, both substances are illegal, so we will not even attempt to weigh in on what a person should use – both can bring serious side effects when taken illegally when the body does not have a deficiency.
For those trying to decide between HGH and anabolic steroids to reverse symptoms of hormone deficiency, only a doctor can make that determination. Blood analysis is the crucial requirement that uncovers what type of a hormonal imbalance a person has. The wrong treatment will not produce the desired results and can lead to unwanted side effects.
Do not attempt to self-diagnose and treat hormone deficiency. Because many of these crucial chemical messengers impact the release of other such hormones, the wrong treatment can start a spiraling effect that can have serious consequences on a person’s health.
Please contact HT Medical Center for a complimentary consultation with a hormone specialist.
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