For the majority of people, growth hormone is produced naturally by the pituitary gland in the brain. As its name implies, growth hormone is responsible for making us grow1. However, it also contributes to many other important functions in the body, such as:2
- Growing strong and healthy bones.1
- Regulating the body’s metabolism, is involved in the regulation of lipid, carbohydrate, nitrogen, and mineral metabolism and electrolyte balance.1
- increases amino acid uptake and nitrogen retention in muscle and maintains muscle mass and strength.1
What causes poor growth?
There are many possible reasons why a child may seem to be growing more slowly than their peers or siblings.2 Some are entirely harmless and do not affect the child’s health. For example, some children simply grow at a different rate from others and will eventually catch up as they get older.3
However, there are other, more serious reasons why a child might not be growing as he/she should. These reasons can range from poor nutrition to certain medical conditions, such as heart or liver disease.3 It may even be that their body is not making enough growth hormone, the hormone responsible for making them grow.4
1- Lu M, Flanagan JU, Langley RJ, Hay MP, Perry JK. Targeting growth hormone function: strategies and therapeutic applications. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. 2019;4(1):1-1.
2- kids health. Growth problems. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/growth-hormone.html; last accessed 29.11.2022
3- kids health. Child Growth. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/childs-growth.html;last accessed 29.11.2022
4- children hospital. Growth problems. Available at: https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/growth-problems; last accessed 29.11.2022
Growth hormone has a central function of regulating postnatal growth and metabolism1 so addressing a growth delay early and with the right approach can make a world of difference.2
1- Lu M, Flanagan JU, Langley RJ, Hay MP, Perry JK. Targeting growth hormone function: strategies and therapeutic applications. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. 2019;4(1):1-1.
2- children hospital. Growth problems. Available at: https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/growth-problems; last accessed 29.11.2022
Growth hormone treatment
Growth hormone treatment
1- Lu M, Flanagan JU, Langley RJ, Hay MP, Perry JK. Targeting growth hormone function: strategies and therapeutic applications. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. 2019;4(1):1-1.
2- He M, Deng X, Wang X, Wan Y, Huang J, Zhang Z, Niu W. Association Between Recombinant Growth Hormone Therapy and All-Cause Mortality and Cancer Risk in Childhood: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in pediatrics. 2022;10.
Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy is provided in the form of human recombinant GH.1
GHT is normally used to treat children who are not growing due to an underlying medical condition.1 It could also treat adults affected by growth hormone deficiency.2
For children who need growth hormone injections, improvements and advancements in device design have made a big difference in an attempt to improve dosing accuracy and flexibility, ease-of-use, convenience, adherence and patient-friendliness.2
1- He M, Deng X, Wang X, Wan Y, Huang J, Zhang Z, Niu W. Association Between Recombinant Growth Hormone Therapy and All-Cause Mortality and Cancer Risk in Childhood: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in pediatrics. 2022;10.
2- Brearley C, Priestley A, Leighton-Scott J, Christen M. Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human growth hormone administered by cool. click™ 2, a new needle-free device, compared with subcutaneous administration using a conventional syringe and needle. BMC Clinical Pharmacology. 2007 Dec;7(1):1-7.
