Human Growth Hormone is the primary naturally occurring hormone in the family of endocrine hormones. Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, melatonin and DHEA are other key hormones, and all have an important function in our daily lives.

What all of these hormones have in common is that they all decline with age. Some physicians offer replacement of these hormones to deter the signs of aging, which has become a highly controversial topic in the health, and wellness community.

HGH, also known as Somatotropin and somatotropic hormone (STH), is the most abundant endocrine hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.  HGH stimulates growth of body tissues, especially skeletal and muscular tissues.

The natural production of HGH reaches its peak during adolescence, when our bodies are growing towards adulthood. HGH is primarily released in the pulses that take place in the beginning of the sleep cycle. It secretes from the pituitary into the liver where it is converted to IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor 1), or Somatomedin C.  IGF-1 is responsible for most of the effects associated with HGH. In fact, doctors measure the amount of IGF-1 in the blood to determine a patient’s level of growth hormone secretion.
IGF-1 Promotes the transfer of glucose through cell membranes as a source of fuel for cells, which is insulin like effect. That is how IGF-1 got its name.
Daily growth hormone secretion diminishes with age. A 60-year old will only produce as little as 25% of someone in 25 years old.  The decline of HGH is associated with the symptoms of aging. Grey hair, aging skin, insomnia, mental forgetfulness, osteoporosis, lower sexual desire, increased body fat and more.
Why does HGH levels decline with age?
The physical reasons for aging are vast and complex. This article will online focus on how aging can effect HGH production in the body.
HGH levels decline with age and this process seems to coincide with age-related physical changes, such as such as increased fat and reduced lean muscle mass and bone density, loss of skin elasticity, insomnia, mental forgetfulness, osteoporosis, lower sexual desire, increased body fat and more.
The process of aging is divided into two categories, Chronological and Biological. Chronological age is how many years you’ve been alive. Biological age shows how young your tissues are compared to how they were in years past, or compared to other people of the same age. Chronological aging is something we can’t do anything about. We are all under the watchful eye of father time.
However, biologically we can utilize a variety of methods to prolong our youthful vigor. We have control over how the world and society affects us, which directly affects our ability to deal with aging.
Research is still being conducted on exactly why our bodies produce so much less HGH and IGF-1 as we age. Some Anti-aging specialist physicians conclude that hormonal decline is associated with the body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates (naturally occurring sugars in our bloodstream). This process is referred to as Glucose Intolerance. As we age our cell receptor sites no longer have the capacity to absorb glucose like they did when we were younger. This causes a chain reaction the leads to higher blood insulin levels. When the hypothalamus senses this condition it sends the signal to the pituitary to inhibit HGH secretion.

This is an interesting concept, and if true, points to the fact that a healthy diet and exercise regimen can balance blood sugar and insulin levels and reduce the effects of aging. More to the point, it provides an interesting point as to why HGH production slows so dramatically over time.