Human Growth Hormone (HGH) injections are one of the latest anti-ageing trends. Naturally made in the pituitary gland, HGH stimulates growth and can now be made in laboratories. Many people use HGH injections to help speed up the healing process and to help slow down ageing in the body. HGH users also claim that it helps weight loss, improves energy levels, and reduces general aches and pains. But is it really the miracle drug that some profess it to be?

HGH popularity has surged over the past few years and many Hollywood stars are thought to have tried the treatment. HGH is sold under a variety of names including Saizen, Genotropin, Norditropin, Humatrope, Zomacton and Nutropin aq. Rock star Robbie Williams has admitted that he strongly considered Human Growth Hormone injections after he discovered they could help improve his health, memory, hair and skin – although Williams eventually plumped for a course of testosterone injections instead.

The major role of HGH is to boost growth during childhood. By the mid-30s, natural HGH production in the body begins to slow and devotees of HGH injections claim that by topping up these levels, it helps to slow down the ageing process.

However HGH injections are not cheap. Priced at up to £1,200 a month, the cost is incredibly high leading many devotees to buy their HGH over the internet from abroad. One of the risks of doing this is that the quality control may not be there – and the substances may not even be HGH at all. Counterfeit drugs are a real problem and some injections may be contaminated with other substances and this in turn can lead to serious health issues.

HGH is actually not licensed as an anti-ageing drug either. Some studies have suggested that injections of HGH can help the body to heal itself more quickly and improve athletic performance however critics claim that the results are over-exaggerated. The jury is still out, at least from a scientific point of view, over how effective HGH really is.

The side effects of HGH injections also raise some concerns. Research has shown that high levels can lead to problems such as soft tissue swelling, abnormal growth of the face, hands and feet, high blood pressure, blood clots, diabetes, increased sweating, and excessive hair growth. even more worryingly, organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys may also start to grow and this can lead to life-threatening issues. Recent studies have also indicated that the risk of cancer may also increase.

So are HGH injections really the miracle cure for anti-ageing? The jury is still out on whether HGH really is as good as some people claim and with some worryingly serious side effects to the injections, it may be worth waiting until more studies appear on the efficacy and long-term side effects before you take the plunge.