Human growth hormone doping in sport – PubMed Central (PMC)

Br J Sports Med. 2006 Jul; 40(Suppl 1): i35i39.

M Saugy, N Robinson, C Saudan, N Baume, L Avois, P Mangin, Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, Institute of Legal Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland

Correspondence to: M SaugySwiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, Institute of Legal Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland; martial.saugy@chuv.ch

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been on the list of forbidden substances since availability of its recombinant form improved in the early 1990s. Although its effectiveness in enhancing physical performance is still unproved, the compound is likely used for its potential anabolic effect on the muscle growth, and also in combination with other products (androgens, erythropoietin, etc.). The degree of similarity between the endogenous and the recombinant forms, the pulsatile secretion and marked interindividual variability makes detection of doping difficult. Two approaches proposed to overcome this problem are: the indirect method, which measures a combination of several factors in the biological cascade affected by administration of GH; and the direct method, which measures the difference between the circulating and the recombinant (represented by the unique 22kD molecule) forms of GH. This article gives an overview of what is presently known about hGH in relation to sport. The available methods of detection are also evaluated.

Review of the literature on GH in relation to exercise, and its adverse effects and methods of detection when used for doping.

The main effects of exercise on hGH production and the use and effects of rhGH in athletes are discussed. Difficulties encountered by laboratories to prove misuse of this substance by both indirect and direct analyses are emphasised. The direct method currently seems to have the best reliability, even though the time window of detection is too short. hGH doping is a major challenge in the fight against doping. The effect of exercise on hGH and its short halflife are still presenting difficulties during doping analysis. To date the most promising method appears to be the direct approach utilising immunoassays.

Keywords: hGH, doping, sport, athlete, abuse

The human growth hormone (hGH) is a naturally occurring peptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.1 Although the hormone in the body is rather heterogeneous, the major component is made up of 191 amino acids, stabilised by two disulphide bonds and reaching a molecular weight of 22kDa.2,3 Previously, the only source of hGH was human cadavers, but the contamination that led to CreutzfeldtJakob disease made this form of treatment obsolete. In the late 1980s, recombinant hGH (rhGH) was developed through genetic engineering and has been used with good results in the treatment of patients with hGH deficiencyallowing bone growth and impacting on the patient's final stature. This form of hGH has a sequence identical to the naturally occurring 22kDa hormone. Its misuse has been suspected in sport because of its anabolic properties. Athletes and bodybuilders claim that hGH increases lean body mass and decreases the fat mass.

The use of hGH in sport today is not only based on its anabolic properties, but also on its effect on carbohydrate and fat metabolism. rhGH has been found in swimmers and also in players taking part in major sports events. International federations and the International Olympic Committee have had hGH on the list of forbidden compounds since 1989, when it became obvious that the development of biotechnology products based on the recombination of DNA made hGH much more easily available on the regular and black markets.

In the 2006 Prohibited List, hGH in listed under class S2 of hormones and related substances. Erythropoietin (EPO) and corticotrophin as well as insulinlike growth factor (IGF)1 and insulin also belong to the same category of peptide hormones. During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, for the first time, the socalled direct method of Wu et al4 was used. None of the positive serum samples were finally declared positive; this was because of the tooshort time window of detection of the test and the short halflife of circulating GH (about 20minutes).5 Studies have shown that GH concentrations returned to baseline 816hours after intramuscular injection and 1120hours after subcutaneous injection.6

The effect of acute exercise on production of GH in the body has been widely described in the literature.7 The concentration of hGH in blood increases with time for a given work intensity and can increase 10fold during prolonged moderate exercise. During more intensive exercise (with accumulation of lactate at 70% Vo2 max for a short term period such as 1020minutes) hGH will increase by 510fold.8 With short exercise durations, levels of GH will generally peak at 1530minutes after the exercise. Furthermore, it appears that hGH response is more closely related to the peak intensity of exercise than the total work output.9 Endurance training generally amplifies the pulsatile release of growth hormone, elevating the GH amplitude. This appears evident when the training is very hard and above the aerobic threshold.10

Apart from exercise related increase, hGH secretion can be affected by other factorsfor example, GH secretion is increased in hypoglycaemia, increased temperature, and stress, whereas it decreases in obesity, or with a carbohydraterich diet and intake of 2 adrenergic agonists. Thus, it is hard to differentiate between the physiological increase in hGH levels seen in exercise and what can be from external hGH administration (as in doping). This problem makes the purely quantitative approach of measuring directly the total circulating GH not feasible in case of doping, except if the conditions of collection of biological samples are well controlled.

Somatotrope cells in the anterior pituitary secrete hGH in a pulsatile fashion. The secretion is regulated by two hypothalamic peptides, growth hormone releasing hormone, which stimulates hGH secretion, and somatostatin, which inhibits hGH secretion by back regulation. hGH exerts its biological effects on target cells by binding to specific receptors present throughout the whole body.

Secretion of hGH is slightly higher in women than in men,11 with the highest levels observed at puberty. Secretion decreases with age by around 14% per decade.12 Moreover, secretion varies with normal physiological and pathological conditions. hGH levels are higher during slow wave sleep and are increased by exercise, stress, fever, fasting and, with some amino acids (leucine and arginine). Some drugs, such as clonidine, ldopa and hydroxybutyrate, increase its secretion, as do androgens and estrogens.

hGH exerts its effects through target cells by binding to specific membrane receptors found in abundance throughout the body.13 It has both direct and indirect effects on the tissues; the indirect effects are mediated by IGF1, which is generated in the liver in response to GH.14

Human GH is prescribed for both childhood and adulthood hGH deficiency and for girls with Turner's syndrome. High doses of hGH are used for relief from excessive burns or other thermal injuries.15 Nevertheless, Takala et al16 showed that supraphysiological doses of GH administered to critically ill patients increased mortality when compared with placebo. Since the late 1950s, children with GH deficiency have been treated with hGH extracted from cadaver pituitary glands. Recently, due to the better availability of rhGH, hGH deficiency in adults has been recognised as a clinical syndrome and studied in clinical trials. In 1989, two major contributions were published describing the beneficial effects of GH treatment in GHdeficient adults, related on their body composition and metabolism.17,18 These seminal studies showed that rhGH treatment for a period of four to six months had favourable effects on body composition, exercise aptitude, renal and cardiac function, and in general, led to improvement in the quality of life. Long term GH administration studies have shown an increase in bone mass and persistence of the positive effects of hGH therapy.

The positive effects on the body composition are essentially due the anabolic, lipolytic, and antinatriuretic properties of GH. Among the effects that have been observed are: increase in the body cell mass (muscles) and total body water (extracellular); and decrease in the body fat with its redistribution from central to peripheral depots. The hGH dose in adults is generally individualised, but the typical dose is 12IU/day administered subcutaneously every evening. With therapeutic doses, no adverse side effects have been observed.19,20,21

GH has been considered as an ergogenic drug since the late 1980s. Since that time, official and nonofficial sources have reported that misuse in sport has steadily increased. The attractiveness of the product is based on popular knowledge that it is efficient, hard to detect, and without major side effects if well dosed. GH misusers primarily try to benefit from the known anabolic action of the drug, to increase their muscle mass and power.

The frequency of use and the dosage are hard to evaluate, but underground information suggests that the athletes misusing hGH take 1025IU/days three to four times a week to increase their lean body mass. We think that the mean dose is about 4IU/day in combination with other doping agents, such as anabolic steroids in power sports or EPO in endurance sport. GH is often taken in cycles of four to six weeks, as is the case for anabolic steroids in bodybuilding. In endurance sport, little is known about the optimum utilisation of hGH doping in combination with other products. It is highly individual and empirical.

The effectiveness of rhGH in the improvement of sport performance is still under debate among users. The positive effects described in hGH deficient adults are not that clear among athletes. Although many of these underground reports indicate some positive effect on muscle mass, it is difficult to differentiate benefits obtained when hGH is taken in combination with anabolic steroids or even if the hGH used was a less effective product. The use of hGH as an anabolic agent still seems to be widespread, but it is difficult to investigate the extent of the phenomenon. It has been reported that 5% of male American highschool students used or have used hGH as an anabolic agent.22 It is unknown how popular hGH is among female athletes, but some use has been reported because of the low risk of androgenic side effects that are seen with anabolic steroids. Not only is the anabolic effect of hGH favored by high power output athletes, but its use is also gaining acceptance in endurance sport in combination with methods for enhancing oxygen transport. Although there are anecdotal reports on the socalled dramatic increases in muscle mass and strength after large doses of hGH (especially among bodybuilders) their effectiveness under controlled conditions is generally less impressive.

As the results of controlled studies are generally not in agreement with subjective underground reports by misusers, it is difficult to draw any definite conclusions regarding the effects of excessive hGH administration on skeletal muscle function. It must be stressed that the regimen of hGH use in sport is designed to fulfil purposes other than just an increase in athletes' muscle mass. The doses involved are certainly specific to a discipline, its training model, and tailored to the regimen of other ergogenic substances being used concurrently.

GH misuse is still expensive and the high costs and difficulty in finding the right clean drug have certainly pushed some athletes to use products claimed to enhance GH production. Among these are the amino supplements such as arginine, ornithine, lysine, and tryptophan, but there are no clearly established results. The effectiveness of rhGH is also widely discussed among its users in the underground literature or in internet chat rooms without a clear positive position. Several aspects can be debated, but because of its price, some proportionality in the effects is to be expected by the users. Certainly disappointments are due to bad dosing, not combining with anabolic steroids, or a tooshort duration of use.

There are few controlled studies on the effectiveness of GH on the performance of top level athletes. In general these studies have been performed with supraphysiological dosages but not with the large amounts claimed to be effective, for instance, by bodybuilders. The results of most of these controlled studies are generally less impressive than the claims of those who misuse the substance. A study of volunteers under heavy resistance training found decrease of free fatty mass but no difference in the muscle strength.23 With weight lifters, it has been shown that short term GH treatment does not increase muscle protein synthesis more than placebo24 or other factors such as maximal voluntary strength (biceps or quadriceps).25

These results conflict with reality, which is that rhGH misuse seems to exist in toplevel sport, because the compound is often found in police raids related to doping affairs. We believe that most of the time misusers will take rhGH as a part of their cocktail of specific preparations, rather than considering rhGH as a unique pharmaceutical preparation. The effects of GH on the metabolism are so widespread that one can be certain that this is taken in combination with other products. And the final effect generally occurs elsewhere, rather than in what is tested in the laboratories.

The long term risks of hGH use are not well known since epidemiological data regarding this type of treatment in healthy sportsmen are unavailable. Acromegaly, which results from a pathological increase in endogenous production of GH, is often cited as one of the major risks associated with excessive use of hGH. The major symptoms are swelling of the hands and feet, coarsened facial appearance, dentition problems, arthralgias, fluid retention, and excessive sweating. Acromegalic patients have an increased risk for diabetes mellitus and hypertension that can lead to premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases.26 It can be argued that long term hGH doping with high dosages will probably result in misusers experiencing symptoms of fluid retention and increased risk of development of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. There is also a risk of cardiomyopathy, osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities, and impotence. Some of these side effects are reversible after withdrawal of the drug. Furthermore, hGH misuse can disturb the lipid profile with decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL)cholesterol.

As hGH is administered by injection, if syringes are nonsterile or contaminated, there is a risk of crossinfection, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Even though cadaveric GH is now rare in the black market, its use is associated with a high risk of developing CreutzfeldtJakob disease, which is characterised by slowly progressive dementia.

Until the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, hGH doping was considered undetectable. Growth hormone is a peptide with a very short halflife in blood and low concentration in urine. The peptidic nature of the substance forced analysts to investigate other methods than those used in the classic analyses for anabolic steroids or stimulants with relatively low molecular weights. The amino acid sequence of the recombinant molecule is identical to the major 22kDa isoform secreted by the pituitary gland. There is no way of using a posttranscription modification of the molecule to find out the difference between the recombinant and the natural forms.

Secretion of hGH by the pituitary gland is pulsatile, leading to highly fluctuating levels in the circulation. Moreover, hGH is considered to be a stress hormone regulated by factors such as sleep, nutritional status, exercise, and emotion. Thus, there is high intraindividual and interindividual variability in the secretion of hGH. Quantifying the hormone itself is not sufficient to detect exogenous rhGH. More stable serum variables implied in the biological cascade produced by hGH secretion, or a doping application, may be the route of successful detection of hGH. The growth factor IGF1 and some of its transport proteins (IGFBP3), have been proposed as possible candidates for indirect detection of hGH doping. But the interindividual variability is quite high and makes it hard to precisely define a quantitative cutoff level.

hGH doping is a major challenge in sport. This hormone is used by some athletes in combination with either anabolic steroids to increase their muscle mass or EPO to increase their aerobic power. Detection of rhGH is still controversial, but it appears that the direct method based on the ratio of several circulating forms is the most promising one.

Most antidoping samples consist of urine collected out of competition or after effort. Because of its convenient availability and relatively unlimited volume, attempts have been made to use urine for peptide detection. For example, urine has been used for successful detection of EPO because of the glycosylated form of this hormone. However, the only way to detect hGH in urine is to use an extremely sensitive immunotest to quantify the total amount of the hormone in urine. The average urine concentration of hGH is between 100 and 1000 times less than in blood. One notion has been to develop a screening test for outofcompetition testing in order to benefit from a relatively longer time window of detection.27 The limitations of this test have been clearly shown, because of the large influence of the process of renal excretion on the concentration measured in urine. The lack of discrimination and specificity of the result made the urinary test less promising than a blood test. Nevertheless, today, improvements in the organisation of target testing are quite obvious. It is considered feasible to do a urine test for GH in the morning, with an unannounced urine test outside any exercise session for other hormonal analyses. This may eventually be a solution for effective screening.

Two main strategies are currently being followed to detect hGH doping using blood: the indirect and direct approaches.

Increasing knowledge about the naturally occurring variability of several hGH dependent factors (that is, IGF1, the different IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), or several markers of the bone turnover), individually or in combination, could provide a database of normal ranges for the concentration of these factors. This may lead to establishment of cutoff levels and description of socalled abnormal values outside the normal constellation of measures.

This approach, proposed in the mid1990s, was investigated by an international panel of endocrinologists, but did not lead to a final solution for detection of hGH doping.28,29,30 The advantage of an indirect approach to target GH use is certainly that these biological factors are less variable or less sensitive than GH itself and should have a longer halflife in the body. A main objective of the study was to investigate the variation of these secondary variables during or after exercise. IGF1 and IGFBP3 in the hGH biological cascade as well as selected peptides involved in bone metabolism (for example the Nterminal peptide from the procollagen named PIIIP) or osteocalcin were considered as good biological markers of GH doping. These variables showed slight but significant changes after acute exercise. Moreover, the interindividual variability in the reaction to GH administration makes the use of indirect measurements almost impossible in a forensic description of GH misuse. It is obvious that rather than depending on the observation of a single value, a solution may be found in an algorithm combining all the biological variables from the cascade. Nevertheless, all these investigations clearly show that the indirect approach can certainly be used for screening and targeting purposes when a biological follow up of athletes will be acceptable in the sport community. But it cannot stand in front of a court as an absolute proof of doping. The regular evaluation of individual normal ranges in sportspeople could in fact lead to, as is currently done with haematological substances, better screening and targeting of the athletes and direct detection of hGH misuse as proposed in the following section.

The direct method of detection, based on double immunological tests needs to be well evaluated and validated. This review has described the difficulty sports authorities will face to prove hGH doping. At present, the short time window of detection of any method and the effect of exercise on natural hGH secretion still make any approach quite risky.

The StrasburgerBidlingmaier group in Munich developed a socalled direct method for the detection of hGH doping.4,6 Two specific immunoassays have been developed to quantify several types of hGH isoform. Recombinant hGH is exclusively represented by the native 22kDa form whereas the circulating hGH in the human blood is present in several forms (table 1). When the recombinant form is injected in the body, this increases, for a period of time, the proportion of the 22kDa form in comparison with all other circulating forms. Moreover, with long term use, classic back regulation of the endogenous secretion of natural hGH occurs, which favours the proportion of the major 22kDa sequence.

The proposed test was used during the Olympics in Athens (2004) and in Torino (2006). To fulfil the requirements of the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) code and the standards for laboratories, two double tests were applied to serum samples: the first test quantified specifically the 22kDa form and the second test was a comprehensive assay measuring all forms present in the serum (see fig 1). The ratio was established and a cutoff defined to differentiate normal subjects (negative samples) from those having a significant higher proportion of 22kDa hGH (positive samples). A second double sample test was used for confirmation purposes. The time window of detection for these tests is claimed to be between 24hours and 36hours after the last injection, depending on the dosage used. It is thought that hGH doping, to be efficient, needs multiple injections. Environmental influences, such as exercise, have been evaluated by Wallace et al.31 These authors measured total, pituitary, 22kDa, recombinant, non22kDa, 20kDa, and immunofunctional GH. They concluded that all isoforms increased during exercise, peaked at the end, and declined after exercise. At peak exercise, 22kDa GH was the predominant isoform. After exercise, the ratio of non22kDa/total GH increased and that of recombinant/pituitary GH decreased. But it is considered that these changes will not invalidate the test after competition. Moreover, even if GH was used out of competition, this test should act a deterrent for its use. Since the test was introduced in 2004, no adverse analytical findings have been declared from any of the WADA laboratories that have validated the tests.

Figure 1Molecular basis of direct detection of hGH abuse by differential immunoassay. A ratio is then calculated between the signal given by assay 1 to the signal given by assay 2. Two of these double tests must be applied in case of positive serum sample to confirm the result (adapted from Bidlingmaier et al6).

With new biotechnology products on the market, such as rGH and its precursors, the fight against doping must evolve with new analytical techniques and strategies based on different biological matrices. These new methods will need to be fully validated forensically before being submitted to any court challenge.

GH - growth hormone

IGF - insulinlike growth factor

rhGH - recombinant human GH

Competing interests: none declared

More here:

Human growth hormone doping in sport - PubMed Central (PMC)

The big story behind synthetic human growth hormone …

Editors note: This post is the first in a series about the history of biotechnology and genetics related to objects that have recently been photographed and made available for viewing online. Explore recently digitized objects in the Smithsonian-wideCollections Search Center.

What do doped up athletes, genetically modified bacteria, brain-eating diseases, and short kids have in common? They're all a part of the history of human growth hormone in the United States.

Without getting too high school biology on you, here's a brief summary of human growth hormone (HGH).HGHis secreted by your pituitary gland, a pea sized organ located near your brain. It helps with a variety of functions but its main purpose is to increase your height during childhood.

Scientists have known about growth hormones since the 1920s but only began usingHGHto treat kids who were unusually short because of pituitary disorders in 1963. Use of the drug was fairly conservative, however, because it was in short supply, due to the fact that there was only one source ofHGHhumans. Gathering the drug meant isolating it from the pituitary glands of cadavers, a rather grizzly process which is illustrated in all its gory detail (using animal glands) in theOctober 11, 1948 issue ofLifemagazine. (As a bonus, the article also includes pictures of Dachshund puppies and giant rats.)

Production of the drug in this way continued for more than 20 years. That all came to a halt, however, with the horrifying discovery that some of the drug was contaminated, having been extracted from a cadaver infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).CJDis similar in effects to mad cow disease or accelerated Alzheimer's, causing rapid brain degeneration leading to death within a year of the first symptoms. There is no treatment and no test forCJD, which can lie dormant for decades after exposure before signs of infection appear.

Eventually, 26 people would die ofCJDfrom contaminatedHGH. The fact that there was no way to test for infection turned the lives of all of those who had been treated in the 1960s and 1970s into a terrifying waiting game. Patients lived in constant fear of the onset of symptoms. This uncertainty resulted in another strange story when a man who had receivedHGHas a child plead innocent to charges of murdering his mother, Susan Cabot, B-movie star of films likeThe Wasp Woman,claiming he was suffering madness due to the effects ofCJD.

Following the discovery of the contamination in 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration halted all distribution of cadaver-derivedHGH. As luck would have it, however, a new source forHGHwas in the hopper. Biotechnology company Genentech and drug company Eli Lilly had both independently been working on a new way to manufactureHGHusing recombinant bacteria. The companies genetically modified bacteria by inserting a gene coding for the production ofHGH. This genetic transformation turned the bacteria into little factories to pump outHGH, leading to a limitless source of pureHGHwith little risk of contamination.

Early sample of Protropin, used to treat children with growth problems stemming from an inability to produce their own growth hormone.

Six months after the ban on the natural source ofHGH, theFDAapproved Genentech's recombinantHGH, a drug called Protropin, making it only the second recombinant pharmaceutical to be sold in the U.S. In our collections we have several examples of Protropin some of which havejust been digitizedin our online collection. Look closely and youll notice the Protropin graphica clever symbol that blends a human form and an "up" arrow.

Protropin, and other brands of recombinantHGHnot only provided a safe source ofHGHfor kids with growth disorders, but the increase in supply ofHGHmeant experimentation with other applications for the hormone. One was the explosion of blackmarketHGHuse by athletes to improve their performance. In 1986,The Washington Postreported some doctors predicting that use ofHGHin athletes "could lead to the day that, instead of cheering for 'The Fridge' [nickname of 6'2" 380-pound, fan favorite William Perry, a player for the Chicago Bears in the mid-1980s], fans would be yelling for three-bedroom colonials." Though house-sized athletes never materialized,HGHcontinued to be a favorite drug for doping, particularly because it was difficult to detect in tests. Recent improvements in testing, however, may soon change HGH's place in sports. April of 2012 marked the first time that a U.S. athlete (weightlifter Pat Mendes) was banned from the Olympic Games for a positive test forHGH.

Interested in learning more about the development of recombinant pharmaceuticals and other history topics? Browse the whole group ofBiotechnology and Geneticsobjects and the rest of the Smithsonian's online collections.

Mallory Warner is a Project Assistant in the Division of Medicine & Science.

Read the original:

The big story behind synthetic human growth hormone ...

Overview | Human growth hormone (somatropin) for the …

Evidence-based recommendations on human growth hormone (somatropin; Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, NutropinAq, Omnitrope, Saizen, Zomacton) for treating growth failure in children.

The recommendations also apply to somatropin biosimilar products that have a marketing authorisation allowing the use of the biosimilar for the same indication.

A minor correction was made to section 6.1 of the guidance in July 2010. This does not affect the funding direction, which applies from the original date of publication in May 2010.

Next review: This guidance will be reviewed if there is new evidence.

How we develop NICE technology appraisal guidance

This guidance replaces NICE technology appraisal guidance on human growth hormone for the treatment of growth failure in children (TA42).

The recommendations in this guidance represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, health professionals are expected to take this guidance fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients. The application of the recommendations in this guidance is at the discretion of health professionals and their individual patients and do not override the responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian.

All problems (adverse events) related to a medicine or medical device used for treatment or in a procedure should be reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency using the Yellow Card Scheme.

Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to provide the funding required to enable the guidance to be applied when individual health professionals and their patients wish to use it, in accordance with the NHS Constitution. They should do so in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities.

Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.

Go here to read the rest:

Overview | Human growth hormone (somatropin) for the ...

Dana White: Tony Ferguson not eager to fight right now, but still one of the most talented guys out there – MMA Junkie

UFC president Dana White isnt expecting Tony Ferguson back anytime soon.

According to Islam Makhachev, Ferguson turned down a short-notice opportunity to fight him in Saturdays UFC 267 main card and White says Ferguson hasnt given him any indication that hes ready to compete again.

I dont think so, I dont think hes eager to fight right now, White told UFC Arabia. I think hes taking some time off.

But that doesnt mean White thinks Ferguson is done. Although the former interim lightweight champion who was once on a 12-fight winning streak has dropped three straight to Justin Gaethje, current UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, White still thinks Ferguson has some fight left in him.

Hes still one of the most talented guys out there, White said. When hes ready to come back, well match him up and well see how does.

Ferguson recently went after Conor McGregor, accusing the former UFC dual-champ of using human growth hormone (HGH). McGregor fired back, claiming the pair will fight each other someday.

Ferguson and McGregor have been jawing back and forth for a while now. Both men were previously under the same management at Paradigm, which McGregor co-owns, causing tensions to flare when Ferguson thought he wasnt being properly and fairly represented. As a result, he parted ways with his management group and Ferguson has wanted a piece of McGregor ever since.

Read the original here:

Dana White: Tony Ferguson not eager to fight right now, but still one of the most talented guys out there - MMA Junkie

Growth Hormone – Lab Tests Online

Sources Used in Current Review

Growth Hormone (Blood). University of Rochester Medical Center. Available online at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=growth_hormone_blood. Accessed October 2019.

Growth Hormone Stimulation Test (Outpatient). Nationwide Childrens Hospital. Available online at https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/growth-hormone-stimulation-test-outpatient.Accessed October 2019.

Growth Hormone Suppression Test. MedlinePlus. Available online at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003376.htm. Accessed October 2019.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor. University of Rochester Medical Center. Available online at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=insulin_like_growth_factor. Accessed October 2019.

Thyroid Function Tests. American Thyroid Association. Available online at https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests/. Accessed October 2019.

Tests for Pituitary Tumors. American Cancer Society. Available online at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/pituitary-tumors/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html. Accessed October 2019.

Growth Hormone Deficiency. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Available online at https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/growth-hormone-deficiency/. Accessed October 2019.

Acromegaly. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases. Available online at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/acromegaly. Accessed October 2019.

(June 7, 2013) Growth Hormone. Medscape. Available online at https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2089136-overview#a2. Accessed October 2019.

Collett-Solber PF, et al.Diagnosis, Genetics, and Therapy of Short Stature in Children: A Growth Hormone Research Society International Perspective.Horm Res Paediatr. 2019 Sep 12:1-14. doi: 10.1159/000502231. [Epub ahead of print]

Melmed S.Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults.N Engl J Med. 2019 Jun 27;380(26):2551-2562. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1817346.

Molitch ME, et al., Evaluation and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jun;96(6):1587-609. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-0179.

Sources Used in Previous Reviews

Thomas, Clayton L., Editor (1997). Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA [18th Edition].

Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (2001). Mosbys Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 5th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO.

Sadovsky, R. (2002 August 6). Are We Ready for Growth Hormone Therapy in Adults? American Family Physician, Tips form other journals [On-line journal]. Available online athttp://www.aafp.org/afp/20021115/tips/10.html.

Growth Hormone (Human Growth Hormone, HGH, Somatotropin). ARUPs Guide to Clinical Laboratory Testing (CLT) [On-line test information]. Available online athttp://www.aruplab.com/guides/clt/tests/clt_a244.htm.

Growth Hormone Information. The Hormone Foundation [On-line information]. Available online athttp://www.hormone.org/learn/growth.html.

(2002 November 12, Updated). Growth hormone no fountain of youth, study suggests. LaurusHealth.com, Todays Headlines [Online information from Reuters Health]. Available online at http://www.laurushealth.com/healthnews/reuters//NewsStory111220023.htm.

Growth hormone tests. Hendrick Health System, AccessMed [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.hendrickhealth.org/healthy/00049860.html.

Ruppe, M., Reviewed (2002 February 23, Reviewed). Growth hormone. Pennhealth.com Health Illustrated Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.pennhealth.com/ency/article/003706.htm.

Spengler, R. (2001 April 9, Updated). Growth Hormone. LaurusHealth.com, Medical Tests [On-line information]. Available online through http://www.laurushealth.com.

AACE Clinical Practice Guidelines for Growth Hormone Use in Adults and Children. Available for download at http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines/hgh.pdf.

Bernal-Mizrachi, C., Updated (2001 June 2, Updated). Growth hormone stimulation test. MedlinePlus Health Information [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003377.htm.

Bernal-Mizrachi, C., Updated (2001 June 1, Updated). Growth hormone suppression test. MedlinePlus [On-line information]. Available online athttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003376.htm.

Ruppe, M. (2002 February 23, Updated). Growth hormone. MedlinePlus [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm.

Health Resources: Neurosurgery://On-call (2000 February). Understanding Pituitary Tumors. Patient Resources, Disorder of the Month, Pituitary Tumors Feature Article [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.neurosurgery.org/health/patient/detail.asp?DisorderID=19.

Pituitary Overview and Acromegaly. The Hormone Foundation [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.hormone.org/learn/pituitary_1.html.

Anterior Pituitary Function. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy [On-line information]. Available online athttp://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section2/chapter6/6c.htm.

Bisp, K. (2001 September 13). Testing the integrity of the system Growth potential and excess. Society for Endocrinology, Endocrine Nurses Training Course [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.endocrinology.org/sfe/training/ent01/ent01_bis.htm.

Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. ( 2007). Mosbys Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 8th Edition. Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp. 506 510.

Clarke, W. and Dufour, D. R., Editors (2006). Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry. AACC Press, Washington, DC. Grenache, D. and Willis, M., Chapter 31 Hypothalamic, Pituitary, and Gonadal Disorders. Pp. 351 363.

Wu, A. (2006). Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, Fourth Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. Pp. 502 510.

Hurd, R. (2006 March 8, Updated). Growth Hormone. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm. Accessed on 7/21/07.

Van Voorhees, B. (2006 June 13, Updated). Growth hormone deficiency. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001176.htm. Accessed on 7/21/07.

Hurd, R. (2006 March 13, Updated). Growth hormone stimulation test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003377.htm. Accessed on 7/21/07.

Hurd, R. (2006 March 13, Updated). Growth hormone suppression test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003376.htm. Accessed on 7/21/07.

(2007 April). Acromegaly. NIDDK. NIH Publication No. 02-3924 [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/acro/acro.htm. Accessed September 2007.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Fact Sheet: Long Term and Late Effects of Treatment for Blood Cancers [Online information]. Available for download through http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. Accessed October 2007.

William E. Winter, MD, FACB. Lab Tests Online adjunct board member.

Eckman, A. (Updated 2010 April 20). Growth hormone test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm. Accessed October 2010.

( 1995-2010). Unit Code 8688: Growth Hormone, Serum. Mayo Clinic, Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8688. Accessed October 2010.

Meikle, W. and Roberts, W. (Updated 2010 May). Growth Hormone Deficiency. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/GrowthHormone.html?client_ID=LTD. Accessed October 2010.

( 2010). Growth Disorders Treatment Options, The Hormone Foundation [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.hormone.org/Growth/treatment.cfm. Accessed October 2010.

Savage, M. et. al. (2010 June 23). The Continuum of Growth HormoneIGF-I Axis Defects Causing Short Stature: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. Medscape Today fromClin Endocrinol. 2010;72(6):721-728. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/722763. Accessed October 2010.

Pagana, K. D. & Pagana, T. J. ( 2007). Mosbys Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 8th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 506-508.

Wu, A. ( 2006). Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 4th Edition: Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO. Pp 502-503.

Kronenberg, H. et. al. ( 2008). Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 11th Edition: Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA. Pp 857-863.

Rosenbloom, Arlan L. Sex Hormone Priming for Growth Hormone Stimulation Testing in Pre- and Early Adolescent Children Is Evidence Based.Horm Res Paediatr2011;75:7880.

Updated 2012 April 6). Acromegaly. National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/acro/acro.aspx. Accessed August 2014.

Topiwala, S. (Updated 2012 May 31). Growth hormone test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm. Accessed August 2014.

Hammami, M. (Updated 2013 June 7). Growth Hormone. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2089136-overview. Accessed August 2014.

Diaz-Thomas, A. et. al. (Updated 2014 May 12)). Gigantism and Acromegaly. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/925446-overview. Accessed August 2014.

Rosenbloom, A. and Guevara-Aguirre, J. (Updated 2014 January 23). Growth Hormone Resistance. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/922902-overview. Accessed August 2014.

van Bunderen, C. et. al. (2014). Efficacy and Safety of Growth Hormone Treatment in Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency A Systematic Review of Studies on Morbidity. Medscape News fromClin Endocrinol. 2014;81(1):1-14. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/827774. Accessed August 2014.

Meikle, A. W. (Updated 2014 January). Growth Hormone Deficiency. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/GrowthHormone.html?client_ID=LTD#tabs=0. Accessed August 2014.

(June 7, 2013) Hammami, M. Growth Hormone. Medscape Reference. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2089136-overview#a30. Accessed September 2014.

Eledrisi, MS. Growth Hormone Deficiency. Medscape. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/120767-overview. Accessed March 2015.

Kemp, S. Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/923688-overview. Accessed March 2015.

Read the rest here:

Growth Hormone - Lab Tests Online

Growth hormone, athletic performance, and aging – Harvard …

Can human growth hormones really benefit aging, like the elusive fountain of youth? In 1513, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in Florida to search for the fountain of youth. If he got any benefit from his quest, it was due to the exercise involved in the search.

Few men today believe in miraculous waters, but many, it seems, believe in the syringe of youth. Instead of drinking rejuvenating waters, they inject human growth hormone to slow the tick of the clock. Some are motivated by the claims of the "anti-aging" movement, others by the examples of young athletes seeking a competitive edge. Like Ponce de Len, the athletes still get the benefit of exercise, while older men may use growth hormone shots as a substitute for working out. But will growth hormone boost performance or slow aging? And is it safe?

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Read more:

Growth hormone, athletic performance, and aging - Harvard ...

Massive Growth of Hormone Replacement Therapy Market by 2028 with Top Key Players Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Laboratories Puck77 – Puck77

Get Sample Report Buy Complete Report

The updated report on the Hormone Replacement Therapy market gives a precise analysis of the value chain assessment for the review period of 2021 to 2027. The research includes an exhaustive evaluation of the administration of the key market companies and their revenue-generating business strategies adopted by them to drive sustainable business. The Service industry report further enlists the market shortcomings, stability, growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities for the projected timeframe.

Get Sample Report with Latest Industry Trends Analysis: https://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/sample-request/348485

The top companies in this report include: Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, Bayer Healthcare, Merck Serono, Eli Lilly, Roche, Mylan Laboratories, and Genentech.

The Global Hormone Replacement Therapy market is expected to register a notable market expansion of XX% during the review period owing to the largest market value in 2019. The market study provides a measure of the effectiveness of the product, real-time Hormone Replacement Therapy market scenario, along custom ease. The study further offers market analysis, strategies and planning, R & D landscape, target audience management, market potential, due diligence, and competitive landscape.

Scope of the report:

A thorough analysis of statistics about the current as well as emerging trends offers clarity regarding the Hormone Replacement Therapy market dynamics. The report includes Porters Five Forces to analyze the prominence of various features such as the understanding of both the suppliers and customers, risks posed by various agents, the strength of competition, and promising emerging businesspersons to understand a valuable resource. Also, the report spans the Hormone Replacement Therapy research data of various companies, benefits, gross margin, strategic decisions of the worldwide market, and more through tables, charts, and infographics.

The Hormone Replacement Therapy report highlights an all-inclusive assessment of the revenue generated by the various segments across different regions for the forecast period, 2021 to 2027. To leverage business owners, gain a thorough understanding of the current momentum, the Hormone Replacement Therapy research taps hard to find data on aspects including but not limited to demand and supply, distribution channel, and technology upgrades. Principally, the determination of strict government policies and regulations and government initiatives building the growth of the Hormone Replacement Therapy market offers knowledge of what is in store for the business owners in the upcoming years.

Geographic analysis:

The global Hormone Replacement Therapy market has been spread across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and the rest of the world.

Get Exclusive Discount on this Premium Report: https://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/discount/348485

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The pandemic of COVID-19 has emerged in lockdown across regions, line limitations, and breakdown of transportation organizations. Furthermore, the financial vulnerability Hormone Replacement Therapy Market is a lot higher than past flare-ups like the extreme intense respiratory condition (SARS), avian influenza, pig influenza, bird influenza, and Ebola, inferable from the rising number of contaminated individuals and the vulnerability about the finish of the crisis. With the rapid rising cases, the worldwide Hormone Replacement Therapy refreshments market is getting influenced from multiple points of view.

The accessibility of the labor force is by all accounts disturbing the inventory network of the worldwide Hormone Replacement Therapy market as the lockdown and the spread of the infection are pushing individuals to remain inside. The presentation of the Hormone Replacement Therapy makers and the transportation of the products are associated. If the assembling movement is stopped, transportation and, likewise, the store network additionally stops. The stacking and dumping of the items, i.e., crude materials and results (fixings), which require a ton of labor, is likewise vigorously affected because of the pandemic. From the assembling plant entryway to the stockroom or from the distribution center to the end clients, i.e., application ventures, the whole Hormone Replacement Therapy inventory network is seriously compromised because of the episode.

The research provides answers to the following key questions:

Buy Exclusive Report: https://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/checkout

Contact Us:

Roger Smith

1887 WHITNEY MESA DR HENDERSON, NV 89014

[emailprotected]

+1 775 237 4147

Related Reports:

Non-Alcoholic Drinks Market by Product, Applications, Geographic and Key Players: A.G. Barr, plc. (U.K.), Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (U.S.), Dydo Drinco

Arak Market See Huge Growth for New Normal| Arak Corporation, Abi Raad Group Sarl, Kawar Arak, Eagle Distilleries Co, Haddad Distilleries

See the original post:

Massive Growth of Hormone Replacement Therapy Market by 2028 with Top Key Players Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Laboratories Puck77 - Puck77

The One Diet That Will Slim Down Your Waistline, Says Dietitian | Eat This Not That – Eat This, Not That

Lose Your Gut! Blast Your Belly!The New Secrets to Flat Abs Fast!Who can resist reading about the latest technique that promises A Tighter Tummy Today!

For those who want to target the area rolls over the waistband of her jeans. Here's the problem: There's really no diet or exercise that can perform "a surgical strike," a laser-focused attack on belly fat alone. And that frustrates many people when they don't get the super-quick results many diet programs promise.

"You can't spot reduce abdominal fat," says Melissa Daniels, RD, head nutritionist, and director of managed plans for G-Plans, a science-based weight-loss and wellness company co-founded by nutritional scientist Philip Goglia, PhD. "The key to shrinking your midsection," says Daniels, "is reducing overall body fat percentage."

Daniels advocates a three-pronged diet plan that will help the majority of people who tend to hold their weight around their waists: 1. eat enough of the right combination of macronutrients to maximize your specific metabolism; 2. fill up on proteins; 3. avoid pro-inflammatory foods and choose those that fight inflammation.

Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, don't miss 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.

Upwards of three-quarters of the population has a fat-and-protein-efficient metabolism, according to Dr. Goglia. That means they digest fat and protein more efficiently than they do carbohydrates. So, eating a diet that's higher in protein and fat and moderate in carbohydrates should help people with this type of metabolism lose overall body fat and maintain wellbeing best.

Daniels recommends that the breakdown of macronutrients in your daily diet be 50% protein, 25% fat, and 25% carbohydrate. (Related: What To Eat in a Day To Drive the Most Weight Loss.)

"Eat most of your carbs early in the day," she says. "Most people are more active during the day, so you will want to create a fuel pattern that keeps you going throughout the day. You're not going to run a marathon at night, so you don't need a bunch of carbs with dinner." If you find it challenging to get 50 grams of protein daily, try a protein shake in the morning. Here's The #1 Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss, Says a Dietitian.

Daniels points out that high carbohydrate intake in the evening prevents the body from going into deep REM sleep, thus disrupting sleep and recovery.

Your eat-them-early carbohydrates should come from single ingredient starches such as yams, sweet potatoes, oats, oat puffs, and quinoa. Fruit and vegetables will also make up the remaining carbohydrate of the day.

READ MORE:The 20 Healthiest Low-Carb Foods

Your dinner should be your biggest protein meal of the day to rebuild the muscle you have broken down, says Daniels.

An example of an appropriate dinner would be a piece of fatty fish, like wild-caught salmon, with a side of dark leafy greens such as sauted spinach or asparagus. Fish has anti-inflammatory and fat-burning benefits when eating at nighttime; this is when your body has time to rest and repair your muscle tissue. Using high-fat fish as a dinner choice increases the amount of omega fatty acids consumed at night, the result is a deeper sleep, increased growth hormone release, and reduction of inflammation.

When planning lunch, think about supporting your afternoon energy patterns so that you don't have late-afternoon energy dips or cravings, says Daniels. So, a good lunch might consist of a starch portion (like cup of rice or four ounces of yam or potato) with a 4-ounce meat source (like a grilled chicken breast) plus a cup of spinach or beets or a salad, she suggests.

Inflammation is your body's natural reaction to invaders like plant pollen or viruses.

Persistent or chronic inflammation, however, is unhealthy, and it is most commonly triggered by the foods you eat.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. Inflammation also contributes to weight gain. Recent research has shown that inflammation can interfere with the hormone leptin that tells the brain when you've had enough to eat.

"You want to remove high inflammatory foods from your diet," says Daniels. Pro-inflammatory foods include processed bread, refined carbohydrates, fried foods, red meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages. "Consuming more of these types of foods will contribute to inflammation and distention in the abdominal region," says Daniels.

Read more: Popular Foods That Increase Inflammation, Say Dietitians

Instead, load up on foods that fight inflammation. And you can guess what they are: Fruits and vegetables, such as apples, blueberries, and leafy greens, all of which are rich in natural antioxidants and polyphenols, compounds found in plants that may protect against inflammation.

Read more: Popular Foods That Reduce Inflammation, Says Dietitian

These three diet practices won't melt your belly fat overnight, but they will begin to shrink fat cells all over your body, which you'll eventually notice when you slip on your jeans and they slip off you without a belt to hold them up. To speed up your slim down, also try these burning 40 Easy Ways to Burn Extra Calories Every Day.

Read this next:

More here:

The One Diet That Will Slim Down Your Waistline, Says Dietitian | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

What Is Weaver Syndrome? Tallest Woman in the World’s Height Due to Rare Condition – Newsweek

A Turkish woman has been named as the tallest living female by Guinness World Records.

Rumeysa Gelgi, who is 7 feet and 0.7 inches tall, was announced as the record holder on Wednesday. She had already been awarded the title of tallest living female teenager back in 2014 and was recently re-measured.

Her great height is due to a condition known as Weaver syndrome, Guinness World Records said in a news release.

Weaver syndrome is a condition thought to be caused by a mutation in the EZH2 gene, but it's unclear exactly why it causes people to grow so tall, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus site.

The condition is also characterised by facial features that may include a broad forehead and large ears.

Growth and bone development in people with Weaver syndrome is faster than normal, though their weight to height relationship may be standard, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).

In some patients, symptoms might not show until several months after birth, but the syndrome is usually present before birth. It affects men about three times more often than women, NORD adds.

Other symptoms can include an abnormal curvature of the spine and muscle tone that is either increased or decreased. In addition, people with Weaver syndrome may have joint problems that can restrict movement, particularly in the fingers and toes.

It's unclear exactly how rare Weaver syndrome is, but there have only ever been 50 cases reported medically, according to MedlinePlus.

Some cases occur as a result of new genetic mutations in people with no history of the disorder in their familythough others inherit the mutation from a parent. Weaver syndrome can be diagnosed via a genetic test in most cases.

According to the UK-based Child Growth Foundation (CGF) charity, medical understanding of the condition and how to manage and treat it is growing all the time, though this is still limited.

The CGF focuses on support and management of rare growth conditions such as Weavers syndrome and also other conditions like Growth Hormone Deficiency, Sotos syndrome, and IGF-1 Deficiency. It aims to raise awareness of the conditions and support research into greater understanding of them.

Guinness World Records names Sultan Ksen, a Turkish farmer, as the world's tallest living man. He has been measured at 8 feet and 2.8 inches tall, due to an over-production of a growth hormone.

UPDATE 10/14/21 7:51 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include a new picture.

See more here:

What Is Weaver Syndrome? Tallest Woman in the World's Height Due to Rare Condition - Newsweek

Iodine | The Nutrition Source | Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health – HSPH News

Iodine is an essential trace mineral not made by the body so must be obtained by food or supplements. It is found naturally in some foods and is added to supplements and some salt seasonings. Iodine is needed to make the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which assist with the creation of proteins and enzyme activity, as well as regulating normal metabolism. Without enough iodine, these thyroid hormones do not work properly and can lead to an under-active or overactive thyroid gland, causing the medical conditions of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with various negative side effects in the body.

RDA: The Recommended Dietary Allowance for iodine is 150 micrograms (mcg) daily for adult men and women 19+ years, and 220 and 290 mcg daily for pregnant and lactating women, respectively. [1,2]

UL: A Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the maximum daily dose unlikely to cause adverse side effects in the general population. The UL for iodine for adults 19+ years and pregnant and lactating women is 1,100 mcg daily.

Production of thyroid hormones increases during pregnancy, requiring higher intakes of iodine. Both the fetus and infant require enough iodine for normal physical growth and brain development. Breast milk contains iodine, though the amount will depend on the mothers diet, and many infant formulas contain iodine. However, not all prenatal multivitamins contain iodine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that prenatal and lactating women take supplemental iodine by using iodized salt. [2] High-dose iodine supplements are not always advised, as they can cause thyroid problems in some women.

Moderate to severe iodine deficiency in children can cause a lower IQ and stunted growth. Iodine supplementation in these children appears to improve both their physical and mental development.

These conditions occur when the body produce too little (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism) thyroid hormone. An early sign of hypothyroidism is having an elevated blood level of of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This may occur with low intakes of iodine. It may also occur in people with a history of iodine deficiency who take high doses of iodine such as in supplements. [1] Goiter, a lump in the front of the neck from an enlarged inflamed thyroid gland, can result from hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or an excessive iodine intake (usually involves taking very high doses of more than 18,000 mcg a day for a prolonged time). [1] Relatedly, goitrogens in some cruciferous vegetables can prevent the absorption of iodine, which may then interfere with thyroid function and cause goiter. Those already with an iodine deficiency or hypothyroidism are most susceptible.

Iodine is found in soil and the ocean, which varies in amount and will affect how much of the mineral is contained in a food. Iodine is found mainly in animal protein foods and sea vegetables, and to a lesser extent in fortified foods like breads, cereals, and milk.

Iodine regulates metabolism, the conversion of energy obtained from food into energy to help cells function and grow. A deficiency of iodine can therefore prevent normal growth and development. This is especially dangerous in pregnant women and infants, in which miscarriage, stillbirth, stunted growth, and cognitive impairments (difficulties with reading, writing, talking, problem solving, social skills) can occur. In adults, an iodine deficiency of less than 10-20 mcg a day can lead to inadequate thyroid hormone production, called hypothyroidism, which disrupts normal metabolic functions like regulating heart rate, body temperature, and body weight. [2] A lump or swelling in the neck, called goiter, often accompanies hypothyroidism. Other signs of hypothyroidism include:

People at risk for iodine deficiency include those who do not use iodized salt or supplements containing iodine, pregnant women, vegans who do not eat any animal foods, and those living in areas with low levels of iodine in the soil (e.g., mountainous regions).

High iodine intakes are usually well-tolerated in most healthy people and do not cause problems. [1] This has been observed in countries such as Japan and Korea that eat iodine-rich seaweed regularly. [3] But some people with autoimmune thyroid disease or who have a history of chronic iodine deficiency can be sensitive to receiving extra iodine, inducing conditions of iodine deficiency like hypothyroidism and goiter. [2,4] Excess iodine can also lead to too much thyroid hormone production, causing hyperthyroidism; signs of this condition are an increased metabolism that promotes weight loss, fast or irregular heartbeat, hand tremors, irritability, fatigue, and sweatiness. Sometimes even just a slight increase in dietary iodine above the RDA can cause iodine-induced hyperthyroidism in sensitive individuals. [4]

Some epidemiologic studies have shown that high seaweed intakes are associated with an increased risk of certain types of thyroid cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women, but the exact mechanism is unclear. [2,3]

Excess iodine intake may come from use of high-dose supplements or overeating certain seaweeds and salts that contain iodine. Severe iodine poisoning is rare, but symptoms include fever; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; a burning sensation of the mouth, throat, and stomach; and even coma. [2] Children, infants, the elderly, and those with existing thyroid disease are particularly vulnerable to iodine toxicity and iodine-induced hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. [3,4]

Vitamins and Minerals

The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

Follow this link:

Iodine | The Nutrition Source | Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health - HSPH News