BEIJING,
Jan. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. researchers said that human growth hormone
(HGH) which is touted to be used as an anti-aging therapy does
nothing to help a person live longer and has the potential to creat adverse side
effects, according to media reports Wednesday.
Dr. Hau Liu, from Stanford University School of
Medicine in California, and colleagues examined the risks and benefits of
hormone therapy in elderly individuals by analyzing data from relevant studies
identified through a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Data from 31 studies with a
total of 220 participants were included in the analysis.
"There is certainly no data out there to suggest that
giving growth hormone to an otherwise healthy person will make him or her live
longer," said Dr. Hau Liu.
"We did find that there was substantial potential for
adverse side effects," Liu said.
As noted, the side effects were common with HGH
therapy and included swelling, joint pain, gynecomastia, and carpal tunnel
syndrome. In addition, it may have slightly increased the risk of diabetes,
he added.
"You're paying a lot of money for a therapy that may
have minimal or no benefit and yet has a potential for some serious side
effects," Liu said. "You've got to really think about what this drug is doing
for you."
(Agencies)
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