A closer look at HGH

Last week, Roger Clemens told a congressional committee that he never used human growth hormone, also known as HGH. He is one of many athletes who have come under scrutiny as of late for their admitted or alleged use of this performance-enhancing substance. Still, one salient question remains: What exactly is HGH?

First of all, HGH is not the same as steroids. Natural HGH is created in the pituitary gland. It's primary function is to stimulate the production of bone, muscle, and cartilage in kids as they grow. But, somewhere around the age of 20, the amount of HGH produced goes into decline, dropping precipitously once we reach old age. This, ostensibly, is why an estimated 30,000 Americans have tried synthetic HGH.

Proponents of HGH -- including aging action star Sylvester Stallone, who was stopped by Australian authorities last year for attempting to bring the substance with into the country him during a press tour -- claim that it can help build muscle, reduce body fat, and dramatically slow the aging process.

But at what cost?

HGH works by stimulating the liver to increase production of the natural Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). However, there is a great deal of research showing that elevated IGF-1 levels are strongly associated with an increased risk of colon, prostate, and breast cancers.

The risks associated with HGH are clearly not worth the unsubstantiated anti-aging properties it supposedly has. Best I can tell, the only way HGH can help prevent people from getting any older is to increase their chances of dying early.