When you age, you tend to lose lean muscle mass, resulting in structural frailty and a flabby body. The reason – adult growth hormone deficiency. What is it about the chemical known as somatotropin (GH) that causes this decline? HGH benefits for muscle strength and tone come from the ability to generate new cells that replace the ones that die off.
Skeletal muscle cells have an average lifespan of 10 to 16 years. Also called striated muscle, they do not divide and rely on other types of cells for their repair and replacement. Once a skeletal muscle cell matures, it requires either stem cells or satellite cells to replace it if injured or when it wears out.
By the time you reach your late twenties, the quality of your skeletal muscle declines. Skeletal muscles can increase the number of muscle fibers and mitochondria inside each cell.
The use of HGH for muscle growth begins with the secretion of insulin growth factor 1. HGH signals that arrive at the liver promote growth hormone receptors on that organ to produce IGF-1. One of the roles of IGF-1 in the body is to assist HGH with cellular regeneration. It is only when a plentiful supply of HGH and IGF-1 is present that proper cell reproduction can occur.
Why Do You Lose Muscle Strength with HGH Deficiency?
Before we can talk about HGH for muscle gain, let us examine why you lose muscle tone and strength when you are growth hormone deficient. First, there is exercise. The process of lifting weights to build muscle causes the tearing of muscle. Without a plentiful supply of new cells to repair the tear and strengthen the muscle, it will not heal. Instead, the muscle will weaken. You will lose strength.
HGH benefits for muscle strength ensure that you have a ready supply of new cells to help the muscle tear heal.
The next reason for loss of muscle tone and strength due to growth hormone deficiency is weakness and fatigue. Without enough energy, you will likely forgo exercise. Lack of exercise leads to muscular atrophy. Your muscles become weak and shrink in size. Since exercise helps boost HGH production, you are further contributing to low growth hormone levels that will keep the cycle in effect.
The Role of HGH in Building Lean Muscle Mass
The use of HGH for muscle mass in adults with a growth hormone deficiency accomplishes a few things. One, it increases IGF-1 in skeletal muscle tissue and myoblast cells. Two, it stimulates new cells to replace those dying off. Three, it provides satellite and stem cells for muscle cell repair. Four, HGH boosts connective tissue growth around the muscles. The result, in this case, is larger-looking muscles. Five, human growth hormone decreases fat mass by increasing the breakdown and removal of stored fat. People who use HGH therapy tend to lose an amount of fat mass approximately equal to the amount of lean muscle mass they gain.
Building lean muscle does not always equate to HGH benefits for muscle strength. Some studies have demonstrated significant lower body increases in strength. However, the same results do not necessarily extend to upper body strength. While muscle tone and mass improve, strength does not always increase. That is also why doctors caution people not to use HGH illegally to increase strength. There is no scientific backing to that premise.
Benefits of HGH for Muscle Repair
The entire premise of using HGH for muscle recovery is its role in cell regeneration. The human body is made up many kinds of cells that form, grow, and die. They require replacement when they die, and repair when they are injured.
Skeletal muscle is anchored to the bones by tendons and is composed of myocytes (bone cells) called myofibers. These muscle fibers contain many tubular myofibrils consisting of sarcomeres (long, fibrous protein filaments). One muscle fiber from a bicep can contain roughly 100,000 sarcomeres.
HGH benefits for muscle strength and repair come from producing more satellite cells that can help regenerate skeletal muscle fibers.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is funding research in Michigan to look at how HGH helps speed healing following ACL surgery. One of the worst things for an injured athlete is the muscular atrophy that occurs during the treatment and healing process. The hope is that HGH therapy can help prevent atrophy and speed muscle repair following surgery.
When to Use HGH for Maximum Muscle Tone
The best HGH for muscle growth, human growth hormone injections, should only be used when the body has a definitive deficiency in this hormone. There are no benefits to using HGH when the body already produces normal amounts of the hormone. Instead, a person will likely suffer potential side effects of treatment if the body has normal HGH levels that are boosted to high.
When you use HGH benefits for muscle strength and increased mass resulting from decline due to growth hormone deficiency, the treatment is extremely safe. Only then can you expect to see maximum benefits in muscle tone.
When it comes to human growth hormone injections, the best HGH for muscle growth is one of the following brands:
- Genotropin
- Humatrope
- Omnitrope
- Saizen
- Norditropin
Please contact the medical advisors at our hormone clinic for a free consultation to learn more about how HGH therapy can help you.