posted May 11, 2000 07:37 PM            

Do the current products cause production of troublesome anti-hGH antibodies?

Has anyone here experienced facial maturation/prognathism from it's use? Did these changes occur nice and slowly?

posted May 11, 2000 08:41 PM            

A FEW people will develop problematic antibodies to hGH, but not nearly as common as when it was extracted from pituitaries. Almost everyone who uses exogenous hGH will develop increased antibodies against it, but they don't usually cause any clinical problem.

Capiche?

posted May 18, 2000 01:03 AM            

Three other minor points: Firstly, is the antibody response to current hGH sufficient to be used as a method to disqualify a contestant, and will the antibody titres drop in due course?

Thirdly, is not hGH responsible for maturing the jaw to the extent that all 16 lower teeth properly fit into it? With androgens like test. contributing a 'male' cast to the features? There are a lot of women out there with proper mandible/jaw development who are still feminine. And conversely, a fair number of masculinized men who otherwise still have underdeveloped jaws.

Please excuse that I am presently talking here about *bodybuilding* a symmetric, proportionate facial structure as opposed to only skeletal muscle. I am curious just the same. It's all part of the big picture.

posted May 18, 2000 04:28 PM            

Approximately one-third of all people taking synthetic HGH develop antibodies to it. These antibodies can be a threat to normal immune function as well as to the body's own supply of GH. But these antibodies can also occurr naturally at low levels in anybody so they do not represent a target for drug testing (yet). Other documented side effects include carpal tunnel syndrome, abnormal bone growth, reduced life-span and disturbed insulin metabolism.

Note the term ABNORMAL bone growth. If you have reached adulthood and are of normal stature, etc... then the shape of your jaw is what has been determined by your genetics. Additional GH will not mature it more. Of course genetics include your gender and males produce more Test and GH than women.

If you're looking to develop your jaw, I don't think GH is the way to go. Keep in mind that many of the above side effects occur after long-term GH use. Most Bodybuilders don't have the financial resources to take GH at 1-2 units per day for years on end. That's why I think that the side effects of intermittent, cycled GH use are not a major concern. Hope that helps.