What you Need to Know About Growth Hormones for Kids

Growth Hormones for Kids image of Doctor measuring boy on height chart

What causes Short Stature?

The stature of a child is all dependent upon the functionality of their hormones. In the case of a normal child, they have an abundance of growth hormone being released, and they tend to grow at a rapid rate. However, growth hormone release in kids tends to vary. In the worst of cases, growth hormone deficiency in children can cause stunted or interrupted development. 

This then leads to gains in size that are well below average. And in some of these cases, it can also lead to kids feeling inadequate and self-conscious. This is why it is so important to have your child hitting on all cylinders as early as possible. And it all starts in the head—literally. 

What is Constitutional Growth Delay?

Constitutional growth delay (CGD) is a condition characterized by short stature. It is generally diagnosed in children who are significantly shorter than their peers, but who are otherwise healthy and growing at a normal rate. CGD is thought to be caused by a delayed onset of puberty, which results in a temporary period of slower growth. In most cases, CGD is not due to any underlying medical condition and will resolve itself over time. However, in some cases, CGD may be caused by a growth hormone deficiency, which will require treatment with hormone therapy in order to improve growth.

How Growth Hormone is Produced

Growth hormone, also known as human growth hormone or HGH for short stature, is created in the small gland that sits in the center of the head at the bottom of the brain called the pituitary gland. Although it is small, it is very powerful and VERY needed for normal growing. 

Oftentimes, growth hormone deficiency in child disease is the culprit that keeps a kid on the shorter side and prevents them from having the growth spurt experienced by other children of the same age. The good news is, this condition is usually not life-threatening, but it can definitely take its toll on the subject who’s experiencing it. 

One of the best ways to stop this from happening and boost HGH for kids is through medical intervention. But this then begs another important question

 

What is the Best Age to Start Growth Hormone Treatment?

Overall, the objective is to use growth hormones for kids to increase the height in children. Once they become adults, the focus is often shifted more toward the other benefits associated with human growth hormone like muscle gain, muscle strength, more energy and mood elevation. 

But at its core, HGH for children or Growth Hormones for Kids is mainly looked at as a booster for height. And with that being the case, it is in your best interest to know when the perfect timing is. Simply put, you want to think in terms of the younger the better. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean 2 or 3 years old. But an average rule of thumb would be around the 10-year-old mark, and here’s a bit more information to bring to the table on this. 

Puberty usually occurs in the early to mid-teen days. This is where growth plates of the body start to close and changes occur like body hair starts to increase, muscle begins to build and voices become deepened. Plus, sex drive starts to really get revved up. 

In the case of growth hormone for kids, the goal is to get treatment before puberty begins. It is at this stage when the growth plates close that the body will no longer utilize exogenous HGH to promote growth in children. And just in case you were unaware, the word “exogenous” means that something comes from an external source. 

All this being said, although 10 years old might be the average, you can make a judgement call of your own, based on your child’s size. If he or she is severely under the normal range compared to other kids, then it is a good idea to seek out treatment. Like mentioned before, the earlier they get treated, the better long-term result will be.

But at its core, HGH for children is mainly looked at as a booster for height. And with that being the case, it is in your best interest to know when the perfect timing is. Simply put, you want to think in terms of the younger the better.

That doesn’t necessarily mean 2 or 3 years old. But an average rule of thumb would be around the 10-year-old mark, and here’s a bit more information to bring to the table on this.

Puberty usually occurs in the early to mid-teen days. This is where growth plates of the body start to close and changes occur like body hair starts to increase, muscle begins to build and voices become deepened. Plus, sex drive starts to really get revved up.

In the case of HGH for kids, the goal is to get treatment before puberty begins. It is at this stage when the growth plates close that the body will no longer utilize exogenous hgh for children to promote growth. And just in case you were unaware, the word “exogenous” means that something comes from an external source.

All this being said, although 10 years old might be the average, you can make a judgement call of your own, based off your child’s size. If he or she is severely under the normal range compared to other kids, then it is a good idea to seek out treatment. Like mentioned before, the earlier they get treated, the better long-term result will be.

How to Test for Growth Hormone Deficiency in Child

When you feel your child has growth hormone deficiency, it is best to schedule an appointment with a specialist who will go through a series of tests to determine the severity of the situation. Here at HGH Vallarta, we have a world-class team of doctors and caregivers to ensure everything runs smoothly.

The first line of examination involves an x-ray of the left hand and wrist. This gives a good determination of how fast or slow the bones are growing and it acts as a good indicator whether growth hormone is being produced properly or not. This is often referred to as a bone-age x-ray.

Next, a blood draw is often taken to see where a child’s level of IGF-1 lies. This stands for insulin-like growth factor-1 and it’s a predictor of the amount of growth hormone flowing through the body. If it is extremely low, then it’s a sign that there is a deficiency.

Other things like family history, a CT scan, an MRI and an update of your child’s past health issues are tools used to determine the overall severity of deficiency.

Blue and white box of Omnitrope 15mg Injectable Solution with Blue Omintrope SurePal 15 Syringe

How can I Increase Growth Hormones For Kids

There is a way to tap into natural growth hormone for child height increases and it centers around food and lifestyle. There is plenty of research out there stating that specific foods and daily actions can boost HGH in adults. But only some of these smoking guns should be utilized for children. The growth hormones for kids are considered to be very important.

Intermittent fasting, for example, is a great way to boost human growth hormone in adults. And when you work out in a fasted state, it can elevate even more. But this is not advised for children under 18 years of age.

Losing body fat though is an option worth looking into. If your child happens to be overweight or obese and has a deficiency in HGH, then this is definitely a good direction to go. In this case, exercise in any way, shape or form would pay big dividends.

Sleep is another thing to consider. The importance of getting a good night’s sleep every night of the week cannot be stressed enough. If your child stays up late, watching TV, playing video games or fumbling around on social media, it can take a very big toll on human growth hormone levels.

It is best to shut down the brain and body at a decent hour and try to have them get a solid 8 hours of sleep. It is during this phase of the circadian cycle that reparation takes place and key hormones like HGH for kids are being produced.

Another thing you should be leery of is late-night eating. Especially when it involves highly processed carbohydrates like ice cream, cakes, cookies, potato chips and cereal. All of these foods spike blood sugar levels, which cause the body to produce a high amount of insulin.

When insulin rises, the body goes into fat-storage mode. But more importantly, growth hormone drops to very low levels. That is the last thing you want to happen to a child with pre-existing low HGH levels to start with.

Additionally, the metabolism of the body slows way down at night, which can further produce weight gain. As mentioned above, excess weight causes human growth hormone levels to drop.

And to expand on the bad carbs theory, it is in your best interest to feed your child high-quality, clean food in general. The goal here is to get a good amount of healthy protein, carbs and fat. This equates to lean meats, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains.

All of the main macronutrients are represented here and they allow the body’s natural mechanisms to work properly. A big part of this is hormone balancing and optimization. A diet high in fast food, junk food and foods that have ingredients that you cannot pronounce is counterproductive and can exacerbate the problem.

Lastly, there are some specific foods that can have a profound effect on HGH release in the body. One of which is fava beans. They have a substance in them called L-dopa that has shown a positive effect on HGH increase.

When consumed, L-dopa sends a signal to the pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone for kids. And as an added benefit, this has been known to help Parkinson’s patients reduce their symptoms. But, of course, this won’t apply to children.

You might also want to consider giving your child pineapple and raspberries, especially in their last meal of the day. Both have been known to boost HGH naturally in kids. But more importantly, they help boost melatonin, which helps aid sleep.

Does HGH Make Children Taller?

The short answer here, (no pun intended), is yes! In fact, it is not out of the question for children to see a 2-inch increase spread out over a 6-month period of time. Obviously, this varies amongst kids and it also hinges on how well you follow the recommended treatment strategy. But, as with anything else, you will get out of it what you put into it. So always make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to a tee.

Can you Take HGH at Any Age?

Although this article is centered around growth hormone for kids, adults are not left out of the equation. They often need it just as bad as children. The main difference is, the need for it evolves over time. It’s sort of completely in reverse of children.

Much like the sister hormone of HGH known as testosterone, both start to decline with age—around 30 years old is when this pattern tends to start to be exact. Some adults suffer a sharper decline than others and some people have such a negative effect that they have a hard time getting through a normal day. It is then that medical intervention is sought after.

So overall, any age group can get HGH injections and treatment, but it really boils down to the severity of the situation. And remember the rule with younger children. It is best to get them treated before puberty and before their growth plates close.

As for older adults, there really is no exact age that they should not get injections. However, there is a time when they probably won’t benefit from them any more if their body becomes physically incapable of doing certain activities. It would be another judgment call in this case.

Can I Give my Kid HGH?

In the big picture, you can’t just get HGH and administer it to your kid. Well, actually, you technically “can” obtain HGH on the black market and give it to your kid or even take it yourself. But this is as unethical and dangerous as it is illegal. So to answer this question, yes, you CAN give your kid HGH. But you need to follow a series of steps that is best for you and them.

Always start out with a thorough examination. Make sure they are x-rayed, have the proper blood tests done and have a background medical history run on them. Then, once all the results are in, you will know exactly how to move forward with the proper treatment approach.

The Expense of Growth Hormone For Kids

It should come as no surprise to you that growth hormone treatment cost can be exorbitant. But you also have to think into the future here. In order to achieve something great, it takes a lot of work, sacrifice and dedication. When it comes to having optimal health through growth hormone optimization for you or especially the human growth hormone for child, you have to consider that there will be a cost involved.

But there is good news behind all of this. At our facility here in Mexico, we charge very fair prices and have top of the line hormones from all the major pharmaceutical companies. In fact, you can come visit us with your child and pay a fraction of what you’ll be charged at a conventional clinic in the states. And that includes travel expenses too.

You should also be aware that your child’s weight will have something to do with what you’ll pay for treatment. The HGH dosage is based on how much your child weighs.  If they are lighter, they won’t require as much human growth hormone, which translates to less money being paid.

This also makes it a good idea to have them tested as young as possible when they are unusually smaller by default. Especially if you believe they have a deficiency.

Overall, you will always be taken care of with the best of intentions at HGH Vallarta from the minute you walk through the doors. We make sure the process is as safe, smooth and discreet as possible and we look forward to working with you.

Endocrinologist: Growth Horomones for Kids