Controversies of Growth Hormone: Does GH Cause Cancer and Does GH Reverse Aging

Edwin N. Lee, M.D., FACE

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Orlando, FL; Founder, Institute for Hormonal Balance, Orlando, FL; Member, AMMG Conference Planning Committee

There are 2 recent controversies on the use of growth hormone. The first controversy is the link of cancer and growth hormone. The history of growth hormone will be reviewed. In addition, subsets of population (children and adults on GH, Laron syndrome (Low IGF-1) and acromegalics (high IGF-1) will be analyzed for the risk of cancer. The second controversy of growth hormone is it good or detrimental to aging? On one side of the argument increasing IGF-1 levels is considered the fountain of youth. The other side of the argument is that growth hormone (in acromegaly) can accelerate the aging process. Data will be reviewed on both sides of this area of controversy, including the new study of growth hormone reversing aging.