Human growth hormone is a naturally occurring substance secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is essential for normal growth and development. Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland since birth and the levels peak around late adolescence. In the 2nd decade of life, the levels of growth hormone began to decline. For more than 40 years growth hormone has been available to treat specific medical disorders. However, in the past 3 decades, growth hormone mania has hit the market and everyone wants to take it. The middle aged and elderly seem to think GH can reverse aging, the young teenagers want to build their bodies, sports athletes want to perform better and the gigolos think it can build a bigger penis. Of all the drugs abused by sports athletes, Growth hormone probably ranks in the top three.
What type of Human Growth Hormone?
Human growth hormone, abbreviated as HGH, hGH and GH, is the hormone that activates cell production, growth, and metabolic processes within the human body. Secreted by the anterior pituitary, it is located just inside the base of the skull, GH is responsible for working in conjunction with other hormones in the body to stimulate and regulate proper human growth and development. GH levels generally reach their all time high at puberty and significantly decline around the age of 40.
Growth hormone is readily available from many health food stores and spas.
It is also widely available from many alternative care practitioners and also faith healers. The growth hormones is frequently sold under other names like Genotropin®, Humatrope®, Norditropin®, Nutropin®, Saizen®, Serostim®)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Repoxygen- the future of doping Part 3
If an individual does increase the mass of red blood cells with the gene, the potential side effects may include the following:
- The blood does become viscous as the mass of red cells is increased.
And this can clog up many small blood vessels. This could force the
heart to work harder and the blood can also be prone to clotting
- One can also develop a heart attack if the small blood vessels to the
heart get blocked
- A stroke can also occur for the same reasons
- Others could also develop a blood clot in the lungs
These risks are worsened manifold when the individual exercises and gets dehydrated.
Repoxygen is banned by all sports organizations. While gene therapy is making news in medicine, the science of illegal gene use in sports is still in infancy.
Even though scientists are working out how to detect this gene in the body just in case athletes start to abuse it, we are still a long ways off. Detection of genes is neither a cheap undertaking nor is it done with analysis of urine. For the moment, athletes who ever get access to this product will be safe for quite come time.
- The blood does become viscous as the mass of red cells is increased.
And this can clog up many small blood vessels. This could force the
heart to work harder and the blood can also be prone to clotting
- One can also develop a heart attack if the small blood vessels to the
heart get blocked
- A stroke can also occur for the same reasons
- Others could also develop a blood clot in the lungs
These risks are worsened manifold when the individual exercises and gets dehydrated.
Repoxygen is banned by all sports organizations. While gene therapy is making news in medicine, the science of illegal gene use in sports is still in infancy.
Even though scientists are working out how to detect this gene in the body just in case athletes start to abuse it, we are still a long ways off. Detection of genes is neither a cheap undertaking nor is it done with analysis of urine. For the moment, athletes who ever get access to this product will be safe for quite come time.
Repoxygen- the future of doping Part 2
There are some reports that a few European athletes may have injected themselves with this gene (or related product) to increase their red blood cell mass.
However, physiologically, if a person has a normal red cell count and normal oxygen concentration, the gene would not activate the release of EPO. The gene is only programmed to activate when it senses low oxygen. While there is some who say this is a poor choice for doping, the problem can easily be circumvented by tricking the gene.
There are some simple ways to make the gene sense low oxygen in the body. This is by working out in cold weather or taking pills of nitroglycerin or sodium thiocyanate. Nitroglycerin is a common drug used to treat patients who have angina.
However, this self regulation of the gene is simply a hypothetical concept and not proven in the laboratory or in any patient. As far as is known, injection of the gene will stimulate the production of EPO forever. Once the gene is inserted into the body, it is there for life.
However, physiologically, if a person has a normal red cell count and normal oxygen concentration, the gene would not activate the release of EPO. The gene is only programmed to activate when it senses low oxygen. While there is some who say this is a poor choice for doping, the problem can easily be circumvented by tricking the gene.
There are some simple ways to make the gene sense low oxygen in the body. This is by working out in cold weather or taking pills of nitroglycerin or sodium thiocyanate. Nitroglycerin is a common drug used to treat patients who have angina.
However, this self regulation of the gene is simply a hypothetical concept and not proven in the laboratory or in any patient. As far as is known, injection of the gene will stimulate the production of EPO forever. Once the gene is inserted into the body, it is there for life.
Repoxygen- the future of doping Part 1
Erythropoietin is a hormone which is released from the kidneys. Its function is to stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Repoxygen is the trade name for the gene that is claimed to increase the release of erythropoietin from the kidneys. The higher the number of red cells, the greater is the oxygen binding capacity of these cells. Theoretically, an increased in blood oxygen should lead to an increase in exercise performance.
The gene is still in the development stage and only used in animals; so far no human testing has been done. Oxford Biomedical has constructed a viral gene delivery vector which can carry the human EPO gene. The majority of these studies have been carried out in mice and are still in the infant stages. At least in animals the administration of the gene results in an increased in red blood cell mass.
In clinical medicine, Repoxygen will be used to treat cases of resistant anemia in individuals with renal failure. The researchers claim that the gene will be activated when the oxygen concentration in the blood is low and will turn itself off when the oxygen concentration has been replenished. It is believed that a similar gene plays a physiological role in the control of EPO from the kidneys.
The gene is still in the development stage and only used in animals; so far no human testing has been done. Oxford Biomedical has constructed a viral gene delivery vector which can carry the human EPO gene. The majority of these studies have been carried out in mice and are still in the infant stages. At least in animals the administration of the gene results in an increased in red blood cell mass.
In clinical medicine, Repoxygen will be used to treat cases of resistant anemia in individuals with renal failure. The researchers claim that the gene will be activated when the oxygen concentration in the blood is low and will turn itself off when the oxygen concentration has been replenished. It is believed that a similar gene plays a physiological role in the control of EPO from the kidneys.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Colostrum- Part 3
Medical benefits
There are a lot of studies showing that colostrum can prevent or cure a variety of infections. Conditions that have been treated with colostrum include colitis, diarrhea, constipation, upper respiratory tract infections, and throat problems. It is only infectious disorders that have benefited from colostrum; the product has not been shown to affect medical disorders like diabetes, obesity, or hypertension. Reports that colostrum can relieve diabetes, hypertension, cancer or any other medical disorder are false.
As far as body building and sports is concerned there is no evidence that colostrum does anything. However, there are studies which do show that athletes who take colostrum do not develop upper respiratory tract infections or virus related colds.
Status in Sport
Colostrum is considered a food substance and so is not prohibited under the the World Anti-Doping Code 2007 Prohibited List. There is no sporting agency which bans the use of colostrum in the USA.
Availability
Colostrum is widely available as a liquid or a powder. In the USA, the product is not regulated and is sold in many health food stores. All the colostrum available is produced naturally from cows and not synthesized.
Depending on what type of product one buys the cost varies. Some lozenges cost $ 20 for a 100 pills. Some powders (21 oz) cost nearly $90. Colostrum definitely is not a cheap product. For those who want to lead a healthy life style, one should simply eat a well balanced diet and exercise. For those who have money to burn, perhaps buying a cow may help. And then you will always have access to the first milk.
There are a lot of studies showing that colostrum can prevent or cure a variety of infections. Conditions that have been treated with colostrum include colitis, diarrhea, constipation, upper respiratory tract infections, and throat problems. It is only infectious disorders that have benefited from colostrum; the product has not been shown to affect medical disorders like diabetes, obesity, or hypertension. Reports that colostrum can relieve diabetes, hypertension, cancer or any other medical disorder are false.
As far as body building and sports is concerned there is no evidence that colostrum does anything. However, there are studies which do show that athletes who take colostrum do not develop upper respiratory tract infections or virus related colds.
Status in Sport
Colostrum is considered a food substance and so is not prohibited under the the World Anti-Doping Code 2007 Prohibited List. There is no sporting agency which bans the use of colostrum in the USA.
Availability
Colostrum is widely available as a liquid or a powder. In the USA, the product is not regulated and is sold in many health food stores. All the colostrum available is produced naturally from cows and not synthesized.
Depending on what type of product one buys the cost varies. Some lozenges cost $ 20 for a 100 pills. Some powders (21 oz) cost nearly $90. Colostrum definitely is not a cheap product. For those who want to lead a healthy life style, one should simply eat a well balanced diet and exercise. For those who have money to burn, perhaps buying a cow may help. And then you will always have access to the first milk.
Colostrum- Part 2
There is some controversy on when this colostrum is obtained from the cows. Some dealers get the colostrum as soon as the calf is delivered and others get it from the first breast milk from the cow. Some dealers claim that the active products in colostrum expire within 6- 12 hours if the milk is not obtained within this time.
Moreover, others claim that the first milk can be obtained any time. In reality cows deliver babies at any time. To get the colostrum, one has to start milking the cows right away. (remember colostrum is only available for the first few hours/days after delivery). And the only way to get this product is to milk the cow right away. And think- if the farmer is going to take the milk, how is the cow going to feed its infant?
Well, in reality many farmers kill the infant cow, sell the meat and keeping on milking the cow for the colostrum- sad but true.
Many stores claim that the colostrum has been obtained from the cow within the first 6 hours after birth of the infant cow. However, in reality this is not true. Does anyone really believe that a farmer is going to get up in the middle of the night to milk the cow just to get the colostrum for a bunch of crazy folks who were never breast fed as babies? And who knows how much colostrum is mixed in with the milk to make more profit. There are some reports which claim that much of the colostrum out on the market is just diluted powdered milk spiced up with some other stuff (remember the melamine story from china?). The reality is that the business of selling colostrum brings big money and where health foods are concerned, fakes and counterfeit are abundant.
The whole industry is unregulated and so people sell all sorts of craps- and the crazy thing is that there are even more crazier people who buy the products.
Moreover, others claim that the first milk can be obtained any time. In reality cows deliver babies at any time. To get the colostrum, one has to start milking the cows right away. (remember colostrum is only available for the first few hours/days after delivery). And the only way to get this product is to milk the cow right away. And think- if the farmer is going to take the milk, how is the cow going to feed its infant?
Well, in reality many farmers kill the infant cow, sell the meat and keeping on milking the cow for the colostrum- sad but true.
Many stores claim that the colostrum has been obtained from the cow within the first 6 hours after birth of the infant cow. However, in reality this is not true. Does anyone really believe that a farmer is going to get up in the middle of the night to milk the cow just to get the colostrum for a bunch of crazy folks who were never breast fed as babies? And who knows how much colostrum is mixed in with the milk to make more profit. There are some reports which claim that much of the colostrum out on the market is just diluted powdered milk spiced up with some other stuff (remember the melamine story from china?). The reality is that the business of selling colostrum brings big money and where health foods are concerned, fakes and counterfeit are abundant.
The whole industry is unregulated and so people sell all sorts of craps- and the crazy thing is that there are even more crazier people who buy the products.
Colostrum- Part 1
Colostrum and Consumers
Now the adult population (both men and women) have gone crazy over colostrum. Everyone wants to drink this first milk as if it was holy water. But is it good for the adult?
Recently there has been a lot of hype made about colostrum and many people have started to sell this product.
Colostrum which is available on the market today is derived from cows’ milk. There are 100s of colostrum products out on the market. Some are lyophilized into powders and others are available as a liquid. The majority contain extra proteins like casein and whey. The whey proteins contain a myriad of molecules including antibodies and IGF-1.
However, many other formulations have never been analyzed and the exact ingredients in each remain a mystery. However, one should not get too excited about the presence of IGF-1 and all the great immunoglobulins in colostrum. When these are taken orally by the adult, the stomach acidity inactivates the majority of proteins and immunogloubulins. So far, it is believed that no IGF-1 gets into the blood stream.
Now the adult population (both men and women) have gone crazy over colostrum. Everyone wants to drink this first milk as if it was holy water. But is it good for the adult?
Recently there has been a lot of hype made about colostrum and many people have started to sell this product.
Colostrum which is available on the market today is derived from cows’ milk. There are 100s of colostrum products out on the market. Some are lyophilized into powders and others are available as a liquid. The majority contain extra proteins like casein and whey. The whey proteins contain a myriad of molecules including antibodies and IGF-1.
However, many other formulations have never been analyzed and the exact ingredients in each remain a mystery. However, one should not get too excited about the presence of IGF-1 and all the great immunoglobulins in colostrum. When these are taken orally by the adult, the stomach acidity inactivates the majority of proteins and immunogloubulins. So far, it is believed that no IGF-1 gets into the blood stream.
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