Have you heard of human growth hormone (HGH) secretagogues?  A Secretagoue is a substance which causes individuals to secrete increased levels of a natuural sustance produced by their body; in this case the natural substance is HGH.  The value of increasing HGH can br understood by examining the hormone's functions, which include maintaining the immune system, stimulating muscle growth through amino acid sparing and promotion of amino acid transport into the muscle cells, and burning fat from fat cells.1

So what substances, you may ask, support the HGH secretagogue function? The answer is Mucuna pruriens, Alpha-GPC, and Bacopa monniera.

Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, commonly known as velvet bean, has been used by Ayurvedic practioners for centuries in the management of Parkinson's disease and nervous debility. It hqas also been used in formulations to control depression and improve mental alertness.2   Among other natural phytochemicals, Mucuna also contains L-Dopa (1-dihydroxphenylalanine).3  It may be the L-Dopa content that provides much of Mucuna's benefits. These benefits include the reduction of cholesterol and blood sugar levels in experimental models.4  Another primary benefit of L-Dopa, is that it is a very effective growth hormone secretagoue. This has been clearly demonstrated in both animal research, 5 6 and some human research.7 In one particularly interesting study, L-Dopa was able to restore growth hormone pulses and elevate the average plasma growth hormone in old male rats to levels present in young male rats.8

Alpha GPC

To understand how Alpha- GPc works, you must first understand that HGH secretion is under complex neurotransmitter and hormonal control. For example, a hormone called growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) is released from the hypothalamus which in turn stimulates HGH secretion from the pituitary. On the other hand, the hypothalamic horme somatostatin inhibits HGH release. With aging, the imbalance between stimulatory (GHRH) and inhibitory (somatostatin) activities on HGH secretion leads to an enhanced somatostatin action and a decreased GH release.

Part of the reason for thid imbalance is a concurrent decrease in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.9 As it turns out, acetylcholine neurotransmittion has been shown to play an important role in the control of HGH secretion from the pituitary. Anticholinergic drugs(i.e., drugs that decrease acetylcholine activity)) have been shown to diminsh HGH response, while drugs able to increase acetylcholine transmission are potentiate the stimulatory effect of GHRH 10 11  through a decrease of somatostain release. Increasing GHRH, by decreasing somatostatin release is a novel approach to increasing HGH levels.

Enter Alpha GPC. Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) is an acetylcholine precursor. Research has demonstrated that Alpha-GPC increases acetylchoine release.12

In a follow-up study, Alpha-GPC was tested in 10 normal elderly subjects (aged 79.4+or _ 1.7 years). The subjects were given GHRH with 2 grams of Alph-GPC. The results demonstrated that with GHRH, HGH responses were significantly higher than those found after GHRH alone, but not significantly different from those seen in the elderly subjects who received 1 gram of Alpha-GPC. This suggeststhat a maximal potentiation of GHRH-induced GH responses could be achieved bt the lower dose.14 The result of these two Alpha_GPC studies show that this natural substance has exciting potential to help promote HGH release in both young and old.

Bacopa monniera

The herb Bacopa monniera plays any in direct but supportive role in regard to HGH. Here's how: As you read in the previous discussion on Alph-GPC, neurotransmitters play an important role in the control of HGH secretion from the pituitary. The brain cells, or neurons, which release and receive neurotrnsmitters must be in good shape, and must function properly for this to take place. Reasearch in India has shown that bacosides, the active components in Bacopa, help to repair damaged neurons by addins "muscle" to kinase the protein in the synthesis of new neurons to replace the old ones.15 Reduced neuron activity is thus restored, which may ultimately support HGH function.

Mucuna pruriens, Alpha-GPC & Bacopa monniera together

Of course all of this sounds very promising, but you may be wondering if there's any reseach that shows if a combination of Mucuna pruriens, Alpha- GPC, and Bacopa monniera will actually have the desired effect on HGH release. The answer is yes.

In a study conducted at a major university, HGH responses were compared in weight-trained men who performed squats. Thirty minutes prior to each squat session, the subjects took either a formula containing Mucuna, Alpha-GPC and Bacopa, or they took a placebo. The results were that the squats alone increased peak HGH levels by 800%. Now as amazing as this may sound, you should know that intense exercise of this nature generally causes this type of HGH release. What is more interesting, is that those who toot the formula in addition to doing the squats experienced a 1600% increase in HGH. Furthermore, the total HGH release during the entire recovery period was also significantly enhanced in those using the formula. 16

References

1 Turner,CD., General endocrinology, 4th edition. (1966), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia. pp. 132-3.

2. Singh RH, Nath SK, Behere PB, Journal of reseach in Ayurveda and Siddha (1989) 1(1):1-6.

3. Manyam BV, et al, The Journal of Altenative and Complementary Medicine (1995) 1(3):249-255.

4. Akhtar MS. et al, Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association (1990) 40(7):147-50

5. Esquifino AI, et al,Life Sciences (1987) 41(8):1043-50.

6. Chambers JW, Brown GM, Endocrinologhy (1976) 98(2):420-8

7. Del Valle Nunez CJ, et al, Anales espanoles de pediatria(1976) 9(2):174-9.

8. Sonntag WE, Neuroendocrinology (1982) 34(3):163-8.

9. Gibson G., et al, Science (1981) 213: 674-6.

10.Massara, F., et al, Neuroendocrinology(1986) 43::: 670-5

11. Ceda, G., et al,Acta Endocrinol (1991) 124: 516-20

12. Ceda, G., et al,Horm Metab Res (1992) 24: 119-21

13. Ibid

14. Bercu, B and R. Walker (Eds), Growth Hormone II Basic and Clinical Aspects (1993) Serono Symposia, Springer-Verlag, New York. pp. 328-37

15. Chhachhi, V, Business Today (1996) March 22-April 6 issue: 18.

16. Ziegenfuss T, Mendel R. Acute hormonal responses to a novel botanical compound. Presented at the American Society fo Exercise Physiology National Meeting in Memphis, September 2001.

Re printed by permission By Gene Bruno BS,CN

cFifty-Ninth Street Bridge Pubblishing Corp

not intended as medical advice. not for diagnosis and treatment of any disease or medical condition, consult your physican