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More Hormones - Growth HormonesA. Growth HormoneGrowth is a complex process and
requires the coordination of several hormones of which
the main one is growth hormone. It is produced by
the pituitary gland and acts on the
liver, stimulating
it to produce another hormone. It is this second hormone,
which directly affects the growth of bone and muscle.
Growth hormone also helps to control the body´s
use of proteins,
carbohydrates and fats.
Babies´ length, mass and head size are routinely measured during the first few months of life. Growth problems may be highlighted when the results are plotted on Average Growth Charts, although such charts are used only as a guide. 
Growth Hormone DeficiencyIn children, if there is not
enough growth hormone, growth does not happen at the
normal rate and this can result in dwarfism. The treatment
for this deficiency is to give the child growth hormone
which, nowadays, is produced by genetic engineering.
Excessive secretion of Growth Hormone If too much growth hormone
is produced in childhood, then giantism results.
The most famous case of giantism is that of Robert
Wadlow. He weighed a normal 8.5 pounds at birth
but by 5 years of age he weighed 7.5 stones and
was 5 ft 4 tall. As an adult he weighed 35 stones
and was 8 ft 11 tall. He died aged 22 years.
Extremes in height (dwarfism and giantism) can also be inherited from parents in the genes. Too much growth hormone in adults results in a disease called acromegaly in which there is an overgrowth of bone giving the person a change of appearance. This happens slowly over a long period of time. The Future for Growth HormoneGenetic engineering means that
there is a plentiful supply of growth hormone for
everyone who needs it. Growth hormone might have a
role in anti-aging treatments and this is being researched
at present. The cow version, bovine growth hormone,
and the pig version, porcine growth hormone, have
been used in animals to increase yields of milk and
of leaner meat without any harmful effects on humans
who eat the meat.
Robert Wadlow in 1936 next to his brother
Photo used with permission of
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