Human growth hormone is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and consists of 191 amino acids. It is the most important growth-promoting hormone in the body. The growth of children’s height is mainly achieved by the division and proliferation of cells in the cartilage plate between the backbone and epiphysis of long bones, and it is this division and proliferation of cartilage cells that growth hormone has a significant role in promoting. At puberty, growth hormone, in concert with sex hormones, further causes rapid height growth. Growth hormone also has a significant role in promoting protein synthesis, so it also has a significant role in promoting the growth of various organs and tissues in the body. Synthetic growth hormone has exactly the same chemical structure as the growth hormone produced by the human pituitary gland. Appropriate use of growth hormone as replacement therapy can significantly promote height growth and improve the growth and development of various organs and tissues throughout the body of the affected child.
Glucocorticoid is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. Under normal physiological conditions, it has an important role in regulating the metabolism of nutrients and the functions of various organs in the body, and is one of the hormones necessary for maintaining life. These drugs have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and immunosuppressive effects. However, when some diseases must be treated with glucocorticoids for a long time, they can slow down growth.
Sex hormones are several steroid hormones secreted by the gonads and the adrenal cortex. At this time, if food or drugs containing sex hormones are consumed in larger doses or for longer periods of time, they may cause early development of reproductive organs and sexual characteristics.
Growth hormone is completely different from glucocorticoids and sex hormones in terms of source, chemical structure, and physiological and pharmacological effects, so the proper use of growth hormone to treat short stature in children will not produce glucocorticoid or sex hormone-like effects and side effects.
After hearing the above introduction, parents and friends may have eliminated their fear of hormones, but the use of hormones must be under the guidance of a doctor. Parents who have various questions about hormone therapy should feel free to contact me, either by leaving a message online or by telephone.