The use of growth hormones has become a necessity for some people who wants to stay young and healthy. The increasing popularity of these anti-aging drugs has enticed a lot of health conscious people. This is also intensified by a lot of pharmaceutical companies advertising growth hormones not as drug used for medical purposes but as a drug used for vanity. The many benefits promised by growth hormones did not only focus on the slowing of the aging process but it also becomes an elixir of some professional athletes because of its rejuvenating effects and significant help in the recovery from injuries.

A professor from the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas T Perls, is one of the few experts who are vocal against the use of these growth hormones aside from its major use, to treat medical conditions. He wrote in a medical journal that he is not in favor in marketing these hormones, particularly growth hormone and anabolic steroids for anti-aging.

Dr. Perls also commended the American Medical Association (AMA) in publishing a recent study on the efficacy and safety of these anti-aging drugs. The Council on Science and Public Health of AMA conducted a study “The Use of Hormones for “Anti-Aging”: A Review of Efficacy and Safety”. The study made an assessment of the risks and benefits of growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen and DHEA for anti-aging. “The AMA’s review of the risks and benefits of these hormones in the setting of anti-aging and athletic enhancement is very important given its inclusion of the consensus and position statements of the key professional medical societies as well as the federal agencies that guard public health,” Perls said.

The doctor is worried on the current situation of the proliferation of anti-aging drugs both synthetic and natural forms. These are commonly called as bio-identical or all-natural hormones. Some products which have an estrogen like effects comes from vegetable extract like soy or yams. This may have similar properties with growth hormones but there were little clinical trials that will prove its efficacy. “The terms bio-identical or all-natural, particularly in the case of the drugs prescribed by endocrinologists, misleadingly convey a sense of safety to the gullible customer,” said Perls.

Based on the assessment of the American Medical Association, the risk outweighs the benefits claimed by these anti-aging drugs. The doctor also advises other medical practioner to explain to their patient the advantages and disadvantages of these drugs and educates them in their pursuit of healthy aging.

Dr. Thomas T Perls is an associate professor in medicine at Boston University Medical School. He also works as a geriatrician at the Boston Medical Center. Dr. Perls has been active in the study of aging and heads the study on the New England Centenarian Study (NECS) which is being funded by the National Institute on Aging. The institute is the largest genetic and social study of centenarians (100-year-olds) and their families worldwide. He also founded the People’s Genetics and Elixir Pharmaceuticals. One of the contributions of Dr. Perls in the medical field is the development of the life expectancy calculator.

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