Home Biomarkers Growth Hormone

Growth Hormone

Hormones Biomarker

Sample Needed

Collection Type: Blood

Body System

Related System: Hormones

Overview

Growth hormone (GH, somatotropin) is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates linear growth, protein synthesis, and influences carbohydrate and fat metabolism through direct action and by increasing IGF‑1 production in the liver. A serum GH test measures circulating GH but because GH is secreted in short pulses (highest at night and during sleep/exercise), single random values are hard to interpret. The test is used when pituitary disorders are suspected GH deficiency (short stature, poor growth in children; low energy, reduced muscle mass in adults) or GH excess (gigantism in children; acromegaly in adults: enlarged hands/feet, facial changes, headaches). GH levels vary with age (higher in children and adolescence), sex, puberty, sleep, nutritional state, obesity (suppresses GH), stress and certain medications.

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Test Preparation

Fasting may be required in some labs

Why Do I Need This Test

Profile: Hormones (pituitary/hormonal evaluation) - Symptoms prompting test: poor linear growth in children, increasing shoe/ring size, coarse facial features, unexplained fatigue, decreased muscle mass, osteoporosis, headaches/visual changes.
Diagnoses/monitoring: detects/monitors GH deficiency and GH excess (acromegaly/gigantism), evaluates pituitary function after tumor, surgery or radiation.
Causes of abnormal levels: pituitary adenoma (excess), hypothalamic/pituitary injury or radiation, systemic illness, obesity, certain drugs.
Biological meaning: high GH → tissue overgrowth, metabolic dysregulation; low GH → impaired growth/metabolism.
Lifestyle/factors: sleep, exercise, fasting, hypoglycemia, obesity, steroids, estrogen can alter GH.
Family history: pituitary tumors, familial acromegaly or MEN syndromes.

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Understanding Test Results

Because GH secretion is pulsatile, interpretation uses clinical context and dynamic testing.
General guidance: Low/baseline low (consistently very low or failure to stimulate): peak GH on stimulation testing <3 ng/mL in adults (some labs use <5 ng/mL) suggests GH deficiency; in children a normal stimulated peak is typically >10 ng/mL (values below the lab‑specific cut-off indicate deficiency and explain short stature/poor growth).
Normal: random/basal values within the range above do not exclude pathology due to pulsatility; normal suppression on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) nadir GH <1.0 ng/mL (many modern assays use <0.4 ng/mL) effectively rules out GH excess.
High/excess: persistently elevated random GH (e.g., >5 ng/mL) or failure to suppress GH during OGTT (nadir ≥1.0 ng/mL, or ≥0.4 ng/mL depending on assay) suggests GH excess/acromegaly and warrants IGF‑1 measurement and pituitary imaging.
Transient GH rises occur with exercise, stress, hypoglycemia, sleep and some medications; obesity and uncontrolled diabetes can blunt GH responses and mimic low GH.
Final diagnosis requires correlation with symptoms, age‑adjusted IGF‑1 levels, and confirmatory stimulation or suppression tests.

Normal Range

0.4-10 ng/mL

FAQs

Q: What is the growth hormone?

A: Growth hormone (GH or somatotropin) is a pituitary gland hormone that stimulates body growth, cell reproduction and regeneration. It promotes bone and muscle growth, increases protein synthesis, and mobilizes fat for energy while affecting glucose metabolism. GH is released in pulses controlled by hypothalamic signals (GHRH and somatostatin). Deficiency or excess causes growth disorders such as short stature or acromegaly.

Q: How can I increase growth hormones?

A: To raise natural growth hormone: prioritize 7–9 hours of quality sleep and strict sleep hygiene; do regular resistance training and high‑intensity interval workouts; try intermittent fasting or avoid late‑night eating; lose excess body fat and limit sugar and alcohol; manage stress to lower cortisol; ensure adequate protein, vitamin D and zinc; avoid chronic overeating. Consult your clinician before major changes.

Q: What are the side effects of growth hormones?

A: Growth hormone therapy can cause fluid retention (swelling), joint and muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and injection-site reactions. It may raise blood glucose and insulin resistance, increasing diabetes risk, and can cause headaches, increased intracranial pressure with visual changes, and possible worsening of scoliosis in children. Rarely it may influence cancer growth or cause abnormal bone growth; monitoring by a physician is essential.

Q: Is HGH make you taller?

A: Human growth hormone (HGH) can increase height when given to children with confirmed growth-hormone deficiency or certain medical conditions before their growth plates close. It does not make healthy children taller than their genetic potential, and it cannot increase height in adolescents or adults once growth plates have fused. Treatment must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor because of potential risks and side effects.

Q: What age is growth hormone highest?

A: Growth hormone levels are highest during childhood and peak during puberty (adolescence), especially around rapid growth spurts. Secretion occurs in large nighttime pulses during deep sleep. After puberty, GH production gradually declines through adulthood and falls substantially with advancing age, so levels are much lower by middle and older adulthood. This decline influences muscle mass, bone density and metabolism.

Q: Is high growth hormone good?

A: High growth hormone levels are not generally good. Short-term rises during sleep, exercise, or puberty are normal and beneficial. Chronically elevated GH (from tumours or misuse) causes gigantism in children or acromegaly in adults, and increases risks of diabetes, heart disease, joint problems and organ enlargement. Excess GH needs medical evaluation and treatment.