GROWTH HORMONE AND CONTROL OF GROWTH
Several hormones are involved in regulating growth. Some act directly on target organs, while others act by triggering the production of other hormones, which activate specific organ functions necessary for growth. This finely tuned system can malfunction in several ways, causing abnormal growth.
The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because it produces several hormones that control the functions of other glands. It is located in the middle of the skull below the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland has two distinct parts: An anterior (front) lobe and a posterior (rear) lobe. The pituitary gland secretes its hormones in response to chemical messages from the hypothalamus, the part of the brain to which it is connected.
Growth hormone is an anterior pituitary hormone whose main effect is to promote growth of body tissues. Other anterior pituitary hormones affect growth indirectly by working through other glands. These other hormones include:
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - causes the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone, which regulates body metabolism and is essential for normal growth.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) - causes the adrenal glands to produce cortisol (stress hormone) and other hormones that enable the body to respond to stress. Too much cortisol will cause growth failure in a child.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - cause the sex glands (ovaries or testes) to produce sex hormones, which are necessary for adolescent sexual development and the growth spurt that accompanies puberty.
The major hormone produced by the posterior pituitary gland -is called vasopressin, or anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). It controls water output through the kidneys.
Some people can benefit from using a growth supplement in their diet. This can nourish the metabolismic system into producing maximum levels of GH and it turn triggering our body to grow taller and faster than without.
