Cycle 2 – Module 3 – Growth hormone and IGF-1 supplementation

The third module on growth hormone & IGF-1 supplementation consists of 6 courses, 1 extra learning material, and, 12h34 of videos.
Each of the six courses is available for life, including 1 video lecture, 1 PDF learning support, and 1 scientific reference file.

Each course can be purchased individually by clicking on the titles below.

1. Growth hormone deficiency (2h02)
   You will learn everything on :
   • The importance of GH not only for the adult body but also for the adult mind.
   • The daily GH production and the crucial stimulation by GH of the production of IGF-1, which exerts many of GH’s effects. The daily production of GH declines quickly with aging, suggesting a high frequency of GH deficiency in adults over age 30-35.
   • The diagnosis of GH deficiency based on: questionnaires and an interview that examine the patient’s antecedents, psychological and physical complaints, the presence of adverse factors, events, and diseases that can be facilitated by GH deficiency,  Laboratory tests and Therapeutic trial.
   • Physical signs of GH deficiency in adults: signs of premature aging, including tissue atrophy, skin and muscle sagging, fat accumulation at all levels of the body: scalp hair, face, trunk, abdomen, limbs, including hands and feet, joints, etc.
   • Scientific studies that show various diseases to be associated with low IGF-1 levels.
   • Which laboratory tests to request: serum (particularly serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3), 24-hour urine (GH), and how to interpret them with an overview of studies showing low serum IGF-1 levels within the reference range to be associated with various diseases and higher mortality.
2. Growth hormone treatment (3h03)
   You will learn everything on :
   • The science of administering GH to patients, including the indications for GH treatment.
   • How to inject, and how to start at lower GH doses.
   • The importance of a good follow-up with many pictures of adults before and after growth hormone treatment showing how GH changes the whole body appearance and specific areas, such as scalp hair, face, cheeks, lips, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, nails, abdomen, back, thighs, and feet.
   • GH overdose signs that physicians must check to avoid the development of more persistent overdose tissue changes in the patient.
   • Optimizing GH’s effects and levels, the major dietary adjustments (such as avoiding alcohol, and increasing meat & fish intake, for example), and how to adjust GH doses in case of stress, infection, arthritis, myocardial infarction, etc., are reviewed with the scientific data.
   • The scientific evidence that shows how supplements of other hormones can increase or decrease GH and IGF-1 levels, and how GH treatment can imbalance other hormone systems, learning physicians practically how to overcome such imbalances.
   • GH fragments, fragments of the larger GH molecule that have specific actions such as fat reduction, without some of GH’s possible adverse effects on the sugar levels, for example. For the two most important ones, AOD9401 (GH fragment 176-191) and AOD9604 (GH fragment 177-191), doses, route of administration, effects on disease (obesity, osteoarthritis, etc.), safety, presence on WADA doping list, and other information is presented.
3. IGF-1 deficiency: diagnosis & treatment (1h44)
   You will learn everything on :
   • IGF-: structure, its major importance, actions, including its potential to reverse aging, production, serum levels, and the age-related decline in IGF-1 levels.
   • The differences between childhood and adult IGF-1 deficiencies, as well as between the beneficial effects of GH and IGF-1.
   • The diagnosis of IGF-1 deficiency based on questionnaires and an interview on personal antecedents and psychological and physical complaints, the presence of adverse factors, events, and diseases that can be facilitated by IGF-1 deficiency, laboratory tests, and a therapeutic trial.
   • The scientific studies that show a variety of diseases and higher mortality are associated with a decline in serum IGF-1 levels.
   • The laboratory tests that should be requested to confirm the diagnosis taking into account that many low serum IGF-1 levels within the reference range are associated with the disease.
   • The fact that IGF-1 deficiency can be treated in some younger adults by providing GH, but in older adults, IGF-1 itself should be provided.
   • The indications for IGF-1 treatment, doses, products, routes and time of administration, storage, legality, dose adjustments for specific medical conditions, and overdose signs, are explained in this session.
   • How to further optimize the skills of physicians in IGF-1 treatment, how and which other hormone supplements may increase IGF-1 levels or effects are explained. These explanations include information on the synergy between GH and IGF-1. A good review of the diseases that have been shown to respond positively to IGF-1 treatment is exposed to the scientific references of these trials.
   • Long-acting IGF-1, MGF (mechano growth factor) in adults. Long-acting IGF-1 and (pegylated) MGF are compared with IGF-1. Doses and routes of administration are explained.
   • The beneficial effects of long-acting IGF-1 and MGF on disease, their safety, presence on the WADA doping list, and other information are examined here.
4. Growth hormone & IGF-1 beneficial effects in disease (part 1) (2h17)
   You will learn everything on :
   • GH problems due to overdose or insufficient doses, by change of other endocrine systems, or due to an incorrect application of subcutaneous injections and how to overcome these issues.
   • The beneficial effects of higher GH/IGF-1 levels and GH/IGF-1 treatments on physiological conditions and disease with abundant scientific studies.
   • Observational studies and clinical trials that show or suggest the potent effects of GH and IGF-1 to reduce aging, increase skin thickness, enlarge and improve the reproductive system, improve health and the quality of life, reduce fatigue and many other psychological symptoms and disorders, including anxiety, depression and memory loss.
   • Data that suggests significant beneficial effects of GH and/or IGF-1 to oppose Alzheimer’s disease, potently reduce traumatic brain injury syndrome, reduce substance abuse, avoid perinatal retinopathy, reduce obesity, improve body composition, metabolism, and reduce diabetes, hypoglycemia, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and bone fractures, etc.
5. Growth hormone & IGF-1 beneficial effects in disease (part 2) (2h13)
   You will learn everything on :
   • The beneficial effects of higher GH/IGF-1 levels and GH/IGF-1 treatments on disease and longevity with abundant scientific studies.
   • Observational studies and clinical trials that show or suggest the potent effects of GH and IGF-1 to reduce hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke.
   • Data that suggests significant beneficial effects of GH and/or IGF-1 to oppose and attenuate inflammatory bowel–liver–kidney disease and improve the outcome of immune deficiency states, viral and bacterial infections, and sepsis.
   • Many studies that suggest protective effects of GH and/or IGF-1 on cancer: some studies in breast cancer (although there is conflicting data), cervix and endometrial cancers, prostate cancer, and colon cancer (rather adverse effects but then decreases in rectum cancer), etc.
   • The promising effects of GH and IGF-1 on longevity with explanations for the conflicting data of one GH trial in patients with a critical illness.
6. Patient cases with GH and IGF-1 treatments (1h15)
   You will learn everything on :
   • • The beneficial effects of higher GH/IGF-1 levels and GH/IGF-1 treatments on disease and longevity with abundant scientific studies.
     • The application of the knowledge learned in the other sessions of the module with growth hormone and/or IGF-1 treatments.
     • Helping the physician to apply his or her knowledge and acquire experience in diagnosing growth hormone and IGF-1 deficiencies based on medical history, symptoms, signs, and laboratory tests.
     • Selecting adequate GH or IGF-1 supplementations for his or her patient.
     • These patient cases are a must for the module as they provide practical information on how to apply well the theory and recommendations proposed in the previous sessions.
7. Additional learning material: IGF-1 and Growth hormone controversies
   

Explore an overview of the course in the video below: