54% of long COVID patients found to have growth hormone deficiency

[Hip]

A 2024 study found that 54% of long COVID have human growth hormone (HGH) deficiency, as well as other anterior pituitary gland hormonal deficiencies.

During an insulin tolerance test (the ITT, which is used to assess HGH levels), the study found that people who had fully recovered from their COVID infection reached an average HGH peak of 4.8 ng/ml, while the the long COVID patients had an average peak of 2.9 ng/ml.

According to this paper, levels below 5.1 ng/ml in the ITT are considered diagnostic for HGH deficiency.

So it is clear that many long COVID patients have reduced HGH levels that may be considered HGH deficient.

A 2024 study on long COVID patients with low HGH found that giving daily HGH injections improved their symptoms.

The ACE2 receptor which facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells is expressed within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis. So the virus may be infecting the pituitary gland responsible for secreting HGH.



Symptoms of Low Human Growth Hormone

Symptoms of low HGH include:

• Fatigue
• Lack of energy levels
• Reduced concentration
• Memory impairment
• Depressed mood
• Increased anxiety
• Emotional reactions
• Low self-Esteem
• Social isolation
• Lack of positive well being
• Increased body fat, particularly on abdomen
• Decreased muscle mass
• Decreased muscle function

Refs: here and here.



HGH Sources

Presumably long COVID patients with HGH deficiency might benefit from daily HGH injections. However, whether one can persuade their doctor to give a HGH test, and then prescribe some HGH if deficient, is another story. Note that HGH testing is not straightforward, as HGH is released into the bloodstream in pulses, so its level varies considerably from hour to hour.

You can buy injectable HGH on websites which sell to body-builders. However, you have to watch out for fake HGH and sub-standard products on the market. The site eroids.com reviews sellers of HGH. High quality but relatively inexpensive HGH brands include Jintropin and Hypertropin (not to be confused with Hygetropin which is medium quality).

An alternative to HGH injections potentially might be HGH fragment 191AA. This may be cheaper than HGH, and is available from peptide sellers. Furthermore it can be administered as an intranasal spray.

There are some differences between regular HGH and HGH 191AA, which are outlined here, and I am not entirely sure whether HGH 191AA can substitute for HGH in cases of deficiency, as there seems to be little information about HGH 191AA online. Though it is being sold at a number of peptide vendors, such as here and here, with the nasal spray here.

 

[heapsreal]

I wonder how much the low gh levels are related to poor sleep quality, as most gh is released during our deep phases of sleep.

 

[Manjushri]

The CJC1295 with DAC peptides are another option for increasing HGH, which doesn't require timed daily injections and is one of the cheaper options.

https://thinksteroids.com/steroid-profiles/cjc-1295/

 

[Hip]

The CJC1295 with DAC peptides are another option for increasing HGH, which doesn't require timed daily injections and is one of the cheaper options.

There was a patient on this forum diagnosed with ME/CFS for many years, but it turned out she actually had HGH deficiency. Once she got HGH injections, she rapidly returned to full health.

The interesting thing is that she previously tried the HGH secretagogue GHRP-6 for two months, but got no benefits. So that suggests if the pituitary is damaged, it may not be possible to coax it into releasing more HGH by taking secretagogues such as CJC-1295, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, ipamorelin and hexarelin.

 

[SWAlexander]

Recently, I was reminded of the importance of pituitary function and the impact of its malfunction after meeting four men, all over 5'11" tall. Surprisingly, none of them had ever been informed that they might have acromegaly or gigantism.

Gigantism Acromegaly or Pachydermoperiostosis​

Understanding Acromegaly and Gigantism: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis​

Two of them, after contracting COVID-19, began noticing troubling symptoms: gradual shrinking in height, persistent headaches, low energy, and a sudden drop in blood pressure—which had previously been high. These symptoms raised red flags for me, especially since I’m familiar with acromegaly due to my son's unusual diagnosis of an ectopic tooth pressing on his pituitary gland.

I recommended that they consult an endocrinologist to get tested for low cortisol and ACTH levels and to request an MRI. Unfortunately, only one of them could afford to see an endocrinologist privately and undergo the MRI. The result revealed a small benign tumor pressing on his pituitary gland.

 

[SWAlexander]

My concerns about hormone deficiencies (specifically cortisol and ACTH) were flippantly dismissed for four years. My knowledge of these symptoms goes back to 1979, when I was diagnosed with low cortisol, and my son has been diagnosed with acromegaly. Despite this, even now—after new scientific evidence has been published—patients are still not being offered MRI scans or properly tested for endocrine dysfunction.
I call this willful neglect.

Thank you Hip for posting: Recent studies have found that 54% of long COVID patients suffer from growth hormone deficiency. These results suggest that long COVID patients in our cohort are more likely to have anterior pituitary deficiencies, supporting the hypothesis that anterior pituitary insufficiency could explain many of the lingering effects of long COVID. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10801829/

 

[heapsreal]

There is an oral gh secretagogue , the name escapes me. It does have side effects of increasing appetite and worsening insulin sensitivity. So guys take it 3 alternate days a week.
Another drug called baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer, help induce deep sleep and therefore increases gh release.

I haven't heard anyone mention it for awhile but xyrem is a Med used to induce deep sleep in narcolepsy so I would expect it to increase natural gh production. Although I've heard it can be hard to get and is pricey.

 

[SWAlexander]

My concerns about hormone deficiencies (specifically cortisol and ACTH) were flippantly dismissed for four years. My knowledge of these symptoms goes back to 1979, when I was diagnosed with low cortisol, and my son has been diagnosed with acromegaly. Despite this, even now—after new scientific evidence has been published—patients are still not being offered MRI scans or properly tested for endocrine dysfunction.

Recent studies have found that 54% of long COVID patients suffer from growth hormone deficiency. These results suggest that long COVID patients in our cohort are more likely to have anterior pituitary deficiencies, supporting the hypothesis that anterior pituitary insufficiency could explain many of the lingering effects of long COVID.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10801829/

The Failure of the Endocrine System and the Consequences of Hormone Deficiency https://swaresearch.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-failure-of-endocrine-system-and.html​

 

[heapsreal]

My concerns about hormone deficiencies (specifically cortisol and ACTH) were flippantly dismissed for four years. My knowledge of these symptoms goes back to 1979, when I was diagnosed with low cortisol, and my son has been diagnosed with acromegaly. Despite this, even now—after new scientific evidence has been published—patients are still not being offered MRI scans or properly tested for endocrine dysfunction.

Recent studies have found that 54% of long COVID patients suffer from growth hormone deficiency. These results suggest that long COVID patients in our cohort are more likely to have anterior pituitary deficiencies, supporting the hypothesis that anterior pituitary insufficiency could explain many of the lingering effects of long COVID.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10801829/

The Failure of the Endocrine System and the Consequences of Hormone Deficiency https://swaresearch.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-failure-of-endocrine-system-and.html​

Was GH the only hormone tested? I would imagine they could also have low thyroid, Testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, dhea etc
Any of those hormones below range can make one feel awful, let alone a couple of them.

 

[kushami]

It’s a shame that testing isn’t straightforward.

If you can find a Facebook group for your country or region relating to HGH abnormalities, the folks there should have very good knowledge on which specialists are worth seeing and how to get proper testing.

 

[heapsreal]

It’s a shame that testing isn’t straightforward.

If you can find a Facebook group for your country or region relating to HGH abnormalities, the folks there should have very good knowledge on which specialists are worth seeing and how to get proper testing.

In some countries there are pathology companies where you can get blood tests done without needing a dr to authorise the test. The blood tests are payed out of pocket though.

There are 2 companies in Australia I know of where you can get blood tests done without a drs referral.

Igf1 is a test commonly used to test for gh deficiencies or to test how effective treatment is. If you test low, the hard part then is actually getting treatment ie prescribed gh as the indications are very limited. Off the top of my head it's short children, hiv wasting and some countries they can skip around the laws and use it for antiaging medicine.

 

[kushami]

@heapsreal, do you know how they account for the testing difficulties that Hip mentioned? Multiple samples?

 

[Manjushri]

There is an oral gh secretagogue , the name escapes me. It does have side effects of increasing appetite and worsening insulin sensitivity. So guys take it 3 alternate days a week.
Another drug called baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer, help induce deep sleep and therefore increases gh release.

I haven't heard anyone mention it for awhile but xyrem is a Med used to induce deep sleep in narcolepsy so I would expect it to increase natural gh production. Although I've heard it can be hard to get and is pricey.

MK-677/Ibutamoren is the oral; I was considering trying it but there were quite a few reports of extreme fatigue as a result which put me off but I'd be interested in any reports from CFSers.

Tried baclofen for improved deep sleep but noticed no difference.

Xyrem despite going generic is still price gouging the NHS at the same rate as it was going when under Jazz.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sodium-oxybate/medicinal-forms/
Its successor Lumryz which is once a night instead of twice like Xyrem has just been FDA approved.

The only med I've found which is relatively easily available, has studies on improving slow wave sleep, increasing GH and IGF-1, and is personally an active lifeline in increasing subjective sleep quality and QoL for me is Pregabalin. The main downside to gabapentinoids is physical addiction if used daily but it's well worth it for me.
"Gabapentin at bedtime increased Slow Wave Sleep, Total Sleep Time, and Insulin Growth Factor 1 concentrations in critically ill patients."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11130453

 

[SWAlexander]

Was GH the only hormone tested? I would imagine they could also have low thyroid, Testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, dhea etc
Any of those hormones below range can make one feel awful, let alone a couple of them.

Your question is both valid and important: “Was GH the only hormone tested?” I completely agree with your point.
However, my ongoing concern is why primary care physicians (PCPs) often dismiss the possibility of hormone imbalances, even when patients present with clear, hormone-related symptoms. I’ve been trying to understand why doctors rarely order tests for hormones like catecholamines or other relevant markers, despite the presence of obvious physical symptoms.
From my own experience, I know that an overwhelming majority of people—patients and even some healthcare providers—don’t fully understand the wide-ranging influence hormones have on our overall health. Many people tend to associate hormones primarily with sex drive, overlooking their critical roles in metabolism, stress response, energy levels, and more. This misguided understanding may contribute to why symptoms pointing to hormonal imbalances are often overlooked or dismissed.
Is this gap in knowledge due to insufficient education on hormone-related conditions, even within the medical community? Or could financial factors, like the cost of these tests, be influencing doctors' reluctance to investigate further?
It’s frustrating because many of these hormonal imbalances, if identified early, could be managed or even prevented with readily available treatments, potentially leading to much better patient outcomes.

Here are some related symptoms:

Hormonal Imbalances: A Complex Interplay of Physical and Psychological Symptoms
https://swaresearch.blogspot.com/2024/10/hormonal-imbalances-complex-interplay.html​

 

[SWAlexander]

MK-677/Ibutamoren is the oral; I was considering trying it but there were quite a few reports of extreme fatigue as a result which put me off but I'd be interested in any reports from CFSers.

Tried baclofen for improved deep sleep but noticed no difference.

Xyrem despite going generic is still price gouging the NHS at the same rate as it was going when under Jazz.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sodium-oxybate/medicinal-forms/
Its successor Lumryz which is once a night instead of twice like Xyrem has just been FDA approved.

The only med I've found which is relatively easily available, has studies on improving slow wave sleep, increasing GH and IGF-1, and is personally an active lifeline in increasing subjective sleep quality and QoL for me is Pregabalin. The main downside to gabapentinoids is physical addiction if used daily but it's well worth it for me.
"Gabapentin at bedtime increased Slow Wave Sleep, Total Sleep Time, and Insulin Growth Factor 1 concentrations in critically ill patients."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11130453

I’m very glad MK-677/Ibutamoren helps you.

May I say it does not work for everyone?
For Males with Underlying Diabetic Conditions:

MK-677, also known as Ibutamoren, can raise blood glucose levels and reduce insulin sensitivity, which are significant concerns for individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

The mention of increases in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker of long-term blood glucose levels, is also relevant in this context.

Additionally, the source does suggest that MK-677 can elevate certain hormones, particularly growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which can contribute to these metabolic effects.

MK-677 is not typically considered beneficial for people with acromegaly or gigantism. Since MK-677 increases growth hormone levels, it could potentially worsen acromegaly or gigantism by further elevating already high levels of GH and IGF-1, exacerbating the symptoms of these conditions.
Link: Endotext - Acromegaly and Gigantism
Link: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Link: Drug Development Research on MK-677
Here are two more links for reference:
https://healthymale.org.au/health-article/what-you-need-to-know-about-mk-677-ibutamoren
https://www.opss.org/article/performance-enhancing-substance-mk-677-ibutamoren

 

[heapsreal]

MK-677/Ibutamoren is the oral; I was considering trying it but there were quite a few reports of extreme fatigue as a result which put me off but I'd be interested in any reports from CFSers.

Don't quote me on the dose, I think it's usually 20mg a night but many people get side effects of tiredness and increased appetite. I have heard of people using 5mg every Monday and Thursday which they said was enough to keep their gh/igf1 levels elevated and get positive effect while reducing the negative effects. They would cycle it for 6 to 8 weeks and take 4 weeks off etc.

I have no personal experience, but if I was going to do this I'd get igf tested pre, during and after using mk677. Maybe during get a test done on the Wednesday so you can see the trough of the igf1 levels from the Monday dosing and see if it stays within or above normal range a couple days after dosing??? Then track blood sugar levels and sleepiness and appetite??

 

[Hip]

MK-677/Ibutamoren is the oral; I was considering trying it but there were quite a few reports of extreme fatigue as a result which put me off but I'd be interested in any reports from CFSers.

I tried MK-677 some years ago, in doses up to 12 mg, but found it caused vivid imaginative dreams, and sometimes restless sleep, even in doses as low as 0.5 mg, and taken in the morning

MK-677 has a long half-life of around 24 hours, so even if taken in the morning, it will still be in your system when you go to bed.

I did not notice any benefits, and I think it worsened my anhedonia a little, so I stopped taking it.

 

[SWAlexander]

get a test done

Exactly. Testing is crucial. Too many people take supplements and medications without understanding their potential side effects or whether they truly need them.

MK-677 is primarily being researched for conditions like:

• Growth hormone deficiency
• Muscle wasting (in diseases like cancer)
• Osteoporosis (due to its effects on bone density)
• Cachexia (a condition involving severe muscle loss in chronic illnesses)

 

[Alvin2]

Had my growth hormone tested, it was normal. Hopefully they tested it correctly.

The only med I've found which is relatively easily available, has studies on improving slow wave sleep, increasing GH and IGF-1, and is personally an active lifeline in increasing subjective sleep quality and QoL for me is Pregabalin. The main downside to gabapentinoids is physical addiction if used daily but it's well worth it for me.
"Gabapentin at bedtime increased Slow Wave Sleep, Total Sleep Time, and Insulin Growth Factor 1 concentrations in critically ill patients."

Pregabalin had little effect on me except night sweats when i missed a dose.
https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/have-pregabalin-prescription-should-i-try-it.83770/

 

[Slushiefan]

Just offering my own input on my experience re: HGH as Somatropin daily Injection, 2iu, injected just before bed nightly.

I found evidence of low IGF-1 across several tests taken separated out over years of time. I did not treat myself through a doctor, I am self diagnosing and treating here.

I buy my HGH as Somatropin, from "Iron-Daddy.to". I settled on ordering from this site b/c I trialed HGH from several sources, and Irondaddy.to somatropin had an immediate and noticeable effect. As well, many bodybuilders gave this somatropin a positive review, so it wasn't just me who noticed that.

The impact is mild. Improvements were felt through a reduction in pain, improved sleep (as recorded on my Apple watch), and mildly improved energy.

Somatropin did reduce the pain levels mildly. That fits an earlier study on trialing Somatropin for fibromyalgia patients, which showed improvement in pain for a very small pool of people who suffered from fibro along with low IGF-1. It is still far from resolved.

It also mildly improved my energy levels, but I am unsure if the effect here was the universal kind of response, or specific to me as a CFS patient (eg anyone, even a healthy person who took Somatropin at age 52, might find a mild boost in their energy).

Also mildly improved was brain fog. Also gone are infrequent minor episodes of weakness (eg my muscles would feel weak occasionally, and I couldn't for example grip things with strength).

These improvements were overall mild, and it barely improved the overarching condition, particularly where I needed it most eg fatigue.

After the first 30 days I opted to continue treatment with the hope for further improvements. But after 4 months of treatment things seem to have not gotten better than the initial bump and plateau. That said, any improvement is worth keeping around, and we are in a financial situation where we can afford it for now.

HTH someone thinking of trialing.