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Busting the Myths About Growth Hormone Treatment

Read through the following statements about growth hormone (GH) treatment and see if you can spot the myths. You’ll find the answers at the bottom of the page.

Truth or Myth?

  1. Children should take GH treatment in the evening because it helps them grow while they sleep.

  2. Not eating properly may affect a child’s growth.

  3. The age at which a child starts their treatment can influence their final growth height.

  4. Physical exercise makes children grow.

  5. During puberty, girls start to grow before boys.

  6. A child should have check-ups with their specialist team every month.

  7. A child’s target height can be predicted by the height of their mother.

  8. Bone age is an important measure of a child’s growth.

  9. Eating a lot of meat will help children grow.

Answers

  1. TRUTH – It’s natural to have a higher level of GH at night.1,2 It’s therefore recommended that GH be taken in the evening.3

  2. TRUTH – Eating a balanced and nutritious diet and drinking enough water are important ways to support a child’s growth.4

  3. TRUTH – If started early, GH can help children reach the normal adult height.5

  4. MYTH – Exercise can’t make children grow. What exercise can do is help stimulate hormones that help children grow.6

  5. TRUTH – During adolescence or puberty, girls typically start to grow before boys.7

  6. MYTH – Children will normally have check-ups with their specialist team every 3 to 6 months.3

  7. MYTH – A child’s target height can only be partly based on their parents’ height and growth patterns.5

  8. TRUTH – Bone age is an important measure of a child’s growth and involves X-rays of the left wrist and hand.3

  9. MYTH – There is no one specific food that can make children grow. But making sure your children eat a balanced and nutritious diet is important.4

References

  1. PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER: Information for the use Recombinant Somatropin for Injection I.P. 5.3 mg (16 IU) Genotropin® GoQuick® & Recombinant Somatropin for Injection I.P. 12 mg (36 IU) Genotropin® GoQuick® - LPD no. LPDGEN072022; Effective date October 6, 2022.

  2. PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER: Recombinant Somatropin for Injection I.P. 5.3 mg (16 IU) & Recombinant Somatropin for Injection I.P. 12 mg (36 IU) Genotropin® - LPD no. LPDGEN072022; Effective date October 6, 2022.

  3. Growth Hormone Research Society. Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency in childhood and adolescence: summary statement of the GH Research Society. GH Research Society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85(11):3990-3993.

  4. Healthy eating for teenagers. NHS. Accessed September 4, 2023. https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/PaediatricDepartment/6297-1-Healthy-eating-for-teenagers.pdf

  5. Growth hormone deficiency. NHS Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Accessed September 4, 2023. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/growth-hormone-deficiency

  6. Borer KT. The effects of exercise on growth. Sports Med. 1995;20(6):375-397.

  7. Stages of puberty: what happens to boys and girls. Oxfordshire County Council. Accessed September 4, 2023. 
    https://fisd.oxfordshire.gov.uk/kb5/oxfordshire/directory/advice.action?id=unVhFvEzpzY

 



PP-GEN-IND-0995
Date of preparation: September 2023