Adverse effect · Human growth hormone (somatropin)

How common is adverse effects with Human growth hormone (somatropin)?

A
Grade A — established in humansMeta-analysis · effect size: moderate · adverse
Short answerEstablished in humans. Meta-analysis point the same way: a moderate effect. Fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and breast tissue growth in men are all significantly more common, with a signal for new diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.

What the studies show

Fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and breast tissue growth in men are all significantly more common, with a signal for new diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.

“Persons treated with GH were significantly more likely to experience soft tissue edema, arthralgias, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gynecomastia and were somewhat more likely to experience the onset of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose.”

Verbatim, from the abstractLiu H, et al. Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly. Ann Intern Med, 2007;146:104–115

Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.

  1. 1
    Liu H, et al. Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly.Ann Intern Med, 2007;146:104–11518 study populations; the definitive assessment of anti-ageing use.

In context

Growth hormone is a 191-amino-acid protein, approved for decades to treat genuine growth-hormone deficiency in children and adults, where it works well. Sold as an anti-ageing or physique drug, its record is different: a meta-analysis of randomised trials in healthy older adults found it shifts about 2 kg of fat to lean tissue with no change in total weight, while significantly raising rates of swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and gynaecomastia. The authors concluded it cannot be recommended for that purpose.

Human growth hormone (somatropin) is approved (rx) for deficiency; anti-ageing use unlawful in the us. Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Human growth hormone (somatropin) proven to cause adverse effects?
Yes, as far as human trials can show it: Meta-analysis. LYO grades this outcome A.
What studies are behind the grade?
Fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and breast tissue growth in men are all significantly more common, with a signal for new diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.
Is Human growth hormone (somatropin) approved for this?
Human growth hormone (somatropin) is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx) for deficiency; anti-ageing use unlawful in the US); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for Human growth hormone (somatropin)

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 3 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →