ABSTRACT
Growth hormone (GH), as its name indicates, is responsible for stimulating growth of long bone of hands and feet. Consequently, it is the main factor regulating final height. In addition, this hormone controls the growth of lean tissues such as muscles and tendons (Sonksen, 1994; Peyreigne et al., 1997), altering body composition in favour of increased lean body mass. Growth hormone also influences metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It increases the amount of fat consumption and mobilizes fatty acids from adipose tissue; it inhibits the entry of glucose into the muscle fibre and decreases its peripheral uptake. By increasing gluconeogensis in the liver, it influences carbohydrate metabolism (Sutton et al., 1990). The most important metabolic activity of GH is stimulating the protein synthesis process. This hormone increases the level of protein synthesis in target cells (over time) (Sonksen, 1994; Borer, 1995).
