Hormone Replacement: Some People Think It Works

A recent meta-analysis of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) effect on mortality and morbidity painted a pessimistic picture. Certainly a lot of "science" blogs jumped on the story and instantly turned "thumbs down" on HGH replacement. Personally, I say "not so fast." Meta-analysis studies such as this cannot provide a definitive answer to a question. They can only suggest new approaches to experimental study.

While anecdotal evidence is not proof of any scientific principle, some may find it interesting to see examples of "successful" treatment with hormone replacement. These two videos are promotional videos by a hormone replacement clinic in Palm Springs, California. This clinic has been in business for over a decade now.
Total Hormone Therapy Vid. 1
Total Hormone Therapy Vid. 2

The concept of hormone replacement therapy is simple. HGH, DHEA, Thymosin, male and female sex hormones, and often Thyroxin will fall in concentration with age. To better approximate the physical condition of a younger person, you would theoretically want to replace hormones that tend to drop off in concentration dramatically with age. You would also want to see a drop in the pro-inflammatory and other harmful hormone levels that rise with age, at the same time.

It is not proven to work, other than anecdotally. But the idea deserves better experimental analysis than it has received so far, at least in the US.