Growth Hormone-Insulin Interaction Fact and Speculation

Abstract

The metabolic effects of human growth hormone may be segregated into two classes which can be termed “insulinlike” (or “anabolic”) and “contra-insulin” (or “diabetogenic”). It is proposed that the “anabolic” actions of HGH are optimized by the presence of insulin, whereas the “diabetogenic” actions are dominant in the absence of insulin. In line with this notion, the sequential release of insulin and of HGH which follows protein ingestion, or aminoacid infusion may serve to route aminoacid toward protein, while buffering changes in plasma glucose concentration.