# Somatropin

human growth hormone · HGH · rhGH · HGH 191AA

https://graded.pl/en/substances/somatropin · Checked: Not yet

Preliminary version. The editors have not finished checking this card, and grades may change.

Human growth hormone made in a lab. A prescription medicine for a shortage of this hormone and a few other conditions. Approval covers these medicines, not products sold outside pharmacies.

> This site is for information and education only. It does not promote or encourage the use or purchase of the substances described and is not medical advice. Many are not authorised as medicines and their safety has not been established. We sell nothing and have no ties to sellers. For health decisions, consult a doctor.

## Short answers

### Does somatropin work?

Human growth hormone made in a lab. A prescription medicine for a shortage of this hormone and a few other conditions. Approval covers these medicines, not products sold outside pharmacies. Muscle mass: grade A, effect in studies. Body mass without fat rose in older adults and amateur athletes. One study traced the rise to water, so it does not mean more muscle. Strength: grade A, no effect in studies. Strength did not improve in older men, and a review of healthy young adults says it may not improve. One study saw better sprinting, which faded 6 weeks after stopping.

### Is Somatropin legal?

PL: Prescription only. Approved in Poland as Genotropin and Norditropin Flexpro, and across the EU as Omnitrope (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). EU: Prescription only. Approved across the EU as Omnitrope and others. This covers that medicine only, not products sold outside pharmacies. US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine (Omnitrope).

### Is somatropin banned in sport?

Banned in sport, WADA 2026.

### Is Somatropin safe?

Well known. A US drug label and long medical use. In a study of healthy older adults, diabetes or blood sugar problems appeared in 18 men on the hormone and 7 without it.

## What studies show

| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle mass | A | Effect in studies | Body mass without fat rose in older adults and amateur athletes. One study traced the rise to water, so it does not mean more muscle. |
| Strength | A | No effect in studies | Strength did not improve in older men, and a review of healthy young adults says it may not improve. One study saw better sprinting, which faded 6 weeks after stopping. |

## Studies we have read

- The effects of growth hormone on body composition and physical performance in recreational athletes: a randomized trial. (Annals of internal medicine 2010; Random groups) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20439575/
- Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance. (Annals of internal medicine 2008; Review of studies) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18347346/
- Growth hormone and sex steroid administration in healthy aged women and men: a randomized controlled trial. (JAMA 2002; Random groups, n=131) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12425705/
- Growth hormone replacement in healthy older men improves body composition but not functional ability. (Annals of internal medicine 1996; Random groups, n=52) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8633830/

## Is it legal

- PL: Prescription only. Approved in Poland as Genotropin and Norditropin Flexpro, and across the EU as Omnitrope (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/article-57-product-data_en.xlsx (Checked: Not yet)
- EU: Prescription only. Approved across the EU as Omnitrope and others. This covers that medicine only, not products sold outside pharmacies. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/omnitrope (Checked: Not yet)
- US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine (Omnitrope). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021426 (Checked: Not yet)

## Doping

Banned in sport, WADA 2026. https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/trb-2026-25.html

## How much research exists

- Scientific papers: 1093
- Studies with random groups: 119
- Registered studies in people: 157
- These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.

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Open data: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/