13.6.1 Synthetic/artificial hormone exploitation in human
Currently, synthetic hormone treatment for several diseases in human is not uncommon. The number of approved and proposed uses of synthetic hormone has grown and the number of patients being treated with them has increased worldwide. Controlled use of synthetic hormones, with appropriate advice from medical experts would help in curing diseases such as Diabetes or Turner's syndrome, however, if misused; a lot of bad effects could take place. Here, we would discuss on the usage of common synthetic/artificial hormones namely human growth hormone, sex hormones and insulin.
Synthetic Human Growth Hormone (HGH) was developed over 30 years ago and approved by the FDA for specific uses in children and adults. HGH is used in children as treatment for short physique of unidentified reason, or poor growth due to a number of medical causes, including Turner's syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. On the other hand, HGH is used to overcome short bowel syndrome, HGH deficiency caused by rare pituitary tumors and muscle-wasting disease linked with HIV/AIDS in adults (Human Growth Hormone (HGH), 2018). Too much or too little GH in adults and children may cause health problems that could be treated with synthetic (manufactured) HGH.
Sometimes HGH is used illegally for nonmedical purposes (Goldberg et al., 2009). However, these uncontrolled uses for HGH are not FDA-approved. In some cases, this hormone is used with other performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids for muscle building and improvement of athletic performance. Nonetheless HGH's effect on athletic performance is unknown. The misuse of HGH in sport has steadily increased as HGH has been considered as an ergogenic drug. It is believed to be efficient, almost undetectable and harmless if well dosed (Saugy et al., 2006). Likewise, the use of HGH for antiaging is not FDA-approved (Human Growth Hormone (HGH), 2018).
As explained in earlier sections, estrogen and progesterone are two common female sex hormones important in menstrual cycle, ovulation and pregnancy. It is well known that the contraceptive quality of progesterone led to the development of structurally modified progestins and estrogens—the oral contraceptives known as birth-control pills, used by women to prevent unwanted pregnancy. On the other hand, sole intake of estrogen could cause breast soreness and increase of appetite. In long term, uncontrolled use of this hormone could cause cervical, ovarian or breast cancer. Usually, misuse of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are due to the belief that these hormones could enhance womanly and manly characteristics respectively and inappropriate practice could lead to negative consequences (Myhealth, 2018).
Diabetes mellitus results from the damage in pancreas that affects production of insulin (Sonksen and Sonksen, 2000; Banks et al., 2010; Bilous and Donnelly, 2010). Over the years, extraction and purification of insulin was from either porcine or bovine pancreases; however there were several differences with human insulin even though the animal insulin was chemically similar to human insulin. Many patients suffered inflammation and antibody attack and inactivation. Besides, only minimal amount of insulin could be extracted at one time and this is not enough to cater worldwide demand. Later, the advancement of recombinant DNA technology has allowed syntheses of human insulin in laboratories (Anon, 2018). This lab-synthesized insulin is well accepted by human systems and could be synthesized in a large amount. Though permitted as medication, the dosage of insulin taken must be monitored at all times by health experts.
Consequently, the usage of common synthetic/artificial hormones as mentioned above could affect people either positive or negatively according to the objectives of treatments. Medically and FDA approved hormones could give better effects on patients or users, however, mistreatment could cause long term damage, or death. Hence, synthetic/artificial hormones need to be used wisely with guidance and advice from medical professionals.