Why is growth hormone important in adults if they have already gone through puberty?
Growth hormone is important in adults as it is involved in several metabolic processes in addition to linear growth during childhood. Other actions of growth hormone include stimulation of lipolysis, bone turnover, synthesis of proteins that have multiple effects on tissues and organs (i.e. kidney, heart, liver intestines.) Also, growth hormone effects the metabolism in muscle and fatty tissue resulting in an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass. Without sufficient production of endogenous growth hormone, bodily functions are compromised.
