My IGF-1 and hGH Were Low. I Increased Them 46% By Taking Supplements
- © Nils Osmar 2025. April 26, 2025
- This post is not intended as, and should not be taken as, medical advice.
- See full Medical Disclaimer
My IGF-1 tends to run low, so I’m working on raising it. This is not because I want high IGF-1 per se, but because IGF-1 correlates well with hGH levels. hGH is specifically important to thymic health and the immune system.
My goal is not to have extremely high levels of either IGF-1 or hGH, but to approximate the healthy levels found in young adults. I’m a 72 year old, so I have a ways to go.
Why hGH Matters
According to the Mayo Clinic, benefits of having normal levels of hGH include:
- An increase in our ability to exercise.
- Stronger bones.
- Increased muscle mass – lower danger of sarcopenia.
- Lower body fat.
My Test Results
- My first test (last fall) was pretty bad, especially because I’d been working on trying to increase my hGH “naturally”: It clearly was not working.
- My IGF-1 level in the first test was 68 ng/mL. This is actually in a danger zone. Levels below 70–80 ng/mL are associated with increased risk of frailty, bone loss, and other health issues, especially people in my age range (72 years old). So I set about raising my levels.
Second Test
- A few days ago I was tested again.
- My levels rose to 99 ng/mL – a 46% increase.
- 99 ng/mL is still not spectacular, but it takes me out of the danger zone for frailty. So it’s a definite improvement.
Why the Difference?
- Before my test, I had not taken any suppements,
- Before the second one, I took 5 grams of L-Citrulline about 90 minutes before my blood draw. (The brand I’m currently taking is Nutricost.)
- I also took 2 grams of L-Ornithine, another amino acid that’s been found to raise hGH levels; an EAA supplement; and 200 of vitamin B6.
- I’ve also been (routinely) taking sauna-like hot baths several night a week.
Wait… Aren’t IGF-1 and hGH Pro-Aging?
- There is evidence that very high levels of both can be pro-aging and can (under some circumstances) support the growth of cancer. But the level I was at after the first test was way too far in the opposite direction. (What we’re dealing with in both IGF and hGH is a U-shaped curve. Either too low or too high can be problematic)
- Dr. Valter Longo has written about the supposed benefits of very low IGF-1. He points out that populations with very low levels have far less cancer and heart disease. He’s right about that. He rarely mentions, though, that in spite of having fewer age-related diseases, the same populations live shorter lives than people with “normal” hGH. This is also borne out in animal studies.
- So (at this point) I’ll be doing some additional things to raise my levels.
My Plans Moving Forward
- My next goal is to raise mine to around 150 ng/mL. My ultimate goal is to have the hGH levels of a man in his 20s.
- I suspect I’ll be able to do this just by increasing my the supplements I mentioned above. (I’ll try doubling my doses before the next blood test.)
- If I can’t achieve this with supplementation, I may consider hGH injections at some point. But for now, I find the increase from 68 to 99 to be promising enough to stay the course.
Not medical advice
This article is not intended as, and should not be taken as, medical advice. I’m not advising that people eat any particular diet or take any particular supplement(s), just reporting on what I’m doing. Supplements, like medications and other interventions, can have side effects; I would encourage people to research both possible benefits and side effects before starting on any supplementation regimen, and consult with a medical professional about any issues which might have a medical component. See full Medical Disclaimer
Other resources
- My Youtube channel Pathways to Longevity
- My Facebook group: Anti-Aging and Life Extension,
