Health Editor
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA

 Dear Mr. Olmos:

I am responding to the article "Looking at Human Growth Hormone" by Thomas H. Maugh, II, Senior Times Medical Writer on September 21, 1998 (Page S3). There should be concern by the public and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists not only with the inappropriate use of bonafide pharmaceutical-grade hGH but also with certain hucksters and charlatans who claim that their OTC-supplement hGH products contain hGH either as a spray (Regenisis/Quantum leap products) or release it from your own pituitary gland (Pro-hGH/Symbitropin fizzy tablets).

I have worked with hGH since the 1970's while at the UCLA Department of Pediatric Endocrinology. In my private practice I have been very concerned with the excessive advertising occurring by the makers a new product called Pro HGH. I think the public is being misled, and the supporting data is inconclusive at best. I have studied six male patients (ages 55-72) on the product called "Pro HGH-Symbiotropin effervescent tablets" by Neutraceutics of Florida. The patients took the product for 1-2 months and IGF-1 levels were measured before and afterward. Initially some patients felt an energy boost; then later, not much was noted. The IGF-1 levels did not increase and four actually had decreased levels. The peptide ingredient comes from pigs. I don't like the idea of ingesting pig pituitary glands. No one should ever ingest any type of animal brain or nerve tissue. Hasn't everyone by now heard about Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis) or Jacob-Creutzfeld Disease, (both based on infectious prions)?

Another product is Regenesis I labeled as hGH 50 ng per spray. Even if all of it were to be "miraculously" absorbed, it would never come close to the normal growth hormone concentration in the bloodstream which is 10 ng or more per ml of serum. The amount of one spritz of Regenesis I turns out to be 0.00125 to 0.0025 percent of the normal amount in the body. Clearly, this product is a scam.

Furthermore, there is nothing new about another product labeled Regenesis II. This is an oral supplement using a "Glyco Amino Stim" system to send various amino acids, DHEA, melatonin, and serotonin boosters into the body. If this oral supplement is so wonderful, why did Merck Pharmaceuticals drop development of another highly effective oral non-peptidyl GH releaser after investing millions of dollars? The reason appears to be that it was not good enough for the FDA in early clinical trials with frail and elderly patients. So how does Quantum Leap prove the efficacy of their product Regenesis II?

I hope this short letter helps to educate consumers about certain fraudulent products and ultimately saves them money for a time in the future when genuinely effective products will appear on the market.

Sincerely yours,

Karlis Ullis, M.D.
1807 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 205
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Telephone: 310-829-1990