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Article: Human growth hormone: Fountain of youth -- or ticket to early grave?
- Article from:
- San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio, TX)
- Article date:
- September 27, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 San Antonio Express-News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Michelle Koidin Jaffee
Sep. 27--Sometime between brushing her teeth and saying her prayers, Jo pushes a small needle into the flesh of her abdomen.
She is injecting human growth hormone, a prescription drug best known for its favored status among elite athletes bent on enhancing their performance.
The drug has an established medical use, too. Doctors often prescribe it for children with genetic disorders that stunt their growth.
But Jo, a 65-year-old grandmother and Austin real estate agent, has still another reason for using it -- one that has spawned a growing and controversial industry with a froth of new Web sites and ...