You’re probably well aware of the link between testosterone and it’s effects on muscle growth in men, but have you ever wondered if testosterone affects height too? There’s a lot of contradicting information floating around on the internet when it comes to testosterone’s effects on height, both for boys going through puberty and for adults using it for hormone replacement.
So, does testosterone really help you grow taller? As it turns out, the answer isn’t that simple.
In this article, we’ll attempt to unravel this mystery by exploring what testosterone is, which hormones impact your height, and the natural and effective methods you can use to increase your stature.
Factors That Influence Height
- Genetics: Genetics play a crucial role in determining one’s adult height. Research has shown that DNA is the greatest factor when it comes to a person’s eventual height. So, if you’re mom and dad are both short, chances are you’ll be vertically challenged as well.
- Nutrition: Nutrition plays a crucial role in determining height, as it provides the essential nutrients required for optimal growth and development. Malnutrition or deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, can lead to stunted growth and negatively impact overall height.
- Health Conditions: A number of health conditions can interfere with height growth, including GH deficiency, hypothyroidism, dwarfism, and Marfan syndrome. Chronic illnesses like kidney disease, asthma, or inflammatory bowel disease can also negatively impact growth if they are severe, persistent, or poorly managed.
- Hormones: Hormones have a significant impact on height, as they regulate growth and development in the human body. The primary hormone responsible for height growth is the human growth hormone (HGH), which stimulates the growth of bones, cartilage, and muscles, and so directly influencing height. However, other hormones, such as thyroid hormones and sex hormones (including testosterone), also play essential roles in growth and development. Imbalances or deficiencies in these hormones can lead to growth disorders, affecting a person’s overall height.
So how much of a role does testosterone play in all this? Can it actually contribute to an increase in height?
Does Testosterone Influence Height? The Evidence.
As it turns out, testosterone has a rather surprising effect when it comes to height: Clinical studies have discovered that testosterone can actually decrease height instead of promoting growth.
During a seven-year-long clinical trial involving adolescent boys, it was observed that low testosterone levels seemed to actually encourage height growth, while higher T-levels put a damper on it. (1) This study only tracked the young boys’ growth and testosterone levels over time, without any type of treatment being given to the participants.
As a matter of fact, testosterone’s height-suppressing powers are so strong that it’s even used as a medical treatment to prevent unwanted excessive height. In another study it was found that giving supplemental testosterone to extremely tall teenage boys cut their expected height growth by a whopping 50%. (2)
What’s more, the source of the testosterone made no difference in these observations, Whether it’s produced naturally in the body or administered as a treatment, testosterone seems to have the same decreasing effect on height.
Given the current research, it’s safe to say that testosterone won’t make you taller – in fact, it might just have the opposite effect. So, if you can’t use testosterone to increase height, what else can you do?
Boost Your Height with These Simple Steps
There’s a handful of activities you can engage in at any stage of life to increase your height. While starting young can yield more significant results, rest assured that you can still achieve some noticeable improvements regardless of your age.
Proper Sleep and Nutrition
Catching those precious Z’s is essential, especially during your teenage years, as it allows the body to produce an abundance of human growth hormone (HGH), crucial for overall growth and development. This magic happens during the deep delta wave sleep cycles.
Equally important is what you put on your plate. A nutritious diet can significantly influence your height growth. Steer clear of junk food and embrace healthier choices, with a focus on foods rich in vitamin D, Zinc, and calcium. Don’t forget to fuel up with plenty of protein, too.
Exercises to Increase Height
In addition to proper sleep and nutrition, exercise plays a vital role in contributing to height growth. Engaging in various physical activities can boost HGH production, but certain exercises are specifically designed to enhance your stature.
These exercises mainly focus on extending the spinal column and/or knee joints, which gradually leads to the permanent elongation and stretching of the cartilage. Examples include:
- Swimming
- Hanging
- Inversion Therapy
- Stretching
Surgery
While there isn’t a magic pill or medicine to boost height apart from doctor-administered human growth hormone injections, medical science does offer one solution: surgery.
This intense and time-consuming process begins with breaking the patient’s shin bones and inserting telescoping rods. As the bones mend, the rods are slowly extended (about 1 mm per day), gradually increasing the leg length over a period of roughly 3 months.
On the bright side, the patient can expect to gain two to three inches by the end of this period. However, they must also be prepared for several more months of physical therapy to achieve a complete recovery.
Due to the immense pain, high cost, and lengthy commitment, surgery remains an impractical choice for most individuals.
Shoes and Lifts
Want to reach new heights quickly? Look no further than shoe inserts or specialized height-boosting shoes. With innovative products like height-increasing insoles, which are inserted into your shoes to increase height, you can effortlessly gain an additional 3/4′ to 2′ in height.
Not a fan of inserts? Fret not, as you can also opt for custom-made shoes that can increase your height by up to 2-3 inches or more. Retailers such as Amazon.com provide an extensive range of height-enhancing footwear for men, covering all styles – including dress shoes, sneakers, sandals, and boots.
The best part? These products can be worn with ease and discretion. As long as you’ve got shoes on, your true height remains a well-kept secret.
Height-Increasing Programs
A number of at-home heightening programs can be found online for those looking to increase their height. These programs typically provide a blend of strategies and techniques, allowing users to follow along and potentially grow taller.
Many of these courses boast impressive outcomes and could be worth a try for dedicated individuals. One such well-known program is Grow Taller 4 Idiots.
Boost Your Height with Pills and Supplements
Incorporating supplements into your routine is a simple way to support height growth. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet, it’s worth considering additional vitamin D, calcium, and zinc intake.
Glucosamine sulfate is another affordable and effective option to explore. It is thought to enhance cartilage tissue volume, which can not only prevent spinal disc compression as you age – keeping you from losing height – but also increase joint and disc cartilage, contributing to overall height growth.
A 2002 study published entitled “Effects of Glucosamine Sulfate on Spinal Height” revealed that participants who took 1,500 mg/day of glucosamine sulfate experienced a height increase of 2-4 millimeters in just four weeks. (3) While it may not sound like a significant change, keep in mind that this study only lasted a month, and longer usage could potentially yield more impressive results (you can find the study results here).
There are also specially formulated supplements on the market, such as Peak Height, which combines various ingredients specifically designed to boost your height.
Growth Hormone
Another popular approach is to use supplements that increase human growth hormone levels. Growth hormone has been a subject of interest in clinical trials, particularly for its potential impact on height.
Both men and women produce growth hormone in substantial amounts, which in turn affects the height of individuals from both genders. Administering growth hormone therapy during adolescence is a common practice to help increase height.
A study featured in The New England Journal of Medicine explored the outcomes of growth hormone supplementation in teenagers with extremely short statures who wanted to be taller. The results showed that boys who underwent growth hormone treatment grew an impressive 9.2 centimeters (3.62 inches) taller than initially predicted, while girls experienced a height increase of 5.7 cm (2.24 inches) beyond their projections.
Similarly, another clinical trial yielded positive results, with both boys and girls of short stature growing significantly taller than their projected heights after receiving growth hormone treatment.
Because of this research, supplemental growth hormone is often administered during adolescence to effectively increase height. As a result, many people take HGH supplements in the hopes of giving their height a boost.
Some growth hormone supplements are specifically tailored for height growth. For instance, HGH.com offers a range of height-enhancing products, including their powerful Introductory Height Growth Package.
Related: The Top 6 Ways to Increase Your Height and Grow Taller
Conclusion
In conclusion, the relationship between testosterone and height is a complex one, influenced by various factors such as genetics, other hormones, and environmental influences. However, the current research shows that testosterone not only does not increase height, but actually appears to have a decreasing effect on height.
While testosterone does play a role in growth and development during puberty, it’s important to consider the bigger picture, taking into account other essential aspects like nutrition, sleep, and physical activity for optimal height growth. Remember, for personalized advice or concerns about growth and development, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.
References:
- https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article/113/4_Supplement/S98/6768321?login=false
- https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/332735
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289248598_Effects_of_glucosamine_sulphate_on_spinal_height_a_randomized_double_blind_placebo_controlled_pilot_study
Mark McIntyre is the founder of MaleHealthReview.com and acts as it’s chief contributor. He is a fitness trainer and avid mountain biker who also enjoys camping, hiking and fishing. Besides managing Male Health Review, Mark is also a guest columnist for several blogs related to men’s health. More about this author…
