n addition to increasing height in children and adolescents, growth hormone has many other effects on the body:
·Increases calcium retention, and strengthens and increases the mineralization of bone
· Increases muscle mass through sarcomere hypertrophy
· Promotes lipolysis
· Increases protein synthesis
·Stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain
· Plays a role in homeostasis
· Reduces liver uptake of glucose
· Promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver
· Contributes to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets
·Stimulates the immune system
·Increases deiodination of T4 to T3
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