NewMed Researchers "Elucidation of HT042's Cartilage Stimulation Mechanism for Height Growth"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] A study revealing the scientific mechanism that a complex of Astragalus extract and other components (HT042) may help promote height growth by stimulating the secretion of growth hormone has attracted attention.

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The research team at NewMed, a natural product R&D company, announced on the 2nd that, through joint research with Professor Dongheon Lee of Gachon University College of Korean Medicine, they confirmed an increase in growth factor synthesis in an animal model treated with HT042. The expression of receptors that bind to hormones stimulating growth hormone increased, while the expression of the inhibitory hormone (SST) was suppressed, resulting in increased growth hormone expression.

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The research findings were confirmed as NewMed’s research team recently published a paper on the mechanism of height growth by HT042 and its growth effects on bone and cartilage formation in the October issue of the international journal ‘Children.’

HT042 is a functional ingredient individually recognized as a health functional food by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, mainly composed of natural substances such as Astragalus and Acanthopanax. Its functionality and safety have been scientifically verified through randomized double-blind human clinical trials targeting children.

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The study focused not only on the growth effects on bone and cartilage formation but also on the correlation between growth hormone and growth factors, which are key elements of height growth, to clarify the mechanism.

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According to the study results, in the animal model, administration of HT042 increased the expression of pituitary receptors (GHRH and GHS) that promote the secretion of growth hormone (GH). Oral administration for 10 days increased the number of growth factors (IGF-1) that promote growth, resulting in increased bone length.

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Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland. The amount of growth hormone secreted is regulated by stimulating and inhibiting hormones secreted from the hypothalamus in the diencephalon, which controls the autonomic nervous system and hormone secretion. Growth hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary increases the synthesis of growth factor (IGF-1) in the liver.

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Although growth factors are secreted by growth hormone, HT042 acts on various mechanisms affecting GHRH, GHS, SST, etc., further promoting the secretion of growth factors. Growth factors increase the number and size of growth plate chondrocytes, inducing bone length growth.

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The expression of growth factors in the growth plate also increased compared to the control group. Growth hormone directly stimulated growth factor secretion locally in the growth plate as well.

Since August 2014, when the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recognized the complex of Astragalus extract and other components (HT042) as an individually recognized health functional ingredient that helps children's height growth, the research team has published 10 related research papers on HT042 in international journals. They have presented international academic papers on the growth-promoting effects of natural products. Major papers include studies on HT042’s effects on bone length growth, growth factors, growth proteins, bone density, and bone microstructure in growing rats, as well as HT042’s safety and lack of impact on precocious puberty.

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The research team stated, "Through the mechanism revealed in the research paper, we have once again proven that the HT042 ingredient individually recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety can help children’s height growth," adding, "We will continue research to find natural substances that aid height growth so that health functional foods developed from natural materials can be trusted and used."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.