Growth Factor-9 is a product meant for bodybuilders that is designed to be a hormone booster, according to the product’s description. It is produced by the manufacturer Novex Biotech. The product has been around for many years and though it was originally available mainly through third-party retail sites, the manufacturer has now given this product its own dedicated website.
What is Growth Factor-9?
Growth Factor-9 is described as a product that will help to boost human growth hormone (HGH) levels within the body. Though the official website is clearly designed to appear scientific, and there is a “science” tab that leads to a page that discusses the effects of the ingredients in a technical way – and in small font, it is clearly not meant for comfortable understanding by the average consumer – the research cited and that is suggested to be conclusive all appears to be tiny and preliminary. The main cited study contained only 16 participants. At best, a study of that size would be able to conclude that further study was justified.
Instead, the website places the spotlight on the indication that using the ingredient can increase HGH levels in the body by an average of 682 percent. The study did not examine the safety of this ingredient, nor did it show that boosting the HGH levels provided the desired benefits in the product’s users.
How Much Does It Cost?
This product is not at all cheap. On the official website, Growth Factor-9 sells for $99 per bottle of 120 capsules. The product directions recommend taking 4 capsules with water on an empty stomach two hours before breakfast or two hours after dinner before bedtime. The user is not supposed to eat anything two hours before or after having taken these capsules. This helps to explain why they are meant to be taken first thing in the morning or last thing at night, as it requires the user to clear a 4 hour window without food (2 hours on either side of taking it), in order to properly follow the directions.
Taking 4 pills per day would mean that the 120-capsule bottle of these pills will provide a 30 day supply. At $99 per month, this product will be cost prohibitive for many people who cannot afford $297 per season or $1,188 per year on this one supplement.
Is It Worth the Price?
If the product actually lives up to its claims, this could be a worthwhile investment for those who can afford it. However, there is no clear demonstration in mid-sized or large reputable third party research published in industry journals that would suggest a bodybuilder will see substantially better results with this product than without it. The manufacturer says that the higher levels of HGH will help to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass, enhance recovery rate, and boost endurance. It also says that it can help to improve skin tone, sex drive, overall mood, and produce other positive effects.
At the time this review was written, the ingredients listed for Growth Factor-9 on the official website include:
- L-Lysine HCl
- L-Arginine HCl
- Oxo-Proline
- N-Acetyl L-Cysteine
- L-Glutamine
- Schizonepeta Powder
On this list, the first four ingredients don’t produce the types of effect that are suggested by the manufacturer and no scientific studies could be located that would link them to the claims about them when searching through a database of medical journals. Those substances are also extremely common in other diet, protein, and bodybuilding supplements that are available at a fraction of the price of this product.
Therefore, to make Growth Factor-9 worth its massive price tag, its last two ingredients would need to be linked to a strong body of evidence to prove its effectiveness. Oxy-proline is also known as pyroglutamic acid. This is a form of amino acid that is rather rare. At the time that this review was written, no clinical studies could be located to support the health, weight loss, or body building benefits of this substance. One study was found linking its use to assisting skin in holding onto moisture.
Schizonpeta is an herb that is used for the treatment of eczema and other skin conditions and is sometimes used as a treatment for the common cold. Any indication that it is associated with human growth hormone production could not be located at this time.
