Do height-increasing medications really work?
Sep 15, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen Jian
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, from the perspective of modern medicine and nutrition, most products claiming to "increase height" lack scientific evidence, and their efficacy should be objectively evaluated in conjunction with the laws of human growth and development. Many height-increasing medications currently on the market are exaggerated in their claims, and some products containing unknown ingredients may even cause risks such as endocrine disorders and liver or kidney dysfunction.
Generally speaking, from the perspective of modern medicine and nutrition, most products claiming to "increase height" lack scientific basis, and their effectiveness should be objectively evaluated in combination with the natural growth and development patterns of the human body. A detailed analysis is as follows:
A person's height is primarily determined by genetics, and there exists a critical window for growth and development. Usually, once adolescence ends and the epiphyseal plates close, bones lose their natural ability to grow. For individuals whose epiphyseal plates have already closed, no "height-increasing medication" can lengthen the bones. Such products often contain common nutrients like vitamins and minerals, which merely fulfill basic nutritional needs and cannot overcome genetic and physiological limitations.
As for those whose epiphyseal plates are not yet closed, if delayed height development is caused by malnutrition, growth hormone deficiency, or similar conditions, medical intervention under a doctor's guidance is necessary. For example, if diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, treatment with recombinant human growth hormone may be used. However, this is a prescription drug and requires strict evaluation of the indications—it is not an ordinary height-enhancing supplement. If the issue is merely nutritional imbalance, improvements can be achieved through balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and appropriate physical activity, without reliance on so-called height-increasing medications.
Many height-increasing medications currently on the market involve exaggerated claims, and some products containing unknown ingredients might even cause risks such as endocrine disorders or damage to liver and kidney functions. Therefore, to determine whether such products are effective, one should first undergo medical examinations to assess the status of the epiphyseal plates, and then follow scientifically based interventions, avoiding blind trust in advertisements.
