Ghrelin, Growth Hormone, and Growth Factors Investigated During Human High-Altitude Ascent

High altitude exposure presents significant physiological challenges, including increased energy expenditure and metabolic stress. The body's adaptive responses, particularly hormonal regulation, are crucial for acclimatization. Ghrelin, a key orexigenic peptide, and Growth Hormone (GH), a metabolic regulator, are central to energy homeostasis and growth factor modulation. Their precise interplay and changes during progressive ascent to extreme altitudes remain underexplored, representing a critical gap in understanding human acclimatization and metabolic adaptation to hypoxia.