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Cited by 127Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth FactorsDoping in SportsHormonal and reproductive studies

The Effects of Growth Hormone on Body Composition and Physical Performance in Recreational Athletes: A Randomized Trial

Meinhardt, Udo, Nelson, Anne E., Hansen, Jennifer L., Birzniece, Vita, Clifford, David, Leung, Kin-Chuen, Graham, Kenneth, Ho, Ken K.Y.·2010·Annals of Internal Medicine
DOI 10.7326/0003-4819-152-9-201005040-00007
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone is widely abused by athletes, frequently with androgenic steroids. Its effects on performance are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of growth hormone alone or with testosterone on body composition and measures of performance. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study of 8 weeks of treatment followed by a 6-week washout period. Randomization was computer-generated with concealed allocation. (Australian-New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry registration number: ACTRN012605000508673) SETTING: Clinical research facility in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 96 recreationally trained athletes (63 men and 33 women) with a mean age of 27.9 years (SD, 5.7). INTERVENTION: Men were randomly assigned to receive placebo, growth hormone (2 mg/d subcutaneously), testosterone (250 mg/wk intramuscularly), or combined treatments. Women were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or growth hormone (2 mg/d). MEASUREMENTS: Body composition variables (fat mass, lean body mass, extracellular water mass, and body cell mass) and physical performance variables (endurance [maximum oxygen consumption], strength [dead lift], power [jump height], and sprint capacity [Wingate value]). RESULTS: Body cell mass was correlated with all measures of performance at baseline. Growth hormone significantly reduced fat mass, increased lean body mass through an increase in extracellular water, and increased body cell mass in men when coadministered with testosterone. Growth hormone significantly increased sprint capacity, by 0.71 kJ (95% CI, 0.1 to 1.3 kJ; relative increase, 3.9% [CI, 0.0% to 7.7%]) in men and women combined and by 1.7 kJ (CI, 0.5 to 3.0 kJ; relative increase, 8.3% [CI, 3.0% to 13.6%]) when coadministered with testosterone to men; other performance measures did not significantly change. The increase in sprint capacity was not maintained 6 weeks after discontinuation of the drug. LIMITATIONS: Growth hormone dosage may have been lower than that used covertly by competitive athletes. The athletic significance of the observed improvements in sprint capacity is unclear, and the study was too small to draw conclusions about safety. CONCLUSION: Growth hormone supplementation influenced body composition and increased sprint capacity when administered alone and in combination with testosterone. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The World Anti-Doping Agency.

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Crossref · 10.7326/0003-4819-152-9-201005040-00007

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  • Endogenous GH plays no role in sex differences in muscle mass and function.

    “Finally, the evidence that endogenous GH plays no role in sex differences in muscle mass and function is supported by evidence from the most extensive interventional study of GH treatment to non-GH–deficient adults, daily GH administration for 8 weeks to healthy recreational athletes produced only marginally significant improvement in exercise performance of men and none in women (174).”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [174]

  • Daily GH administration for 8 weeks to healthy recreational athletes produced only marginally significant improvement in exercise performance of men and none in women.

    “Finally, the evidence that endogenous GH plays no role in sex differences in muscle mass and function is supported by evidence from the most extensive interventional study of GH treatment to non-GH–deficient adults, daily GH administration for 8 weeks to healthy recreational athletes produced only marginally significant improvement in exercise performance of men and none in women (174).”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [174]

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Authors
Meinhardt, U., Nelson, A. E., Hansen, J. L., Birzniece, V., Clifford, D., Leung, K.-C., Graham, K., & Ho, K. K. Y.
Affiliations
Garvan Institute of Medical Research (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Annals of Internal Medicine
Publisher
American College of Physicians
Published
2010-05-04
Volume
152
Issue
9
Pages
568-577
ISSN
  • 0003-4819 (ISSN-L)
  • 1539-3704
DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-152-9-201005040-00007
OpenAlex
W2162155608
Cited by
127
References
28
Citations by year
2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 10
FWCI
12.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.acpjournals.org/journal/aim/text-and-data-mining (tdm)
Locations
  • Annals of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
growth hormone, testosterone, doping in sport, body composition, physical performance, body cell mass, fat mass, lean body mass, endurance, strength, power, recreational athletes, anabolic steroid abuse, drug effects on performance, washout period, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Androgens, Body Composition, Body Water, Female, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Testosterone, Body Mass Index, Human Growth Hormone, Extracellular Fluid, Athletic Performance, Young Adult

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