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 supplementation influenced body composition and increased sprint capacity when administered alone and in combination with testosterone .
BACKGROUND Growth hormone is widely abused by athletes , frequently with and rogenic 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 .
Effect of growth hormone treatment on hormonal parameters, body composition and strength in athletes.
The effect of recombinant GH on strength , body composition and endocrine parameters in power athletes was investigated in a controlled study . Twenty-two healthy , non-obese males ( age 23.4 + /- 0.5 years ; ideal body weight 122 + /- 3.1 % , body fat 10.1 + /- 1.0 % ; mean + /- SEM ) were included . Prob and s were assigned in a double-blind manner to either GH treatment ( 0.09U ( kg BW)-1 day-1 sc ) or placebo for a period of six weeks . To exclude concurrent treatment with and rogenic-anabolic steroids urine specimens were tested at regular intervals for these substances . Serum was assayed for GH , IGF-I , IGF-binding proteins , insulin and thyroxine before the onset of the study and at two-weekly intervals thereafter . Maximal voluntary strength of the biceps and quadriceps muscles was measured on a strength training apparatus . Fat mass and lean body mass were derived from measurements of skinfolds at ten sites with a caliper . For final evaluation only data of those 8 and 10 subjects in the two groups who completed the study were analyzed . GH , IGF-I and IGF-binding protein were in the normal range before therapy and increased significantly in the GH-treated group . Fasting insulin concentrations increased insignificantly and thyroxine levels decreased significantly in the GH-treated prob and s. There was no effect of GH treatment on maximal strength during concentric contraction of the biceps and quadriceps muscles . Body weight and body fat were not changed significantly during treatment . We conclude that the anabolic , lipolytic effect of GH therapy in adults depends on the degree of fat mass and GH deficiency . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 supplementation influenced body composition and increased sprint capacity when administered alone and in combination with testosterone .
BACKGROUND Growth hormone is widely abused by athletes , frequently with and rogenic 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 .