Misleading Interpretations and Public Misinformation on Human Growth Hormone in Athletes
Authors: Tobias Ehlert
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Letters7 September 2010Misleading Interpretations and Public Misinformation on Human Growth Hormone in AthletesTobias Ehlert, PhD, Perikles Simon, MD, PhD, and Suzan Tug, PhDTobias Ehlert, PhDFrom Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany.Search for more papers by this author, Perikles Simon, MD, PhDFrom Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany.Search for more papers by this author, and Suzan Tug, PhDFrom Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-5-201009070-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Meinhardt and colleagues (1) reported significant water retention and reduction of fat mass after administration of growth hormone, whereas endurance, strength, power, and muscle mass were not significantly altered. These findings are in line with previous studies (2, 3). Meinhardt and colleagues are the first to suggest an effect of growth hormone in a Wingate test procedure. Experts in exercise physiology are critically debating the athletic significance of the Wingate test (4), but Meinhardt and colleagues speculate in their article and in a video message addressed to the mass media that their findings could translate into an ...References1. Meinhardt U, Nelson AE, Hansen JL, Birzniece V, Clifford D, Leung KC, et al. The effects of growth hormone on body composition and physical performance in recreational athletes: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:568-77. [PMID: 20439575] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Yarasheski KE, Campbell JA, Smith K, Rennie MJ, Holloszy JO, Bier DM. Effect of growth hormone and resistance exercise on muscle growth in young men. Am J Physiol. 1992;262:261-7. [PMID: 1550219] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Yarasheski KE, Zachweija JJ, Angelopoulos TJ, Bier DM. Short-term growth hormone treatment does not increase muscle protein synthesis in experienced weight lifters. J Appl Physiol. 1993;74:3073-6. [PMID: 8366011] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Bedu M, Fellmann N, Spielvogel H, Falgairette G, Van Praagh E, Coudert J. Force-velocity and 30-s Wingate tests in boys at high and low altitudes. J Appl Physiol. 1991;70:1031-7. [PMID: 2032968] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Tobias Ehlert, PhD; Perikles Simon, MD, PhD; Suzan Tug, PhDAffiliations: From Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Effects of Growth Hormone on Body Composition and Physical Performance in Recreational Athletes Udo Meinhardt , Anne E. Nelson , Jennifer L. Hansen , Vita Birzniece , David Clifford , Kin-Chuen Leung , Kenneth Graham , and Ken K.Y. Ho Misleading Interpretations and Public Misinformation on Human Growth Hormone in Athletes Ken K.Y. Ho , Udo Meinhardt , and David Clifford Misleading Interpretations and Public Misinformation on Human Growth Hormone in Athletes Shawn C. Sorenson Metrics 7 September 2010Volume 153, Issue 5Page: 345-346KeywordsConflicts of interestExerciseFatsGrowth hormoneHeart rateHuman growth hormoneMusclesRandomized trialsSports ePublished: 7 September 2010 Issue Published: 7 September 2010 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...