Does exogenous growth hormone improve athletic performance?
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a critical appraisal of the literature to address the question of whether human growth hormone (HGH) improves performance in trained athletes.


METHODS
Used PubMed using the search terms of "growth hormone athletes" and the reference lists of previous reviews of the subject.


METHODS
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of exogenous HGH on muscle power in trained athletes. Only one study matched the search criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence of increased muscle strength with HGH in trained athletes.
Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. hdean@cc.umanitoba.ca
Heather
H
Dean
D004300:Doping in Sports; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010919:Placebos; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013177:Sports; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D010919:Placebos; D013006:Growth Hormone