title: Claims for the anabolic effects of growth hormone: a case of the emperor's new clothes?
abstract: This review examines the evidence that growth hormone has metabolic effects in adult human beings. The conclusion is that growth hormone does indeed have powerful effects on fat and carbohydrate metabolism, and in particular promotes the metabolic use of adipose tissue triacylglycerol. However, there is no proof that net protein retention is promoted in adults, except possibly of connective tissue. The overexaggeration of the effects of growth hormone in muscle building is effectively promoting its abuse and thereby encouraging athletes and elderly men to expose themselves to increased risk of disease for little benefit.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, Old Medical School, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. m.j.rennie@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rennie
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008066:Lipolysis; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I