title: Pilot study of serum inhibin B as a potential marker of testosterone doping in weight lifting men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore effectors of the pituitary-testicular axis suitable as potential biochemical markers to screen for testosterone doping.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study with male bodybuilding athletes with a self-reported history of testosterone doping (repeated intramuscular administration of testosterone preparations, last injection 8 weeks or less ago) compared with an equal sized control group matched for sex, age, and body mass index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endocrine outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy young men of white background.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inhibin B, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH did not differ between the 2 groups, the serum concentrations of inhibin B in individuals with a history of testosterone doping were exclusively at or below the lower limit of the normal range for adult men (100-400 pg/mL). Inhibin B was significantly lower in those men who used testosterone for weight lifting (76.1 +/- 36.3 ng/L [mean +/- SD]) than in controls (182.1 +/- 35.4 ng/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low concentration of serum inhibin B may reflect the application of exogenous testosterone and appears to be a potential marker associated with anabolic androgenic steroid doping.
authors.affiliation: Endokrinologikum Ruhr, Bochum, Germany. andreas.barthel@endokrinologikum.com
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barthel
authors.forename: Stefan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014891:Weight Lifting
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone