title: Growth hormone and physical performance.
abstract: There has been limited research and evidence that GH enhances physical performance in healthy adults or in trained athletes. Even so, human growth hormone (GH) is widely abused by athletes. In healthy adults, GH increases lean body mass, although it is possible that fluid retention contributes to this effect. The most recent data indicate that GH does not enhance muscle strength, power, or aerobic exercise capacity, but improves anaerobic exercise capacity. In fact, there are adverse effects of long-term GH excess such that sustained abuse of GH can lead to a state mimicking acromegaly, a condition with increased morbidity and mortality. This review will examine GH effects on body composition and physical performance in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Pituitary Research Unit, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Vita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Birzniece
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Ken K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000139:chemically induced; D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D011506:Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone