title: Effects of growth hormone and testosterone therapy on aerobic and anaerobic fitness, body composition and lipoprotein profile in middle-aged men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Andropause and aging are associated with neuroendocrine dysfunctions. Growth hormone and testosterone play a significant role in several processes affecting adaptation and thereby also everyday functioning. The aim of this research project was to evaluate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone and testosterone enanthate injections on body mass and body composition, aerobic and anaerobic fitness and lipid profile in middle-aged men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research group was comprised of 14 men aged 45 - 60 years. Two series of laboratory analyses were performed. Independent tests were carried out at baseline and after 12 weeks of the experiment. The data were analyzed using Statistica 9.1 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of the intervention programme on fat-free mass (η(2)=0.34), total body fat (η(2)=0.79), total cholesterol (η(2)=0.30), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (η(2)=0.31), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (η(2)=0.42), triglyceride (η(2)=0.28), testosterone (η(2)=0.52), insulin-like growth factor 1 (η(2)=0.47) and growth hormone (η(2)=0.63). Furthermore, ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of the rhGH and T treatment on maximal oxygen uptake (η(2)=0.63), anaerobic threshold (η(2)=0.61) and maximal work rate (η(2)=0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It should be emphasized that the lipid profile was affected not only by rhGH+T replacement therapy, but also by the prescribed physical activity programme. The strength and endurance fitness programme alone did not cause significant changes in body mass and composition, nor the anaerobic and aerobic capacity. On the other hand, the rhGH=T treatment stimulated these changes significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Theory, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zając
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Training, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.affiliation: Department of Individual Sports, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Socha
authors.affiliation: Department of Methodology, Statistics and Informatics Systems, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maszczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Training, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chycki
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D008074:Lipoproteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; C004648:testosterone enanthate