Impact of GH administration on athletic performance in healthy young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hermansen, Kasper; Bengtsen, Mads; Kjær, Michael; Vestergaard, Peter; Jørgensen, Jens Otto Lunde
• Is Part Of: Growth hormone & IGF research. Volume 34(2017)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: GH -- Athletic performance -- Doping; Growth regulators -- Periodicals; Growth -- Regulation -- Periodicals; Somatomedin -- Periodicals; Somatomedins -- Periodicals; Growth Hormone -- Periodicals; Growth Substances -- Periodicals; Croissance -- Régulation -- Périodiques; Croissance -- Régulateurs -- Périodiques; Somatotrophine -- Périodiques; Somatomédine -- Périodiques; Growth -- Regulation; Growth regulators; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2017.05.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1096-6374

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Illicit use of growth hormone (GH) as a performance-enhancing drug among athletes is prevalent, although the evidence of such effects in healthy, young subjects is sparse. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of published studies on the effect of GH administration on body composition, substrate metabolism, and athletic performance in healthy, young subjects. Design: The English-language based databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, and eligible articles were reviewed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Fifty-four potentially relevant articles were retrieved of which 11 were included in this analysis comprising 254 subjects. Results: Administration of GH significantly increased lean body mass ( p < 0.01) and decreased fat mass ( p < 0.01). In addition, GH increased the exercising levels of glycerol ( p = 0.01) and free fatty acids ( p < 0.01), but did not alter the respiratory quotient during exercise ( p = 0.30). GH significantly increased anaerobic exercise capacity ( p < 0.01) in the only study which investigated this, but did not over weeks to months improve muscle strength ( p = 0.36) or maximum oxygen uptake ( p = 0.89). Conclusion: GH administration elicits significant changes in body composition, but does not increase either muscle strength or aerobic exercise capacity in healthy, young subjects. Highlights: A meta-analysis of the effects of GH administration on athletic performance GH elicits significant changes in body composition and lipolysis. GH does not significantly improve either muscle strength or exercise capacity.