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TORONTO — The short-term use of either growth hormone or testosterone alone does not significantly improve physical performance among recreational athletes, according to research presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.
However, the combination did significantly increase sprint capacity in men.
Dr. Ken K.Y. Ho, of the Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study looking at the effects of growth hormone and testosterone supplementation among 97 recreational athletes aged 18–40. The mean age of the study participants was 27 years. The researchers defined a recreational athlete as someone who exercised at least 2 hr/wk for at least 1 year.
The study was funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Australian Government Anti-Doping Research Program. The supplements were provided by Novo Nordisk and Organon.
Sixty-four men were randomized to receive either placebo, growth hormone (Norditropin), testosterone (Sustanon), or a combination of growth hormone and testosterone over the 8-week study period. The study also included 33 women who were randomized to receive either placebo or growth hormone.
The level of the hormones given was high, but safe, Dr. Ho said in an interview. Study participants in the growth hormone or combination arms received up to 2 mg/day of growth hormone for 8 weeks. Men in the testosterone or combination arms received 250 mg/wk of testosterone for 5 weeks. The researchers assessed endurance, strength, power, and sprint capacity using a variety of physical tests.
There was no significant change from baseline among any of the treatment groups in terms of endurance, strength, or power. The only significant finding was among men who took a combination of growth hormone and testosterone. In that group, there was a statistically significant increase in sprint capacity, which was calculated using a 30-second cycle Wingate test for anaerobic sprint capacity that measured total work and peak power.
TORONTO — The short-term use of either growth hormone or testosterone alone does not significantly improve physical performance among recreational athletes, according to research presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.
However, the combination did significantly increase sprint capacity in men.
Dr. Ken K.Y. Ho, of the Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study looking at the effects of growth hormone and testosterone supplementation among 97 recreational athletes aged 18–40. The mean age of the study participants was 27 years. The researchers defined a recreational athlete as someone who exercised at least 2 hr/wk for at least 1 year.
The study was funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Australian Government Anti-Doping Research Program. The supplements were provided by Novo Nordisk and Organon.
Sixty-four men were randomized to receive either placebo, growth hormone (Norditropin), testosterone (Sustanon), or a combination of growth hormone and testosterone over the 8-week study period. The study also included 33 women who were randomized to receive either placebo or growth hormone.
The level of the hormones given was high, but safe, Dr. Ho said in an interview. Study participants in the growth hormone or combination arms received up to 2 mg/day of growth hormone for 8 weeks. Men in the testosterone or combination arms received 250 mg/wk of testosterone for 5 weeks. The researchers assessed endurance, strength, power, and sprint capacity using a variety of physical tests.
There was no significant change from baseline among any of the treatment groups in terms of endurance, strength, or power. The only significant finding was among men who took a combination of growth hormone and testosterone. In that group, there was a statistically significant increase in sprint capacity, which was calculated using a 30-second cycle Wingate test for anaerobic sprint capacity that measured total work and peak power.
TORONTO — The short-term use of either growth hormone or testosterone alone does not significantly improve physical performance among recreational athletes, according to research presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.
However, the combination did significantly increase sprint capacity in men.
Dr. Ken K.Y. Ho, of the Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study looking at the effects of growth hormone and testosterone supplementation among 97 recreational athletes aged 18–40. The mean age of the study participants was 27 years. The researchers defined a recreational athlete as someone who exercised at least 2 hr/wk for at least 1 year.
The study was funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Australian Government Anti-Doping Research Program. The supplements were provided by Novo Nordisk and Organon.
Sixty-four men were randomized to receive either placebo, growth hormone (Norditropin), testosterone (Sustanon), or a combination of growth hormone and testosterone over the 8-week study period. The study also included 33 women who were randomized to receive either placebo or growth hormone.
The level of the hormones given was high, but safe, Dr. Ho said in an interview. Study participants in the growth hormone or combination arms received up to 2 mg/day of growth hormone for 8 weeks. Men in the testosterone or combination arms received 250 mg/wk of testosterone for 5 weeks. The researchers assessed endurance, strength, power, and sprint capacity using a variety of physical tests.
There was no significant change from baseline among any of the treatment groups in terms of endurance, strength, or power. The only significant finding was among men who took a combination of growth hormone and testosterone. In that group, there was a statistically significant increase in sprint capacity, which was calculated using a 30-second cycle Wingate test for anaerobic sprint capacity that measured total work and peak power.