‘such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and the desire to take more steroids.'"29
2. Adverse Effects of Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone is a protein hormone produced naturally in the body by the anterior pituitary gland. It is essential for growth and development and is responsible for regulation of adult height, muscle and organ growth, and has a role in sexual development. Since 1985, it has been available in a synthetic form called recombinant human growth hormon Human growth hormone acts primarily by stimulating the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), the more potent growth stimulant. Both appear to have anabolic effects in adult in that they enhance protein synthesis and protein turnover in muscles.30
A number of studies have shown that use of human growth hormone does not increase muscle strength in healthy subjects or well-trained athletes.31 Athletes who have tried human growth hormone as a training aid have reached the same conclusion. The author of one
29 2006 Steroids Report, Steroids Working Group, United States Sentencing Commission, at 25 (Mar. 2006) (quoting Nat'l Inst. on Drug Abuse, Anabolic Steroid Abuse, NIH Pub. No. 00-3721, at 6 (Apr. 2000)).
30 C. Ehrnborg, et al., Supraphysiologic Growth Hormone: Less Fat, More Extracellular Fluid but Uncertain Effects on Muscles in Healthy, Active Young Adults, 62 Clinical Endocrinology 449-457 (2005); J. Gibney, et al., Growth Hormone and Testosterone Interact Positively to Enhance Protein and Energy Metabolism in Hypopituitary Men, 289 Am. J. of Physiology-Endocrinology & Metabolism E266-71 (2005).
31 R. Deyssig, et al., Effect of Growth Hormone Treatment on Hormonal Parameters, Body Composition and Strength in Athletes, 128 Acta Endocronologica 313-18 (1993); K.E. Yarasheski, et al., Effect of Growth Hormone and Resistance Exercise on Muscle Growth in Young Men, 262 Am. J. of Physiology-Endocrinology & Metabolism E261-67 (1992); K.E. Yarasheski, et al., Short-term Growth Hormone Treatment Does Not Increase Muscle Protein Synthesis in Experienced Weight Lifters, 74 J. of Applied Physiology 3073-76 (1993). A more recent study concluded that high doses of growth hormone did significantly reduce body fat in young adults but did not have any effect on muscle mass. M.J. Rennie, Claims for the Anabolic Effects of Growth Hormone: A Case of the Emperor's New Clothes? 37 Brit. J. of Sports Med. 100-05 (2003).
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