| The use of human growth hormone in body building | | | | hormone in bodybuilding really work? Although studies |
| was one of the first uses of the hormone for | | | | have shown an increase in lean muscle and a |
| applications other than treatment of hormone | | | | decrease in body fat, it's not clear that these physical |
| deficiency. The inspiration for this treatment probably | | | | changes give an athlete any real edge in bodybuilding |
| came from early work suggesting that injections of the | | | | or competition. That increased muscle size may not |
| hormone in healthy people provoked an increase in | | | | equate to increased strength over and above that |
| lean muscle, increased strength and a youthful, | | | | achieved with other training techniques. And human |
| energetic outlook. Experience among bodybuilders and | | | | growth hormone injections bring with them a host of |
| athletes has suggested that regular use of the | | | | possible side effects that can heavily outweigh any |
| hormone does result in these physical changes. | | | | potential benefit of the therapy. |
| Human growth hormone (HGH) is responsible for | | | | Human growth hormone injections raise the HGH level |
| normal growth in children and teenagers, but it also | | | | in the blood above normal level for an extended period |
| regulates metabolic processes such as fat metabolism | | | | of time. Though the idea is to bring levels back up to |
| and carbohydrate metabolism. It's no accident that, as | | | | where they were in youth, it may be a bad idea |
| HGH levels start to decrease when we are fully | | | | because the hormone does have effects on the body |
| grown, we tend to experience an increase in fat | | | | beyond increasing muscle and preventing fat storage. |
| storage accompanied by a loss of muscle and | | | | Long term users of human growth hormone in body |
| strength. The use of growth hormone in bodybuilding is | | | | building run the risk of unpleasant side effects such as |
| intended to arrest or reverse these changes, giving the | | | | high levels of fat in the blood, thyroid problems, heart |
| athlete an edge in the gym and in competition. Many | | | | disease, depression, diabetes, and other things. Though |
| bodybuilders and other athletes now receive human | | | | minor damage can be reversed by discontinuing the |
| growth hormone injections. | | | | hormone treatment, some physical changes are |
| But there are problems with using human growth | | | | permanent. |
| hormone in bodybuilding that athletes should be aware | | | | Finally, human growth hormone injections are |
| of. First, the hormone is banned by NCAA and WADA | | | | prohibitively expensive and counterfeit products are |
| and other sports organizations. An athlete tested for | | | | common. The hormone has to be injected and |
| banned substances during competition would be | | | | monitored by a professional with medical expertise, |
| charged with a doping violation if synthetic HGH was | | | | often on a daily schedule, but at least several times |
| found in the blood (all HGH available for therapeutic | | | | per week. The cost will run to thousands of dollars a |
| use is now synthetic). Substances taken to stimulate | | | | month for comprehensive treatment. It's ironic that it's |
| the release of banned hormones are also banned, so if | | | | thought that few athletes using human growth |
| drug testing is a factor, human growth hormone | | | | hormone in bodybuilding, and other sports training, |
| injections, and the use of hormone releasers, are not | | | | experience the serious side effects mentioned above |
| good choices. | | | | because of the predominance of counterfeit HGH on |
| Efficacy is another factor: does using human growth | | | | the market today. |