Detecting growth hormone abuse in athletes.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

There is widespread anecdotal evidence that growth hormone (GH) is used by athletes for its anabolic and lipolytic properties.

Although GH is on the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) list of banned substances, the detection of abuse with GH is challenging.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over), so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

The first is based on the measurement of pituitary GH isoforms and the second is based on the measurement of markers of GH action.Pituitary GH contains multiple isoforms whereas recombinant human GH comprises solely the 22-kDa isoform.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Athletes, Biomarkers, Collagen Type III, Discriminant Analysis, Doping in Sports, Exercise and Growth Hormone.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over).

The publication is from 2009 (Drug testing and analysis), a journal based in England.

More context: the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) compound page, all human trials.