Growth hormones don't boost performance

Growth hormones don't boost performance — according to scientists, who won't study athletes using the drugs the way they really use them:

They analyzed 27 studies involving 440 participants. The results were released Monday by the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers found that those who got the hormone put on about 5 pounds more of muscle, and lost about 2 pounds more of fat, although the fat loss wasn't statistically different. The researchers said some of the extra body mass could just be fluid buildup.

There was no difference found in strength or exercise stamina between the two groups, but there were only two strength studies and eight that measured exercise. Those who got the hormone had more side effects including swelling and fatigue.

The review couldn't consider long-term effects, since the longest study was three months, and most were much shorter.

The researchers also said the doses used in the research may be lower than those used by athletes, who may be combining growth hormone with other performance-enhancing drugs.

Scientists similarly found that anabolic steroids had no effect on muscle-building — because they refused to look at large doses combined with weight training. When they did finally look at the low end of what bodybuilders were using — 600 mg of testosterone enanthate weekly for 10 weeks — they saw tremendous gains from steroids. Hmm...