human growth hormone (HGH)

HGH effectiveness

- HGH stimulates muscle growth - little evidence proving it improves athletic performance - it may even impede athletic performance (reducing endurance) - when combined with anabolic steroids dramatic improvements in performance occur

HGH history

- HGH synthesis was discovered in 1981 - HGH use became prevalent among athletes in late 1980s - drug tests were able to detect it in early 2000s

HGH side effects

- less severe relative to anabolic steroids - elevates risk for joint/muscle pain, osteoporosis, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, immune response to growth hormone

HGH

- stimulates growth by cell reproduction (anabolic) - primarily responsible for development in childhood/adolescence - not a naturally sex specific hormone like testosterone