STANFORD, Calif., March 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. review of randomized-controlled trials that compared growth hormone to no-growth-hormone treatment in healthy people found no athletic benefit.
Study leader Dr. Hau Liu of Stanford University said the review of people ages 13 to 45 found lean body mass increased in people who took growth hormone, but strength and exercise capacity did not.
However, those who took growth hormone experienced soft tissue swelling and fatigue more frequently than those who did not take growth hormone.
The review, published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, concluded claims growth hormone enhances physical performance are not supported by the scientific literature. Growth hormone may increase lean body mass but may not improve strength and may worsen exercise capacity and increase adverse events, the review said.
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