scholarly journals Challenges in Detecting the Abuse of Growth Hormone in Sport

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 1587-1593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy M McHugh ◽  
Roderick T Park ◽  
Peter H Sönksen ◽  
Richard IG Holt

Abstract Background: Growth hormone (GH) is reputed to be in widespread use in the sporting arena as a performance-enhancing agent and is on the list of banned substances published by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The detection of GH abuse poses many challenges. Unlike many substances of abuse, such as synthetic anabolic steroids, GH is a naturally occurring substance; therefore, demonstration of exogenous administration must rely on detecting concentrations in excess of an established reference interval. The purpose of this review is to discuss the methodologies being developed to detect GH abuse. Methods: We undertook a comprehensive search using multiple electronic databases and hand searches of reference lists of articles. The data for this review reflect our academic interests and experience through work on the GH-2000 and GH-2004 projects. Results: Two approaches have been taken to detect GH abuse. The first is based on assessment of the effect of exogenous GH on pituitary GH isoforms, and the second is based on measurement of markers of GH action. The advantages of each approach and the difficulties encountered with each technique, as well as future concepts in detection, are discussed. Conclusion: Although there are substantial challenges for the detection of GH, methodologies now exist to detect GH abuse with reasonable sensitivity and specificity.

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Van Thuyne ◽  
P Van Eenoo ◽  
F. T Delbeke

AbstractBased upon recent sales numbers, nutritional supplements play a key role in the lifestyle of a substantial proportion of the population. As well as products such as vitamins or minerals, several precursors of anabolic steroids are marketed as nutritional supplements. Another group of commercially available supplements are products for weight loss based upon herbal formulations originating fromEphedraspecies. Apart from supplements indicating the presence of these active compounds, numerous non-hormonal nutritional supplements were found that were contaminated with non-labelled anabolic steroids. Stimulating agents other than naturally occurring analogues of ephedrine were detected. A major group using dietary supplements are sportsmen, ranging from amateur level to elite athletes. Besides the possible health risks associated with the use of dietary supplements, athletes should take care not to violate the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency because athletes remain responsible for substances detected in their biofluids, irrespective of their origin. Several analytical methods have been developed to determine the presence of doping agents as contaminants. The present review attempts to address the issues concerning the use of nutritional supplements and the detection of doping agents as contaminants in dietary supplements.


1978 ◽  
Vol 253 (8) ◽  
pp. 2679-2687 ◽  
Author(s):  
U.J. Lewis ◽  
J.T. Dunn ◽  
L.F. Bonewald ◽  
B.K. Seavey ◽  
W.P. Vanderlaan

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (20) ◽  
pp. 6210
Author(s):  
Marwa T. Badawy ◽  
Mansour Sobeh ◽  
Jianbo Xiao ◽  
Mohamed A. Farag

Androstenedione is a steroidal hormone produced in male and female gonads, as well as in the adrenal glands, and it is known for its key role in the production of estrogen and testosterone. Androstenedione is also sold as an oral supplement, that is being utilized to increase testosterone levels. Simply known as “andro” by athletes, it is commonly touted as a natural alternative to anabolic steroids. By boosting testosterone levels, it is thought to be an enhancer for athletic performance, build body muscles, reduce fats, increase energy, maintain healthy RBCs, and increase sexual performance. Nevertheless, several of these effects are not yet scientifically proven. Though commonly used as a supplement for body building, it is listed among performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the International Olympic Committee. This review focuses on the action mechanism behind androstenedione’s health effects, and further side effects including clinical features, populations at risk, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and toxicokinetics. A review of androstenedione regulation in drug doping is also presented.


Author(s):  
Josef Niebauer ◽  
Carl Johan Sundberg

The abuse of doping substances is prevalent in sports and in society at large. Doping substances are also present in a substantial fraction of nutritional supplements. They can cause severe side effects. This chapter is focused on cardiovascular side effects. Androgenic anabolic steroids can induce left ventricular hypertrophy, heart fibrosis, and systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and has been associated with dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction, and coronary artery disease. Beta-2 agonists can induce chronotropic and inotropic effects, QT prolongation, palpitations, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Erythropoietin can induce hypertension and embolism. Use of banned substances and methods in sports, i.e. doping, is prohibited, unethical, and dangerous. Research efforts in sports sciences and sports medicine are needed to prevent and treat doping abuse and to help athletes be successful without the need for doping.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1098612X2092568
Author(s):  
Antonio M Tardo ◽  
Claudia E Reusch ◽  
Sara Galac ◽  
Sofia Fornetti ◽  
Alessandro Tirolo ◽  
...  

Objectives The aims of this study were to validate a commercially available chemiluminescent assay for measurement of feline plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration (ACTH), to determine the normal reference interval (RI) of plasma ACTH in healthy cats, to assess plasma ACTH in cats with naturally occurring hypercortisolism (HC), primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) and other diseases (OD), and to evaluate the effect of aprotinin on plasma ACTH degradation. Methods Forty healthy cats, 10 with HC, 11 with PH and 30 with OD, were included. The chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay was evaluated by measurement of intra-assay precision, interassay precision and linearity. The RI for plasma ACTH in healthy cats was established using robust methods. Plasma ACTH of samples collected with and without aprotinin, stored at 4°C and assayed over a 6-day period, was measured. Results The intra-assay coefficients of variance (CVs) ranged from 2.7% to 4.3% and interassay CVs from 3.3% to 10.7%. Dilution studies showed excellent accuracy (R2 >0.99). The RI for plasma ACTH in healthy cats was 32–370 pg/ml. Plasma ACTH was not significantly different between healthy cats and the OD group. Cats with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) and PH had significantly higher plasma ACTH than the other groups. Plasma ACTH did not show significant differences when samples collected with and without aprotinin were compared. Conclusions and relevance The Immulite chemiluminescent assay is a valid technique for measuring plasma ACTH in cats and the RI of plasma ACTH is quite wide. Owing to the low overlap between healthy or OD cats and cats with HC or PH, the measurement of plasma ACTH appears to be useful and should be included in the diagnostic work-up when HC or PH are suspected. Furthermore, the measurement of plasma ACTH may be an accurate test for differentiating PDH from adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism.


Author(s):  
Dora Marić ◽  
Šime Veršić ◽  
Šimun Vasilj

Purpose: Bodybuilding becomes more visible and acceptable within mainstream society thanks to social media, which is promoting, and developing grooving interest in bodies, fit-ness and active lifestyle. However, this is concerning knowing that according to the latest world anti-doping agency report bodybuilding is one of two sports with the highest number of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) committed by athletes. This study aimed to evaluate doping attitudes and correlates of doping attitudes in top level body builders. Methods: Study included 26 competitive bodybuilders form Croatia. Variables were collect-ed by a previously validated Questionnaire of Substance Use (QSU). Statistical procedures included means and standard deviations (for parametric variables), frequencies and percent-ages (for ordinal and nominal variables). Spearman’s correlations were calculated to deter-mine associations between studied variables. Results: The most positive attitudes are found towards injectable anabolic steroids (mean ± standard deviation; 4.00 ± 1.52), followed by fat burners (3.73 ± 1.46), growth hormone (3.69 ± 1.64), and estrogen blockers (3.60 ± 1.22), oral anabolic steroids (3.58 ± 1.27). Sig-nificant correlation was identified between: (i) result achieved in bodybuilding (RBB) and alcohol consumption, (R= -0.57 p < 0.05) (ii) RBB and subjective knowledge on nutrition (R=0.66, p < 0.05), (iii) RBB and subjective knowledge on doping (R=0.72, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The lack of correlation between self-perceived competence and objectively eval-uated knowledge on nutrition is alarming due to the possible “anchoring effect”, accordingly even though objective knowledge is not correlated with attitudes towards doping substances, it is important to properly educate athletes who are in the misconception of their true knowl-edge.


2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2007-2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Geraci ◽  
Mario Cole ◽  
Peter Davis

Case: A 33-year-old male presented to the emergency department with complaints of polydipsia, polyuria, nausea, headaches, blurry vision and malaise. Lab work revealed a serum glucose level of 1166 mg/dl (64.8 mmol/L). The patient admitted to completing a cycle of androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs) for bodybuilding. His regimen consisted of supraphysiologic intramuscular injections of a bovine growth hormone, trenbolone acetate and testosterone. The patient received intravenous fluids and insulin to restore metabolic balance. Previously healthy with a non-contributory family history, he was diagnosed with new onset diabetes. Discussion: It has been demonstrated that AAS use, specifically growth hormone, can affect glucose homeostasis through increasing cellular insulin resistance and reducing glucose uptake. Excess growth hormone has been shown to cause symptoms of acromegaly which predisposes up to 40% of patients to diabetes. As trenbolone acetate is not indicated for human use and athletes are known to use supraphysiologic doses of this underground, performance enhancing drug, the correlation of the timing of events and the use of this veterinary growth hormone likely exacerbated an underlying condition or caused this new onset diabetes. Conclusion: We report a case of a young bodybuilder with no significant past medical history who was diagnosed with new onset diabetes associated with supraphysiologic self-injections of the bovine growth hormone, trenbolone acetate, combined with testosterone. AAS have the potential to induce or exacerbate diabetic conditions due to decreased glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance.


1975 ◽  
Vol 191 (1104) ◽  
pp. 335-352 ◽  

A brief account is given of recent research on abscisic acid and the protection which is conferred by this naturally occurring growth hormone inhibitor to plants when they are exposed to various types of physiological stress is discussed. The discovery in the Agricultural Research Council Unit at Wye College of another potent growth hormone inhibitor, which is produced when certain xanthophyll epoxides, e. g. violaxanthin, are exposed to light is described. This inhibitor has been characterized as 2- cis ,4- trans -5- ( 1', 2'-epoxy- 4'-hydroxy- 2',6',6'-trimethyl-1'-cyclohexyl)-3-methylpentadienal and has been named xanthoxin. Its possible role as one of the complex chemicals which operate in the hormonal control of plant growth is discussed. A number of synthetic growth retardants and recent work on their mode of action is reviewed.


Author(s):  
José Roberto Jardim ◽  
Ivone Martins Ferreira ◽  
Anita Sachs

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