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Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) misuse in athletes and potential methods for detection

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Abstract

To athletes, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an attractive performance-enhancing drug, particularly as an alternative to growth hormone (GH) because IGF-I mediates many of the anabolic actions of GH. IGF-I has beneficial effects on muscle protein synthesis and glycogen storage that could enhance performance in several sporting disciplines. Recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) is used in clinical practice, but a variety of IGF-I compounds and IGF-I analogues are also advertised on the internet and many have been available on the black market for several years. Although methods for detecting GH misuse are now well established and there have been several cases in which athletes have tested positive for GH, no test is yet in place for detecting IGF-I misuse. The GH-2004 research group has been investigating methods for detection of IGF-I misuse and a test is being developed on the basis of the principles of the successful GH-2000 marker method, in which markers from the IGF axis and markers of collagen and bone turnover are used to detect GH misuse. Commercial immunoassays for these markers have been validated for anti-doping purposes but new methods, including IGF-I measurement by use of mass spectrometry, should improve the performance of the tests and help in the detection of athletes who are doping with these peptide hormones.

Potential serum markers of IGF-I misuse. rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 administration for 28 days caused an increase in serum IGF-I, P-III-NP and IGFBP-2 and decrease in serum IGF-II and ALS in recreational athletes

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Acknowledgements

The GH-2004 project is funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Our study investigating further markers of IGF-I misuse is funded by the Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC). We would like to acknowledge the rest of the GH-2004 team and assistance from UK Anti-Doping. We would like to thank all the volunteers for their participation in the GH-2000 and GH-2004 studies. We thank the nurses of the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at Southampton General Hospital and medical students at the University of Southampton for their assistance with recruitment of participants and during study visits. We thank Insmed Incorporated for providing the rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 complex and placebo. We are indebted to the GH-2000 Team who developed the GH-2000 marker method, left us a legacy of invaluable samples and allowed us access to all of their data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, IDS Building, MP 887 Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK

    Nishan Guha, Peter H. Sönksen & Richard I. G. Holt

  2. Drug Control Centre, Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS, London, UK

    David A. Cowan

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Nishan Guha

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  1. Nishan Guha
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  2. David A. Cowan
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  3. Peter H. Sönksen
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  4. Richard I. G. Holt
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Correspondence to Nishan Guha.

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Published in the topical collection Anti-doping Analysis with guest editor Christopher Harrison.

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Guha, N., Cowan, D.A., Sönksen, P.H. et al. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) misuse in athletes and potential methods for detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 9669–9683 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7229-y

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