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Effect of Growth Hormone Administration on the Mass and Strength of Muscles in Healthy Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

The growth hormone (GH) is prohibited for use by athletes, while its anabolic effect on muscle tissue is still debated. The review provides a systematic evaluation of the GH effects on the body composition and strength parameters in well-trained healthy young subjects. A meta-analysis of published data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Pooled results of 11 RCTs showed that GH administration significantly increases the lean body mass (2.72, 95% CI: 2.02; 3.38, p < 0.01), total water content (1.10, 95% CI: 0.54; 1.66, p < 0.01), and extracellular water (1.78, 95% CI: 1.04; 2.52, p < 0.01) and reduces the fat mass (–0.67, 95% CI: –0.93; –0.40, p < 0.01) without changing the muscle protein synthesis rate (0.00, 95% CI: –0.01; 0.02, p = 0.70) and muscle strength (–0.02, 95% CI: –0.05; 0.02, p = 0.36) as compared with placebo. A conclusion was made that GH administration can improve the body composition in healthy young subject by exerting a significant lipolytic effect without causing hypertrophy of muscle fibers. The increase in lean body mass is due to an accumulation of extracellular water.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to R.V. Tambovtseva, doctor of science (biol.)., professor, head of the Volkov Chair of Biochemistry and Bioenergetics of Sports, for help in writing the article and working with literature sources.

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  1. Russian State University of Physical Training, Sports, Youth and Tourism, Moscow, Russia

    K. V. Sergeeva, A. B. Miroshnikov & A. V. Smolensky

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  1. K. V. Sergeeva
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Correspondence to K. V. Sergeeva.

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Translated by T. Tkacheva

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Sergeeva, K.V., Miroshnikov, A.B. & Smolensky, A.V. Effect of Growth Hormone Administration on the Mass and Strength of Muscles in Healthy Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hum Physiol 45, 452–460 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119719030162

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