Dean, H. (2002). Does exogenous growth hormone improve athletic performance? Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 12(4), 250-253.

PubMed holdings were reviewed to conduct a critical appraisal of the literature that addressed the question of whether human growth hormone improved performance in trained athletes . Using the search terms of "growth hormone athletes" and the reference lists of previous reviews of the subject, items were located. They were further examined for the basic acceptable elements of involving a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of exogenous HGH on muscle power in trained athletes. Only one study matched the search criteria and no effect was revealed.

Implication. Until 2002, there was no evidence of increased muscle strength associated with human growth hormone use in trained athletes.

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