Wideman, L., Weltman, J. Y., Patterson, M., Mistry, D., Veldhuis, J. D., & Weltman, A. (1998). Exercise-induced growth hormone (GH) release is not affected by GH infusion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 601.

The effect of GH infusion on GH release during exercise was investigated to assess the hypothesis that exercise overrides GH auto-negative feedback. Young men (25 yr; N = 5) were tested on eight occasions, some resting and others exercising, with different GH concentrations administered after exercise.

It was found that GH values differed between rest and exercise, a confirmation of a known phenomenon, but there was no difference within the exercise conditions. Post-exercise infusion of GH does not alter exercise-induced GH release.

Implication. The administration of growth hormone after exercise does not alter the amount of GH that is released as a result of the exercise. It appears that GH concentrations are sensitive to the stimulus of exercise rather than its own concentration in the blood.

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