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As with no other doping drug, growth hormones are still
surrounded by an aura of mystery. Some call it a wonder drug
which causes gigantic strength and muscle gains in the
shortest time. Others consider it completely useless in
improving sports performance and argue that it only promotes
the growth process in children with an early stunting of
growth. Some are of the opinion that growth hormones in
adults cause severe bone deformities in the form of
overgrowth of the lowerjaw and extremities. And, generally
speaking, which growth hormones should one take the human
form, the synthetically manufactured version, recombined or
genetically produced form and in which dosage? All this
controversy about growth hormones is so complex that the
reader must have some basic information in order to
understand them. The growth hormones is a polypeptide
hormone consisting of 191 amino acids. In humans it is
produced in the hypophysis and released if there are the
right stimuli (e.g. training, sleep, stress, low blood sugar
level). It is now important to understand that the freed HGH
(human growth hormones) itself has no direct effect but only
stimulates the liver to produce and release insulin-like
growth factors and somatomedins. These growth factors are
then the ones that cause various effects on the body. The
problem, however, is that the liver is only capable of
producing a limited amount of these substances so that the
effect is limited. If growth hormones are injected they only
stimulate the liver to produce and release these substances
and thus, as already mentioned, have no direct effect.
The use of these STH somatotropic hormone compounds offers
the athlete three performance-enhancing effects. STH
(somatotropic hormone) has a strong anabolic effect and
causes an increased protein synthesis which manifests itself
in a muscular hypertrophy (enlargement of muscle cells) and
in a muscular hyperplasia (increase of muscle cells.) The
latter is very interesting since this increase cannot be
obtained by the intake of
steroids. This is probably also
the reason why STH is called the strongest anabolic hormone.
The second effect of STH is its pronounced influence on the
burning of fat. It turns more body fat into energy leading
to a drastic reduction in fat or allowing the athlete to
increase his caloric intake. Third, and often overlooked, is
the fact that STH strengthens the connective tissue,
tendons, and cartilages which could be one of the main
reasons for the significant increase in strength experienced
by many athletes. Several bodybuilders and powerlifters
report that through the simultaneous intake with steroids
STH protects the athlete from injuries while inereasing his
strength. You will say that this sounds just wonderful. What
is the problem, however since there are still some who argue
that STH offers nothing to athletes? There are, by all
means, several athletes who have tried STH and who were
sadly disappointed by its results. However, as with many
things in life, there is a logical explanation or perhaps
even more than one:
1. The athlete simply has not taken a sufficient amount of
STH regularly and over a long enough period of time. STH is
a very expensive compound and an effective dosage is
unaffordable by most people.
2. When using STH the body also needs more thyroid
hormones,insulin, corticosteroids, gonadotropins, estrogens
and what a surprise androgens and anabolics. This is also
the reason why STH, when taken alone, is considerably less
effective and can only reach its optimum effect by the
additive intake of steroids, thyorid hormones, and insulin,
in particular. But we must point out in this case that STH
has a predominantly anabolic effect. There are three
hormones which are needed at the same time in order to allow
for maximum anabolic effect. These are STH, insulin, and an
LT-3 thyroid hormone, such as, for example, Cytomel. Only
then can the liver produce and release an optimal amount of
somatomedin and insulin-like growth factors. This anabolic
effect can be further enhanced by taking a substance with an
anticatabolic effect. These substances are-everybody should
probably know by now-anabolic/androgenic steroids or
Clenbuterol. Then a synergetic effect takes place.'Are you
still wondering why pro bodybuilders are so incredibly
massive but, at the same time, totally ripped while you are
not. Most athletes have tried STH during preparation for a
competition in that phase when the diet is calorie-reduced.
The body usually reacts by reducing the release of insulin
and of the L-T3 thyroid hormone. And, as was described under
point 2, this is not an advantageous condition when STH is
expected to work well. Well, we almost forgot. Those who
combine Clenbuterol with STH, should know that Clenbuterol
(like Ephedrine) reduces the body's own release of insulin
and L-T3. True, this seems a little complicated and when
reading it for the first time it might be a little
confusing; however it really is true: STH has a significant
influence on several hormones in the human body; this does
not allow for a simple administration schedule. As said, STH
is not cheap and those who intend to use it should know a
little more about it. If you only want to burn fat with STH
you will only have to remember user information for the part
with the L-T3 thyroid hormone as is printed by Kabi
Pharmacia GmbH for their compound Genotropin: "The need
of the thyroid hormone often inereases during treatment with
growth hormones."
3. Since most athletes vho want to use STH can only obtain
it if prescribed by a physician, the only supply source
remains the black market. And this is certainly another
reason why some athletes might not have been very happy with
the effect of the purchased compound. How could he, if cheap
HCG was passed off as expensive STH? Since both compounds
are available as dry substances, all that would be needed is
a new label of Serono's Saizen or Lilly's Humatrope on the
HCG ampule. It is no longer fun when somebody is paying $200
for 5000 I.U. of HCG, only worth $ 12, and thinking that he
just purchased 4 I.U. of STH. And if you think this happens
only to novices and to the ignorant, ask Ben Johnson.
"Big Ben," who during three tests within five days
showed an above-limit testosterone level, was not a victim
of his own stupidity but more likely the victim of fraud.
According to statistics by the German Drug Administration,
42% of the HGH vials confiscated on the North American black
market are fakes. In addition to a display of labels in the
Dutch or Russian language the fakes are distinguished from
the original product, in sofar as the dry substance is not
present as lyophilic but present as loose powder. The fakes
confiscated so far use the name "Humatrope 16"
under the name of Lilly Company (with Dutch denomination) or
"Somatogen" (in Russian)." Nowhere can this
much money be made except by faking STH. Who has ever held
original growth hormones in his hand and known how they
should look?
4. In a few very rare cases the body reacts by developing
antibodies to the exogenous STH, thus making it ineffective.
The question of the right dosage, as well as the type and
duration of application, is very difficult to answer. Since
there is no scientificresearch showing how STH should be
taken for performance improvement, we can only rely on
empirical data, that is experimental values. The respective
manufacturers indicate that in cases of hypophysially
stunted growth due to lacking or insuffieient release of
growt hormones by the hypophysis, a weekly average dose of
0.3 I.U/ week per pound of body weight should be taken. An
athlete weighting 200 pounds, therefore, would have to
inject 60 I.U. weekly. The dosage would be divided into
three intramuscular injections of 20 I.U. each. Subcutaneous
injections (under the skin) are another form of intake
which, however would have to be injected daily, usually 8
I.U. per day. Top athletes usually inject 4-16 I.U./day.
Ordinarily, daily subcutaneous injections are preferred.
Since STH has a half life time of less than one hour, it is
not surprising that some athletes divide their dail dose
into three or four subcutaneous injections of 2-4 I.U. each.
Application of regular small dosages seems to bring the most
effective results. This also has its reasons: When STH is
injected, serum concentration in the blood rises quickly,
meaning that the effect is almost immediate. As we know, STH
stimulates the liver to produce and release somatomedins and
insulin like growth factors which in turn effect the desired
results in the body. Since the liver can only produce a
limited amount of these substances, we doubt that larger STH
injections will induce the liver to produce instantaneously
a larger quantity of somatomedins and insulin-like growth
factors. It seems more likely that the liver will react more
favorably to smaller dosages.
If the STH solution is injected subcutaneously several
consecutive times at the same point of injection, a loss of
fat tissue is possible. Therefore, the point of injection,
or even better, the entire sisde of the body should be
continuously, changed in order to avoid a loss of local fat
tissue (lipoathrophy) in the injection cell. One thing has
manifested itself over the years: The effect of STH is
dosage-dependent. This means either invest a lot of money
and do it right or do not even begin. Half-hearted attempts
are condemned to failure Minimum effective dosages seem to
start at 4 I.U. per day. For comparison: the hypophysis of a
healthy; adult, releases 0.5-1.5 I.U. growth hormones daily.
The duration of intake usually depends on the athlete's
financial resources. Our experience is that STH is taken
over a prolonged period, from at least six weeks to several
months. It is interesting to note that the effect of STH
does not stop after a few weeks; this usually allows for
continued improvements at a steady dosage. Bodybuilders who
have had positive results with STH have reported that the
build-up strength and, in particular, the newly-gained
muscle system were essentially maintained after
discontinuance of the product.
It remains to be clarified what happens with the insulin and
LT-3 thyroid hormone. Athletes who take STH in their
build-up phase usually do not need exogenous insulin. It is
recommended, in this case, that the athlete eats a complete
meal every three hours, resulting in 6-7 meals day. This
causes the body to continuously release insulin so that the
blood sugar level does not fall too low. The use of LT-3
thyroid hormones, in this phase, is carried out reluctantly
by athletes. In any case, you must have a physician check
the thyroid hormone level during the intake of STH.
Simultaneous use of anabolic /androgenic steroids and/or
Clenbuterol is usually appropriate. During the preparation
for a competition the use of thyroid hormones steadily
inereases. Sometimes insulin is taken together with STH, as
well as with steroids and Clenbuterol. Apart from the high
damage potential that exogenous insulin can have in
non-diabetics, incorrect use will simply and plainly make
you "FAT! Too much insulin activates certain enzymes
which convert glucose into glycerol and finally into
triglyceride. Too little insulin, especially during a diet,
reduces the anabolic effect of STH. The solution to this
dilemma? Visiting a qualified physician who advises the
athlete during this undertaking and who, in the event of
exogenous insulin supply, checks the blood sugar level and
urine periodically. According to what we have heard so far,
athletes usually inject intermediately-effective insulin
having a maximum duration of effect of 24 hours once a day.
Human insulin such as Depot-H-Insulin Hoechst is generally
used. Briefly-effective insulin with a maximum duration of
effect of eight hours is rarely used by athletes. Again a
human insulin such as H-Insulin Hoechst is preferred.
The undesired effect of growth hormones, the so-called side
effects, are also a very interesting and hotly-discussed
issue. Above all it must be said: STH has none of the
typical side effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids
including reduced endogenous testosterone production, acne,
hair loss, aggressiveness, elevated estrogen level,
virilization symptoms in women, and increased water and salt
retention. The main side effects that are possible with STH
are an abnormally small concentration of glucose in the
blood (hypoglycemia) and an inadequate thyroid function. In
some cases antibodies against growth hormones are developed
but are clinically irrelevant. What about the horror stories
about acromegaly, bone deformation, heart enlargement, organ
conditions, gigantism, and early death? In order to answer
this question a clear differentiation must be made between
humans before and after puberty. The growth plates in a
person continue to grow in length until puberty. After
puberty neither an endogenous hypersection of growth
hormones nor an excessive exogenous supply of STH can cause
additional growth in the length of the bones. Abnormal size
(gigantism) initially goes hand in hand with remarkable body
strength and muscular hardness in the afflicted; later, if
left untreated, it ends in weakness and death. Again, this
is only possible in pre-pubescent humans who also suffer
from an inadequate gonadal function (hypogonadism). Humans
who suffer from an endogenous hypersecrehon after puberty
and whose normal growth is completed can also suffer from
acromegaly. Bones become wider but not longer. There is a
progressive growth in the hands and feet and enlargement of
features due to the growth of the lower jaw and nose.
What the authorities like to do now is to present extreme
cases of athletes suffering from these malfunctions in order
to discourage others and to drum into athletes the fact that
with the exogenous supply of growth hormones they would
suffer the same destiny. This, however, is very unlikely, as
reality has proven. Among the numerous athletes using STH
comparatively few are seven feet tall Neanderthalers with a
protruded lower jaw, deformed skull, claw like hands, thick
lips, and prominent bone plates who walk around in size 25
shoes. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, we do not
want to disguise the possible risks of exogenous STH use in
adults and healthy humans, but one should at least try to be
openminded. Acromegaly, diabpetes, thyroid insuficiency,
heart muscle hypertrophy, high blood ressure, and
enlargement of the kidneys are theoretically possible if STH
is used excessively over prolonged periods of time; however,
in reality and particularly when it comes to the external
attributes, these are rarely present. Some athletes report
headaches, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances during
the first weeks of intake. These symptoms disappear in most
cases even with continued intake. The most common problems
with STH occur when the athlete intends to inject insulin in
addition to STH.
The substance somatropin is available as a dried powder and
before injecting it must be mixed with the enclosed
solution-containing ampule. The ready solution must be
injected immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to
24 hours. It is usually recommended that the compound be
stored in the refrigerator. With the exception of the remedy
Saizen the biological activity of growth hormones is usually
not impaired when storing the dry substance at 15-25 C (room
temperature); however, a cooler place (2-8° C) is
preferable.On the black market the price for 4 I.U. each of
the compounds Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, and
Saizen, in Europpe is $80-120 for a prick-through vial
including the solution ampule. As already mentioned, there
are many fakes. It is noted that for the U.S.-American
growth hormones compounds, the substance content is not
given in I.U.(International Units) but in mg (milligrams).
Since l mg corresponds to exactly 2.7 I.U. the 5mg solution
of the compound Humatrope by Lilly contains exactl 13.5 I.U.
of Somatropin. The 10 mg solution of the Protropin compound
by the Genentech therefore contains 27 I.U. of Somatropin.
In American powerlifting and bodybuilding circles Humatrope
is usually preferred over Protropin. The reason is that
Humatrope is synthesized from a chain of 191 amino acids and
thus is identical to the amino acid sequence of the human
growth hormones. Protropin, on the other hand, consists of
192 amino acids, one amino acid too many. This might be the
explanation for why more antibodies are developed with
Protropin than with Humatrope. growth hormones are on the
doping list but they are not yet detectable during doping
tests.
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