Recombinant human growth hormone in withdrawing androgenic-anabolic steroid use: psychological, endocrine and trophic factor effects

This study examined 6 days recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) effects on psychological profile, anthropometry and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, in a withdrawing androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) using group, compared with a withdrawing AAS control group. AAS increases high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (Grace & Davies, 2004) and homocysteine (HCY) (Graham et al. 2006). RhGH administration in GH deficiency (GHD) lowers hsCRP, central fat (Sesmilo et al. 2000) and HCY (Sesmilo et al. 2001). RhGH replacement in GHD adults significantly decreased tetra-iodothyronine (T4), and significantly increased insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) which correlated significantly with an improved profile of mood state vigor-activity subscale (Lasaite et al. 2004). Male subjects (n = 48) were assigned in a double blind design into two groups: (1) (n=24) control group (C); (2) (n=24) treatment group (GH). Group differences were analysed using a two-way (group x time) repeated measures ANOVA. Between-group differences were analysed using an independent t test. Within-group differences were analysed using a paired t test followed by a post hoc Bonferroni test. Data for psychological profiles were analysed using a non-parametric-related samples t test. Between-group differences were analysed using a Kruskal-Wallis test. All data are means ± S.D. A Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (HADS) was significantly decreased in both anxiety (A) and depression (D) symptoms within the GH group (A: 6.8 ± 4.5 vs. 3.6 ± 3.5; D: 4.5 ± 4.7 vs. 1.5 ± 2.5, p<0.017) and compared with the C group (A: 3.6 ± 3.5 vs. 5.3 ± 2.1; D: 1.5 ± 2.5 vs. 3.0 ± 2.8, p<0.05). Fat-free mass index (FFMI: 21.9 ± 1.9 vs. 22.3 ± 1.9 kg m-2) and serum IGF-1 (159 ± 54 vs. 323 ± 93 μmol l-1) significantly increased within the GH group (both p<0.017). Haematocrit (0.47 ± 0.03 vs. 0.44 ± 0.01), HCY (13.2 ± 4 vs. 11.7 ± 3.1 μmol l-1), hsCRP (1.77 ± 2.1 vs. 1.29 ± 1.6 mg l-1), T4 (15.3 ± 2 vs. 14.2 ± 1.6 pmol l-1), total cholesterol (4.7± 0.9 vs. 4.4 ± 0.7 mmol l-1) and total protein (75.7 ± 5 vs. 73.1 ± 5 mmol l-1) significantly decreased within the GH group (all p<0.017). IGF-1 (323 ± 93 vs. 169 ± 50 μmol l-1) and prolactin (PRL) (199 ± 97 vs. 142 ± 55 IU l-1) significantly increased and maximum exercising systolic blood pressure (190 ± 16 vs. 201 ± 18 mmHg), and T4 (14.2 ± 1.6 vs. 15.3 ± 1.8 pmol l-1) significantly decreased compared with C (all p<0.05). This study suggested that short term use of rhGH has beneficial effects on mental state in individuals who were previous abusers of AAS and appeared to have a beneficial effect on markers of CVD risk associated with AAS use.