How
it works
By introducing
an exogenous source of this hormone, athletes are hoping
to promote these effects, causing the body to deposit
more muscle tissue while at the same time reducing
body fat stores. On paper, GH should work exceptionally
well; however, it does not seem to be delivering up
to its potential.
Most athletes
who have experimented with this product end up being
disappointed. There is some evidence that exogenous
sources of GH are being
destroyed by antibodies which appear after the introduction
of the synthetic compound.
Although the
191 amino acid sequence versions have been shown to
produce less of an antibody reaction, they are still
not yielding consistent results. We have speculated
as to whether the introduction of exogenous GH would
yield an appreciable degree of efficacy simply due
to the fact that the body does not have sufficient
receptor affinity to GH in the post-teen years.
A number of
athletes claim that GH is not that effective on its
own, but in a stack with steroids it can do remarkable
things. Perhaps there is some type of actual synergism
created by the concomitant use of these two agents.
Empirical
data suggests that the efficacy of GH is dose related
and that the majority of users may not have been taking
enough of it to get positive results. Despite speculation
concerning its efficacy, synthetic GH is being used
by thousands of elite athletes. These include men and
women bodybuilders, strength athletes, as well as a
multitude of Olympic competitors.
Side
effects
Although Growth
Hormone is banned by athletic committees, there is
no method for the detection of it which allows drug
tested competitors to use this product freely without
any ramifications. Adverse reactions to GH use are
rare but technically could involve acromegaly (elongation
of the feet, forehead and hands). Other possible side
effects involve overgrowth of the elbows or jaw, thickening
of the skin and a type of diabetes.
There are
numerous counterfeit versions of this product which
are merely cashing in on the drug's mystique and high
price tag. The legitimate versions must be refrigerated
at all times, before and after they are reconstituted.
Effective dosages seem to be in the area of 2 I.U.,
2-4 times a week. Cycle length
is usually determined by how long the athlete can afford
it. Some take the product for 6 week cycles, others
use it year round. Legitimate GH is hard to find, when
it does show up, it sells for as much as $250 for 4
I.U.
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