More athletes are taking human growth hormones with no scientific evidence to support it’s efficacy in improving performance. In a small Australian study involving 64 recreational athletes some athletes were given HGH and others a placebo. The study was randomized and double blind. Researchers found that participants who believed they were taking HGH actually felt that their performance was improving and actually did experience improvement. All participants performance boost was between 1% and 2%.
The participants who wrongly thought they received HGH the performance enhancement was between 3% and 5%. This phenomenon was greater in men than in women.
