Endocrine Abstracts

Physical activity exerts an important influence on the endocrine system, modulating synthesis and secretion of several hormones. On the other hand, several hormones are able to influence physical performance and body composition. Thus, a two-way relationship between exercise and hormones exists.The use of performance-enhancing compounds dates back to the initial Olympiad in ancient Greece where herbal remedies and animal extracts were used by the athlete...

Perceived anabolic benefits of androgens and GH have fueled their abuse among both competitive and recreational athletes. While both hormones increase muscle mass, whether they enhance exercise capacity in healthy adults is less clear. The yearning to boost performance however continues to bolster their inappropriate use in sports, despite many adverse effects. These include acne, excessive hair growth, prostate hypertrophy, behavioural, psychiatric, cardiovascular side effect...

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone endogenously produced by the kidney, whose main physiological role is the stimulation of red blood cells production. Since the beginning of the nineties, recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) has been manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and was immediately misused by athletes to increase their muscle oxygenation process, enhancing then tremendously their endurance performances. It is why EPO has been put on the list of the forbidden ...