Human Growth Hormone information from Built to Survive

[Guest guest]

I used to use United Health Care back in the days I was working for Shell, and it was great

Here is an excerpt taken from " Built to Survive " ( available on amazon.com) about growth hormone:

Men and Women: Serostim Human Growth Hormone (GH)

In the 1980’s human growth hormone was the first anabolic drug to be

embraced by AIDS activists to address wasting, the number two cause of death in AIDS. At that

time media hype and a hysterical anti-drug political climate created an

exaggerated image of anabolic steroids as

dangerous immunosuppressive drugs that had no legitimate medical uses. For this

reason the medical community and some leading AIDS activists rejected any

consideration of the use of anabolic steroids and instead attached their hope

to GH, which we assert was an error that delayed

the understanding and acceptance of the beneficial use of anabolic steroids for

HIV. It is interesting to note that the FDA panel that was to decide whether to

approve GH deadlocked because of a lack of convincing data of its effectiveness

and only approved it after AIDS activists showed their extreme support. Another

interesting point is that it appears that biotech company Genentec decided not

to seek approval for their GH product because they did not feel that it would

be effective for this use. With all this considered, GH has apparently produced

life-saving effects for some HIV(+) people who were near death and we  believe that it does have a place in

treatment of body composition problems in HIV therapy. An analysis of many

years of published data strongly suggests that GH does not to have a direct

effect on muscle tissue growth.[1] [2] 

[3] [4]

[5]

However, it may be that GH improves the health of some organ tissues that

affect muscle growth. And so some people with severe wasting may experience a

small amount of muscle growth, re-hydration and improved organ function with GH

therapy. However, GH is marketed inappropriately as a muscle builder, where

anabolic steroids are far more effective. As will be discussed later, GH’s

primary value is its effect on fat cell metabolism.

 

Comparison of Anabolic Steroids and

Growth Hormone

What the following table graphically

illustrates is the tremendous disparity between the different anabolic

compounds for lean body mass gained versus price. While nandrolone decanoate

yielded as much as 11.88 pounds of lean body mass over 15 weeks at a cost of

approximately $150 per month or less, a 6 mg (18 IU) daily dose of Serostim GH, which cost about 40 times more than

nandrolone, yielded only a little over half as much lean body mass after 12

weeks. Low doses of other steroids produced equal or better results than

Serostim, for much less cost. Even Oxandrin, which is overpriced at $900 per month for

20 mg per day, outperformed Serostim. Additionally, it is likely that the LBM

gained from the steroids consisted of considerably more muscle tissue than was

gained with Serostim. A majority of weight gain from Serostim has been shown to

be water. (See the discussion below that is titled Growth Hormone Gains: Little Muscle, Lots of Water.)

 

Choices: Serostim,

Oxandrin,

Anadrol, or

Winstrol

For cost versus weight gain, testosterone and

nandrolone are the best anabolic agents without a doubt. Just as it is clear

that GH is out

of the running in a contest for effect on lean body mass gains versus cost,

Oxandrin used

alone doesn’t score much better. Although the men in the Poles study did gain

6.9 pounds of body cell mass on 20

mg of Oxandrin per day over 8 weeks, a chart review of wasting HIV(+)

males by Dr. Salvato showed

a weight gain of under 2 pounds with 20 mg per day over 12 weeks.[6]  Our real world experience is that many male

patients need 30 to 50 mg per day of Oxandrin to gain significant LBM if it is

used alone. A 30 to 50 mg daily dose of Oxandrin costs $1.50 per milligram or

$1350 to $2250 per month in the U.S. Oxandrolone (or any steroid) will produce

much better results if combined with testosterone. That is why a very tightly

controlled 8 week study by Strawford that included comprehensive weight

training showed that 10 mg of oxandrolone twice per day combined with 100 mg of

testosterone per week increased lean body mass by 15.18 pounds compared to 8.36

pounds for testosterone alone with weight training. We note that 100 mg of

testosterone alone producing 8.36 pounds of weight gain is exceptional – this

has never been seen before in any study of testosterone like this. We know

these researchers to be among the very best at creating tightly controlled

studies, and the results of this study were exceptional most probably because

the authors did an exceptional job creating the study and executing it. So

comparison of the results of this study to others is difficult. Our real world

experience and reports from HIV(+) men makes us assert that oxandrolone is

probably the least potent of the available anabolic steroids, and this opinion is supported by an

overview of the results of all the other studies of oxandrolone in HIV.

 

The only HIV study of the most potent oral

anabolic steroid Anadrol does

not give good representation of its cost versus benefit. The 1996 Hengge study

of 30 patients over 30 weeks showed that 150 mg per day of Anadrol produced an

average of 18 pounds of weight gain. It should also be noted that the subjects

in the Hengge study continued to gain weight, even during periods of illness.

Anadrol, at this dose would cost $1080 per month in the U.S. However, these

numbers are somewhat confusing. At 24 cents per milligram Anadrol is the most

cost-effective oral anabolic steroid, and a 150 mg daily dose is not necessary

for the majority of HIV(+) males. It is possible that at 25 mg/day ($180 per month)

or 50 mg/day ($360 per month) Anadrol can increase lean body mass equal to or

better than equal doses of Oxandrin, and easily exceed any anabolic effect of GH, but at a much lower cost than either of

these compounds. Based on credible anecdotes, it is likely that even 10 to 20

mg of Anadrol per day will increase lean body mass 5 to 10 pounds over 12

weeks. If weight training were included, the lean body mass gain could be even

greater.

 

While Anadrol has a

reputation for being a powerful steroid with a significant potential for side

effects and liver toxicity, its historic use has been in ultra-high

daily doses of 100 mg or more for long periods of time as treatment for anemia.

Doctors report liver toxicity when Anadrol is used in HIV at doses of 100 mg

per day and especially 150 mg per day. It is likely that any oral anabolic

steroid used long term at ultra high doses will produce side effects and liver

toxicity that will not be seen with short term or low dose administration. Used

at a low dose of 25 mg per day in 12-week cycles, the potential for side

effects is reduced considerably, while low doses will still promote significant

weight gain. The 50 mg Anadrol tablets are scored in half, so consider

splitting the tablet into doses of 1/4 tablet and take 1/4 tablet two or three

times per day if you choose to try a low dose. (Remember, for best effect, oral

steroids should

be taken in divided doses several times per day, as blood levels decline after

only a few hours.) It is likely that even 1/2 tablet per day would produce some

muscle gain.

 

The other oral steroid Winstrol should

also be considered. Winstrol produces good increases in lean body mass with little

potential for side effects at a relatively low cost of 40 cents per milligram.[7] 

Berger’s study of 6 mg of Winstrol per day showed good weight gain,256  which

might suggest that it may produce more anabolic activity than a comparable dose

of Oxandrin, as a similar Berger HIV study did not show

any weight gain with 5 mg of Oxandrin per day.[8]  Winstrol also exerts its greatest effect when

combined with testosterone. It also has not exhibited significant liver

toxicity in the

few HIV(+) men we know who have used it at standard low doses. Unfortunately,

Winthrop, the manufacturer of Winstrol in the U.S., has taken no interest in

marketing it to the HIV community or supporting studies. For this reason, we

rarely hear of doctors prescribing it.

 

The Politics of Serostim Growth

Hormone

While appropriately prescribed human growth

hormone can be

another valuable tool in HIV-therapy for the war against wasting and

especially lipodystrophy as fat gain, we have considerable philosophical

problems with the financial politics related to GH, and are quite critical of its exorbitant

price and the deceptive way that it is marketed to the HIV community. Serostim, the GH product that has been approved for

AIDS wasting therapy, costs over $6000 per month for a full 6 mg daily dose.

This is about 35 times as expensive as the PoWeR cycle that employs high doses

of testosterone and

nandrolone. But is GH as effective for lean body mass gains for HIV(+) people?

The study comparison table above indicates that it is not. We also note that

while compassionate use patient access programs from BTG and UNIMED are easy to

work with, Serono’s compassionate use program for people who

do not have insurance is not.

 

Serostim Growth Hormone Has No

Preservative

Even if the high cost of Serostim for

the relatively small increase in lean body mass was not important, another

problem with Serostim is. Serono omits

including a bacteriostatic agent in the sterile water that Serostim is

reconstituted with, so it must be used within 24 hours after mixing or thrown

away because bacteria might grow in the solution. This makes Serostim much more

profitable for Serono, while it effectively takes away your option of reducing

common side effects by rationing out part of the vial every day to get a lower

side effect-free daily dose.

 

If Serono did

include a preservative like benzyl alcohol or metacresol in the mixing water,

then you could use whatever dose was found to be appropriate, and store the

unused GH in the

refrigerator for up to two weeks. Currently, HIV(+) individuals who cannot

tolerate the severe side effects that the full 4, 5, or 6 mg doses can cause

may end up throwing away any GH that they cannot use. More drug is wasted and

thus more drug is sold.

 

Serono clearly knows about this issue, as their GH product called Saizen, which is sold in Mexico

and Italy and prescribed to children in the U.S., does have benzyl alcohol in

its mixing water. We had a discussion about this with Serono’s director of

research in 1997 and were told that it was too difficult to access an effective

preservative. To this day Serono representatives have been evasive about the

lack of a preservative.

 

Extending Serostim’s

Lifespan

One way to correct Serostim’s lack of a preservative is to get your

doctor to give you a prescription for bacteriostatic water that includes benzyl

alcohol (made by Abbott Labs and other companies). An insider at Serono admitted

that mixing Serostim with bacteriostatic water would allow it to be used for up

to two weeks after mixing. After all Serostim is essentially the same product

as the other GH called

Saizen, except that Saizen comes with bacteriostatic water that contains benzyl

alcohol. Using bacteriostatic water allows you to find your own side

effect-free individual daily dose without waste.

 

Reducing Side Effects

If GH is

given as a replacement hormone to HIV-negative people who are GH deficient or

are experiencing an age-related decrease in GH production, the typical daily

dose is around .5 mg (1.5 IU) per day. Bodybuilders know about safe, side

effect-free doses and typically limit their use of GH to under 1.4 mg (about 4

IU) per day.

 

Serostim is

currently packaged in doses of 4, 5, or 6 mg vials, and a study of the medical

literature show that these doses are overdoses for many people. Doses that are

this high can cause significant side effects including arthralgia (joint pains),

carpal tunnel syndrome, edema (water

retention), elevated blood sugar, elevated pancreatic enzymes, gynecomastia, body hair growth, and high blood pressure.

 

Serono’s dosing recommendations are lacking in that

they instruct patients to use one full vial per day. If this causes side

effects the doctor often tells the person to use the full vial every other day,

or use only part of the vial every other day, and throw the rest away. These

instructions are inadequate. Doctors who work with GH for

anti-aging purposes tell us that GH has very little potential for side effects

if it is administered in smaller doses more often, with the best effect being

seen with twice-a-day administration. Without the peak blood levels that high

doses every other day create, there will be fewer side effects. In general,

with any drug, smaller doses given more often work better with fewer side

effects than large doses given less often. Our recommendation for best effect

is to administer GH first thing in the morning and once before bed. If this is

too much trouble, administer it before bedtime.

 

Growth Hormone and Joint

Inflammation

Significant research shows that high dose GH may

cause joint pains because it can promote excess super oxide secretion by

neutrophils, which causes inflammation.[9]

[10]

This effect has a known association with inflammatory joint problems, such as

rheumatoid arthritis,[11]

so high dose GH appears to be inducing a state like rheumatoid arthritis.

 

— A Seemingly Dramatic

Response to GH

We

have seen a few HIV(+) individuals who have a seemingly tremendous anabolic

response to the use of high dose GH,

and much more so than they do to anabolic steroids.

This can be deceptive.

 

For

instance, one of our close friends named , was 55 years old and had been

extremely progressed in AIDS (several times near death), was an example of a

person who had a significantly poor response to the effects of anabolic

steroids, as

steroids have not helped him gain as much lean body mass as some people do. In

an attempt to help him gain weight, his doctor put him on Serostim GH,

and two weeks after he had started Serostim we were surprised to find that he

had gained 18 pounds. (We even thought that we might have to re-assess our

somewhat critical position on GH.)

 

However,

a few days into his third week he began to be overwhelmed by the problems he

was having with side effects. It seems that because of his hopes that GH would be the magic bullet that it is

advertised as, he had down-played the fact that he had been experiencing

extreme swelling and pain in his hands and other joints, numbness in his hands

and arms when he slept, difficulty breathing when he climbed stairs, and he was

unable to sleep on his back because he felt like he was suffocating.

 

On

examination, his doctor found that most of the weight he had gained was water,

and determined that he was suffering from severe pulmonary edema (water in the lung tissues), so she

immediately admitted him to the hospital. After several critical medical

procedures while he was in the hospital — he was almost given open-heart

surgery — he recovered to live another day. His doctor said that it is unlikely

that she would prescribe Serostim again. We assert that this kind of situation

can result from the use of the currently recommended 4, 5, and 6 mg doses that

for most people are over-doses of GH,

and the fact that there is no preservative in Serostim’s formulation, which

deters people from lowering their dose to reduce the side effects.

 

Growth Hormone Gains: Little

Muscle, Lots of Water

When all things are considered, it appears

that Serono recommends what amounts to an overdose of GH because an ultra-high overdose is necessary to

come close to producing lean body mass (LBM) gains that seem to be almost equal

to the anabolic effects of low doses of anabolic steroids. Using GH to grow muscle is an incorrect

use; the increase in LBM may very well consist primarily of water, with some

connective tissue, a little organ tissue, and only a little, if any, muscle

tissue.

 

Indeed, one carefully designed study of

high-dose GH with

HIV-negative young men used sophisticated techniques to closely examine the

composition of the lean tissue gained and concluded that it consisted of lean

tissue other than muscle.250  This

could mean water, connective tissue, and organ tissue. At least five other

studies with other populations have also shown an increase in LBM, but a lack

of muscle growth.251 252 [12]

[13]

[14]

It should be noted that Dr. Kathleen Mulligan stated

that GH-induced lean body mass gains for HIV patients were “comparable” to the

healthy HIV(-) controls in her study,[15]

so comparisons with studies of HIV(-) subjects may very well be valid.

 

Indeed, the first HIV study that looked at

Serostim using

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a sophisticated technology that actually

looks at what is happening to the body’s tissues, indicated that growth hormone

may have little or no affect on muscle. At the Third International Conference

on Nutrition and HIV Infection at Cannes, France, in April, 1999, Dr.

Kotler reported the results of an interim analysis of

a 6-month open-label trial of Serostim growth hormone that showed that 6 mg per

day did not promote a significant change in muscle tissue during the first 12

weeks in the 8 subjects for whom repeat MRI data were available. Final study

results showed what appeared to be an increase. However, this study’s lack of a

placebo control makes its data inconclusive. It appears that if Serostim does

actually have an effect on increasing muscle tissue through direct on indirect

means, it does so erratically and only for a very few HIV(+) people, not for

the majority.

 

Human Growth Hormone and

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the growth of breast tissue

in men. It is sometimes seen in males who use high doses of anabolic steroids that

aromatize into estrogen, as estrogen stimulates breast tissue growth.

Gynecomastia appears to be a very rare phenomenon in HIV(+) men, at least

partially because impaired insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) production and GH deficiency are common in HIV,[16]

[17]  and IGF-1 is a necessary cofactor with

estrogen for breast tissue growth in gynecomastia.[18]

[19]

GH stimulates production of IGF-1 by the liver, and our observation is that

HIV(+) males who use growth hormone appear to have a much higher incidence of

gynecomastia than those who don’t. Indeed, older studies with young HIV(-) boys

and senior men who receive growth hormone therapy have documented incidence of

gynecomastia.[20] [21]  GH can also stimulate breast tissue growth by

binding to prolactin receptors.[22]

 

Measurements: Finding the Right

GH

Dosage

Analysis of the

available data causes us to assert that GH should be considered for replacement purposes

based on blood tests, rather than as a muscle growth stimulant, and prescribed

accordingly. However no studies have been done to ascertain what blood levels

are appropriate for HIV(+) males and females. Until this is done, our

suggestion is that the physician consider testing IGF-1,

which is a more consistent measurement than plasma GH, and try to arrive at an

IGF-1 measurement of approximately 350 ng/mL, which is the target reading for

optimal GH replacement for anti-aging purposes. Because hormonal resistance is

common in HIV, it is possible that some HIV(+) people will require higher blood

levels to experience the potential improvements in fat metabolism and quality

of life. To date we have seen doses of between 0.5 mg and 3 mg per day produce

optimal effects for HIV(+) men, so we suggest starting at 0.5 mg per day, and

retesting to work toward determining an appropriate dose. Also listen to your

patient’s subjective reports of their status to determine what is optimal, and

be willing to experiment until you find what is appropriate.

 

Growth Hormone’s Benefits

While the available data suggests that GH is not

anabolic to muscle tissue like anabolic steroids, and it is clear that GH’s price and Serono’s lack of a preservative do not serve the

HIV(+) population, GH does have unique benefits. If GH has more effect on

increasing the growth of lean tissue other than muscle, as the studies suggest,

does it promote the regeneration of organ tissue like the thymus, kidneys, and liver? This is an area that

needs to be researched. Wasting in HIV is not limited to muscle tissue, and

regeneration of critical organs in the body may be an important reason for GH

replacement therapy in HIV. As was said, it may be that the rare anecdotal

reports of a small amount of increased muscle growth in severely wasted HIV(+)

individuals are the result of improved function of organs that indirectly

affect muscle growth.

 

And while anabolic steroids can

reduce the net ratio of fat to muscle that is gained[23]  and can have some effect on increasing the

loss of fat, GH’s most important effect may be its role in

fat cell metabolism;[24]

it increases lipid oxidation (fat burning),[25]

which gives it a role in possible therapies to reduce some of the symptoms of

the bodyfat redistribution called lipodystrophy. Dr. Gabe  documented that GH can reduce bodyfat gained

in the abdominal area and this is an area that we feel should be investigated

thoroughly.

 

However, we caution that GH may

increase the loss of subcutaneous fat on the arms, legs, and face, which is the

part of lipodystrophy syndrome called lipoatrophy.

 

GH’s role is also interesting when we consider

that a phenomenon of early AIDS wasting is the

loss of muscle, while fat is gained, described as de novo lipogenesis by Dr.

Marc Hellerstein.[26]

This kind of catabolism of muscle and anabolism of fat is somewhat unique to

AIDS, and it may be in part caused by a resistance to GH[27]

and reduced production of IGF-1.[28]

So GH appears to have a unique role in a problem that is somewhat specific to

AIDS.

 

We also have anecdotal reports that GH use

sometimes stops chronic diarrhea. GH is known to increase tissue regeneration

in the intestine[29] and

improve intestinal water and ion absorption,[30]

so this is possible.

 

GH Combined with Anabolic Steroids

GH may

have valuable adjunctive benefits when used to address GH deficiency when it is

combined with testosterone replacement therapy. Appropriately-dosed GH

replacement may also enhance the effectiveness of any of the PoWeR anabolic

steroid cycles, just as nutritional supplementation that addresses nutrient

deficiencies does. We invite the research community to consider studying

combination therapy that employs GH replacement and anabolic steroids.

 

Hyperplasia

When GH is

added to a regimen of anabolic steroids and

weight training it seems that what muscle is gained is more permanent than when

anabolic steroids are used alone. This may be because GH’s effect of increasing

IGF-1 can increase the number of nuclei

in muscle cells by causing satellite cells to fuse to adjacent muscle cells or

differentiate into muscle cells.[31]

This might result in hyperplasia, an increase in the number of muscle cells and

hypertrophy, an increase in cell size. Observation of bodybuilders suggests

that this effect may be potentiated by proper exercise stimulus, and optimal levels of androgens.

(Note: GH used by itself does not appear to produce lasting lean tissue gains

after administration is stopped.[32]

This would be true if most of the weight that was gained was water.)

 

Doctor to Doctor

Physicians might be interested in hearing the experience of another

physician who is familiar with the use of anabolic steroids as

detailed in this chapter. For this, you might call any of several clinicians

who are familiar with our approach. These include Houston’s Salvato, MD, (713) 960-7900 and Schrader, MD, (713) 520-5537, and Tony Mills, MD of

Los Angeles (310) 550-1010. These doctors report that many patients using the

PoWeR cycle have gained 20 to 40 pounds with increased energy and greatly

improved quality-of-life in a matter of two to four months without significant

side effects.

 

They also report some improvements in some of

the symptoms of lipodystrophy using specific elements of our program including

reduced visceral fat and improvements in blood lipids.

 

Many other physicians in

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, and other cities are applying

anabolic steroid therapy successfully for therapeutically beneficial changes in

body composition for their patients with no significant side effects. PoWeR is

committed to supplying physicians and patients who are not familiar with

anabolic steroids, information about optimal

regimens to maximize lean body mass, enhance quality-of-life and immune

response, and minimize potential side effects. The time has come for effective,

practical, and economical ways to improve body composition and reverse wasting syndrome.

[1] Yarasheski, KE, et al. Effect of growth hormone and resistance exercise on muscle growth in young men. Am J Physiol

(1992) 262 (Endocrinol Metab 25): E261-E267.

[2] Yarasheski, KE, et al. Effect of resistance exercise and growth hormone on bone density in older

men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) (1997) 47(2):223-229.

[3] Yarasheski, KE, et al. Growth hormone effects on metabolism, body composition,

muscle mass, and strength. Exerc Sport Sci Rev (1994) 22():285-312.

[4] Bigland B, et al. Muscle performance in rats, normal and

treated with growth hormone. J. Physiol

116:129-136,1952.

[5] Yarasheski KE, et al. Weight-lifting exercise is more effective than rhGH

administration for increasing muscle strength in HIV-infected individuals. Abstract

#437.1, FASEB J. 14(4):A571, 2000.

[6]

Salvato, P, et al. Conference on

Nutrition and HIV Infection Cannes, France (1997) April 23-24; Abstract No.

0-003

[7] Berger, JR, et al. Effect

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86(8):865-866.

[8] Berger, JR, et al. Oxandrolone

in AIDS-wasting myopathy. AIDS

(1996) Dec; 10:1657-1662.

[9] Fu, YK, et al. Growth

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[10]

, JA. Neutrophils,

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[11] Weissmann, G, et al. Neutrophils: release of mediators of inflammation

with special reference to rheumatoid arthritis. Ann N Y Acad Sci (1982) 389:11-24.

[12] Zachwieja, JJ, et al. Growth hormone administration in older adults: effects on

albumin synthesis.  Am J Physiol

(1994) 266(6 Pt 1):E840-844.

[13] Yarasheski, KE, et al. Effect of growth hormone and resistance exercise on muscle growth and strength in older men. Am

J Physiol (1995) 268(2 Pt 1):E268-276.

[14] Zachwieja, JJ, et al. Does growth hormone therapy in conjunction with

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mass in men and women aged 60 years or older? Phys Ther (1999)

79(1):76-82.

[15] Mulligan, K,

et al. Anabolic

effects of recombinant human growth hormone in patients

with wasting associated with human immunodeficiency virus

infection. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1993) 77(4):956-962.

[16] Mulligan, K,

et al. Anabolic

effects of recombinant human growth hormone in patients

with wasting associated with human immunodeficiency virus

infection. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1993) 77(4):956-962.

[17] Solerte, SB, et al. Hormonal

and chronobiological impairment of GH-IGF1-IGFBP3 axis in HIV infected

patients (CDC C3) with wasting syndrome. Effects of treatment with

recombinant human GH. XI International AIDS Conference, Vancouver (1996)

Abstract No. Mo. B.420.

[18]

Stoll, BA. Breast cancer

risk in Japanese women with special reference to the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis. Jpn J

Clin Oncol (1992) Feb; 22(1):1-5.

[19]

Westley, BR, et al. Role of

insulin-like growth factors in steroid

modulated proliferation. J Ster Biochem Mol Biol (1994) Oct;

51(1-2):1-9.

[20] Malozowski, S. et al. Prepubertal gynecomastia during growth hormone therapy. J

Pediatr (1995) 126(4):659-661.

[21] Cohn, L, et al. Carpal

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[22] Fuh, G, et

al. Prolactin

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[23] Strawford, A, et al. Effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on nitrogen

balance, metabolism, body composition and function in men with AIDS wasting syndrome (AWS). 2nd International

Conference on Nutrition and HIV Infection, Cannes, France (1997):267.

[24]

Björntorp, P. The

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Relat Metab Disord (1996) 20(4):291-302.

[25] Jeevanandam, M, et al. Altered lipid kinetics in adjuvant recombinant human

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[26] Hellerstein, MK, et al.

Increased de novo

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[27]

Rodgers, BD, et al.

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Experimental Biology and Medicine (1996) Sep; 212(4):324-331.

[28] Solerte, SB, et al. Hormonal

and chronobiological impairment of GH-IGF1-IGFBP3 axis in HIV infected

patients (CDC C3) with wasting syndrome. Effects of treatment with

recombinant human GH. XI International AIDS Conference, Vancouver (1996)

Abstract No. Mo. B.420.

[29]

G’omez de Segura, IA, et

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[31] , RE, et al. Regulation

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fibroblast growth factor. J Cell Physiol (1989) 138(2):311-315.

[32] Rudman D, et al. Effects

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60 years old [see comments]. N Engl J Med (1990) 323(1):1-6 1990.

On Sun, Nov 21, 2010 at 11:58 PM, BigMike <mrco22@...> wrote:

Hey all...my weigth is around 175 for a 6' tall guy...not horribly underweight, I know, but my legs and arms and neck look so danged scrawny that I avoid beaches, pools, and wearing shorts.  I know this sounds trivial, but I don't want to lose any more weight than I already have.  Any stratagies to use with UHC and my doc to give me the green light for a weight-gaining plan?

Thanks,

Mike

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