Table 1.
Characteristics of hormone user bodybuilders, non user bodybuilders and controls
| BBINS (n = 15) |
BBGH (n = 12) |
BBAAS (n = 13) |
BBNU (n = 52) |
CTRL (n = 45) |
One-way ANOVA p (η2) |
Effect Size* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (year) | 28 ± 2 | 26 ± 1 | 28 ± 1 | 32 ± 1e | 25 ± 1d | 0.01 | 0.1 (-0.4–0.6) |
| Training hours/week | 10 ± 1 | 9 ± 1 | 7 ± 1 | 8 ± 1 | - | 0.48 | - |
| Height (cm) | 181.6 ± 1.2 | 180.1 ± 1.7 | 180.6 ± 1.5 | 181.0 ± 0.7 | 180.7 ± 1.1 | 0.97 | - |
| Weight (kg) | 98.2 ± 3.7d,e | 93.1 ± 4.9d,e | 89.6 ± 4.2e | 84.3 ± 1.7a,b | 80.0 ± 2.1a,b,c | < 0.001 | 1.0 (0.4–1.5) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 29.7 ± 1.0d,e | 28.6 ± 1.2d,e | 27.4 ± 1.2e | 25.6 ± 0.4a,b | 24.4 ± 0.5a,b,c | < 0.001 | 1.1 (0.5–1.6) |
| Fat mass (%) | 11.8 ± 1.0e | 10.9 ± 0.5e | 10.9 ± 0.4e | 12.7 ± 0.5e | 16.0 ± 0.8a,b,c,d | < 0.001 | -0.4 (-0.9–0.15) |
| Fat free mass (%) | 88.2 ± 1.0e | 89.1 ± 0.5e | 89.1 ± 0.4e | 87.3 ± 0.5e | 84.0 ± 0.8a,b,c,d | < 0.001 | 0.4 (-0.15–0.9) |
| Fat free mass index (kg/m2) | 26.2 ± 0.8d,e | 25.5 ± 1.0d,e | 24.4 ± 1.0d,e | 22.3 ± 0.3a,b,c,e | 20.4 ± 0.3a,b,c,d | < 0.001 | 1.3 (0.8–1.9) |
| Vastus lateralis contraction time (ms) | 24 ± 1d,e | 23 ± 0d,e | 23 ± 1d,e | 28 ± 1a,b,c | 29 ± 1a,b,c | < 0.001 | -0.7 (-1.3 - -0.05) |
| Biceps femoris contraction time (ms) | 25 ± 1b,e | 21 ± 1a,c,d,e | 26 ± 2b,e | 27 ± 1b,e | 32 ± 1a,b,c,d | < 0.001 | -0.2 (-0.8–0.4) |
Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. BBINS, bodybuilders abusing insulin alone (n = 1) or in association with anabolic androgenic steroids (n = 3) or with anabolic androgenic steroids and growth hormone (n = 11); BBGH, bodybuilders abusing growth hormone alone (n = 1) or in association with anabolic androgenic steroids (n = 11); BBAAS, bodybuilders abusing only anabolic androgenic steroids; BBNU, bodybuilders not using hormones; CTRL, non-bodybuilders. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analysis
a, significant difference from BBINS (P < 0.05); b, significant difference from BBGH (P < 0.05); c, significant difference from BBAAS (P < 0.05); d, significant difference from BBNU (P < 0.05); e, significant difference from CTRL (P < 0.05).
*Effect size is calculated to quantify differences between BBINS group versus all the other groups. If post-hoc analysis showed a difference between BBINS and more than one group, both pooled average and standard deviation of these groups were considered to assess effect size. < 0.2 low probability; 0.2–0.8 medium probability; > 0.8 strong probability. Effect size is expressed as point estimate and confidence intervals (95%)