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Testosterone as a Performance Enhancer
Like human growth hormone (HGH), outside sources of testosterone are used to enhance performance. In fact, the use of this androgen may go back thousands of years with the consumption of animal parts containing this hormone, namely the adrenal glands and testicles. This anabolic steroid, as it’s called, is the most commonly detected drug in athletes who are tested. A variety of different synthesized testosterone compounds are now produced, many of which attempt to disguise the drug in the testing process. Androgen abuse in men is associated with reduced size of the testicles and very low production of natural testosterone; symptoms include acne and excessive muscularity.
Too much or too little myokine production can be problematic. Higher but still healthy production occurs during lower-intensity training. However, hard training and competition can raise the levels of myokines to dangerously high levels, which can promote inflammation, disturb the insulin mechanism, reduce muscle mass, and reduce the muscles’ ability to properly utilize glucose.
Other chemicals called oxygen free radicals are also released during training and competition. While these have great benefits in smaller amounts, anaerobic training and competition can produce much higher amounts contributing to muscle damage and other problems, especially when myokine levels are too low, or too high.
