Growth hormone in the aging male.
Secretion of growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 levels decline during advancing years-of-life. These changes (somatopause) are associated with loss of vitality, muscle mass, physical function, together with the occurrence of frailty, central adiposity, cardiovascular complications, and deterioration of mental function. For GH treatment to be considered for anti-aging, improved longevity, organ-specific function, or quality of life should be demonstrable. A limited number of controlled studies suggest that GH supplementation in older men increases lean mass by ∼2 kg with similar reductions in fat mass. There is little evidence that GH treatment improves muscle strength and performance (e.g. walking speed or ability to climb stairs) or quality of life. The GHRH agonist (tesamorelin) restores normal GH pulsatility and amplitude, selectively reduces visceral fat, intima media thickness and triglycerides, and improves cognitive function in older persons. This report critically reviews the potential for GH augmentation during aging with emphasis on men since women appear more resistant to treatment.
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Avenue, IRD Building, Room 434, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. Electronic address: fsattler@usc.edu.
Fred R
FR
Sattler
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; C479538:tesamorelin
dwarfs; ghrelin; growth hormone; insulin-like growth factor I; longevity; muscle weakness; sarcopenia; tesamorelin