Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) circulating levels decrease with age (1–7), and some evidence has accumulated regarding the role of hypothalamic bioamine dysregulation (8–15), both in experimental animals and in humans. One might then suppose that IGF-I levels induce, rather than merely reflect, the onset of aging processes: A recent report on progeria lends support to such a hypothesis (16). Increased body mass index (BMI) and osteopenia are typical features of aging; also, a possible role of low IGF-I levels in the genesis of such phenomena has been hypothesized (16–21). During the last few years some evidence has accumulated that elderly subjects can be successfully treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). The first studies were in GH-deficient adults (22, 23). Some side effects were recognized, such as a degree of insulin resistance, but on the whole the results were clinically good: Well-being self-rating and muscle strength improved, while lean body mass increased and fat distribution changed from prevalently abdominal (high waist to hip [W/H] ratio) to peripheral (lower W/H ratio) and circulating cholesterol levels decreased. These observations suggested that rhGH therapy might lower the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.
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Strollo, F. et al. (1994). Even Short-Term hGH Treatment Induces Endocrine Changes in the Elderly. In: Bercu, B.B., Walker, R.F. (eds) Growth Hormone II. Serono Symposia USA Norwell, Massachusetts. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8372-7_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8372-7_26
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