eMedicine Specialties > Endocrinology > Pituitary Gland

Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men: Follow-up

Author: Angela Gentili, MD, Director of Geriatrics Fellowship Program, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Robert A Adler, MD, Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 11, 2008

Follow-up

Complications

Adverse effects of growth hormone replacement

Patient Education

For excellent patient education materials, see eMedicine's Growth Hormone Deficiency Center and the patient education articles Understanding Growth Hormone Deficiency Medications and Growth Hormone Deficiency FAQs.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

Providing GH supplementation to healthy older patients is a potential medicolegal pitfall. Human growth hormone has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for nonhypopituitary older people. The distribution of GH as an antiaging agent is illegal in the United States.

Special Concerns

  • In conclusion, GH replacement in healthy older men improves body composition but not strength. Concomitant use of testosterone in older men may provide additional benefits (increased isotonic strength). The adverse effects of GH limit its use in older subjects.
  • Whether reversing the age-associated decrease in GH secretion provides long-term benefit is not clear. Also unclear is whether an evaluation of the GH–IGF-1 axis is important to identify subjects who benefit the most and which older subjects (healthy or frail) benefit the most.
  • Long-term studies are needed to clarify the role of GH and GH secretagogues as hormone replacement therapy for the hyposomatotropism of aging.
 


More on Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men

Overview: Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men
Treatment & Medication: Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men
Follow-up: Growth Hormone Replacement in Older Men
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

somatopause, hyposomatotropism of aging, adult growth hormone deficiency, GHD, GH, somatopause of aging, hyposomatotropism of aging, growth hormone-releasing hormone, GHRH, growth hormone-releasing peptide, GHRP, pituitary gland, hypopituitarism, insulin tolerance test, ITT

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Angela Gentili, MD, Director of Geriatrics Fellowship Program, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Angela Gentili, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Geriatrics Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Adler, MD, Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University
Robert A Adler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, and Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Eli Lilly Consulting fee Consulting

Medical Editor

Barry J Goldstein, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
Barry J Goldstein, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Diabetes Association, and Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Don S Schalch, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Don S Schalch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, Central Society for Clinical Research, and Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Mark Cooper, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, Head, Diabetes & Metabolism Division, Baker Heart Research Institute, Professor of Medicine, Monash University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD, Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine
George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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