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Growth Hormone Supplementation in the Elderly

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Growth Hormone Related Diseases and Therapy

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

The expected demographic age shift in the world population over the next 3–5 decades will have a significant impact on society. Interventions with the potential to prevent or delay the loss of independence and to allow the majority of the older population to sustain strength, quality of life, and functionality are of increasing interest. Age-dependent muscle loss is recognized as a contributing factor of the age-dependent decline in strength and function. Circulating growth hormone (GH) levels show a significant decline with aging. Several age-dependent changes in body composition, such as muscle loss, have been associated with the age-dependent decline in GH in humans. The potential benefits and risks of restoring the GH-IGF-axis in the older population with GH or ghrelin-mimetics are discussed in this chapter.

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  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia, 450 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, USA

    Ralf Nass

  2. Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Jennifer Park

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  1. Princess Alexandra Hospital &, The University of Queensland, Centres for Health Research, Ipswich Road Woolloongabba 199, Brisbane, 4102, Queensland, Australia

    Ken Ho

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Nass, R., Park, J. (2011). Growth Hormone Supplementation in the Elderly. In: Ho, K. (eds) Growth Hormone Related Diseases and Therapy. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-317-6_19

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