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Related Experiment Videos

Somatopause: dismetabolic and bone effects.

G Lombardi1, L Tauchmanova, C Di Somma

  • 1Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy. gaelomba@unina.it

Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|March 23, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Aging involves physiological changes similar to growth hormone (GH) deficiency. While GH therapy was hypothesized to benefit the elderly, studies show limited promise, necessitating further research into somatopause and GH

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Gerontology
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • Aging shares physiological changes with growth hormone (GH) deficiency, including increased fat mass, cardiovascular risk, and reduced muscle mass.
  • These similarities led to the hypothesis that elderly individuals might benefit from GH treatment.
  • However, randomized controlled studies on healthy elderly subjects have yielded less promising results than initially expected.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential benefits and therapeutic role of GH treatment in the aging population.
  • To explore the complex relationship between GH/IGF-I levels, aging, and bone metabolism.
  • To clarify the distinct endocrine patterns of aging versus hypopituitarism.

Main Methods:

  • Review of randomized controlled studies on GH treatment in healthy elderly subjects.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of the physiological changes associated with aging and GH deficiency.
  • Examination of GH's direct and IGF-I-mediated effects on bone metabolism.

    • Main Results:

    • GH treatment in healthy elderly individuals has shown less promising outcomes than initially hypothesized.
    • GH influences bone metabolism by affecting both osteoblast proliferation and osteoclast differentiation.
    • Age-related bone loss is multifactorial, involving menopause, andropause, somatopause, and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

    Conclusions:

    • The endocrine profile of aging differs from GH deficiency associated with hypopituitarism.
    • While GH plays a role in metabolism and bone physiology throughout life, current evidence for the therapeutic use of recombinant human GH (rhGH) in aging is insufficient.
    • More research is needed to define the effects of somatopause and identify elderly individuals who might benefit from somatotropic treatment.