Effects of Growth Hormone Administration on Muscle Strength and Body Composition in Men Over 50 Years Old
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The growth hormone (GH) secretion declines gradually with age, with studies demonstrating a
progressive reduction of 14% secretion per decade of life beginning in the second decade.
Other studies suggest a disruption in GH secretion in elderly people. These findings suggest
a possible association between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and the ageing process.GH
replacement is well known to improve body composition, leading to a decrease in total body
fat and an increase in lean body mass. However, GH replacement has only shown an effect on
muscle strength in GH-deficient adults subjected to long-term GH therapy. Few studies have
evaluated the effect of GH replacement on muscle strength in elderly people engaged in a
program of exercise training.Our purpose is to evaluate the effect of GH therapy on muscle
strength in healthy, non-sedentary men over 50 years old.