The somatopause: To treat or not to treat?

There is much evidence that some aspects of ageing are similar to those obs erved in selective hormone deficiencies during adulthood. Replacement thera py in hypogonadism and/or growth hormone (GH) deficiency in adulthood is ve ry successful in reversing the related clinical symptomatology. However, pr eliminary studies of GH treatment in the normal elderly have been largely d isappointing: an increase in muscle mass is only accompanied by improved mu scle strength if exercise is also increased during this period. No real ben efit of GH therapy, additional to that of exercise, has been reported, Epid emiological studies indicate a relationship between high-normal insulin-lik e growth factor-I levels and cancer development. No definitive answers can presently be given regarding the safety of long-term GH therapy in otherwis e healthy individuals during the somatopause. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.