The Role of Growth Hormone in Aging an its Therapeutic Potential in the Elderly

Growth hormone (GH) is released from the anterior pituitary gland which has paramount importance for adolescent growth spurt and its secretion decreases with aging. Apart from this physiologic decline, GH deficiency may be seen in patients with pituitary tumors, during the treatment of pituitary tumors and in patients with Sheehan's syndrome. Some of the clinical manifestations of GH deficiency such as abdominal obesity, decreased lean mass, dyslipidemia etc, are similar to changes that occur with aging, suggesting that GH replacement therapy may ameliorate age related changes. However, evalaution of hypothalamo-pituitary-GH axis in healhy elderly individuals did not show an absolute GH deficiency. Meta-analyses, including studies carried out up to year 2007, investigating the effects of GH therapy in healthy elderly suggest minimal effect on body composition and limited effects on aging process while demonstrating side effects such as fluid retention, arthralgias, edema, carpal tunnel syndrome. Current scientific evidence does not recommend GH as an antiaging therapy.