Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 81, 3239-3243, Copyright © 1996 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Growth hormone increases muscle mass and strength but does not rejuvenate myofibrillar protein synthesis in healthy subjects over 60 years old

S Welle, C Thornton, M Statt and B McHenry
University of Rochester, New York, USA.

The rate of synthesis of myofibrillar proteins is slower in muscle of healthy subjects over 60 yr old than it is in young adults. Previous research suggests that reduced activity of the GH/insulin-like growth factor-I system could be a determinant of this slowing of protein synthesis. To test the hypothesis that GH could rejuvenate the rate of myofibrillar protein synthesis, we studied healthy subjects over 60 yr old, after a single injection (0.03 mg/kg.sc) of recombinant human GH (n = 6 males/2 females) or placebo (n = 6 males/2 females), or after 3 months of either GH (0.03 mg/kg, sc, 3 x /week, n = 5 males) or placebo (n = 5 males) treatment. Myofibrillar protein synthesis and whole-body protein metabolism were evaluated with the tracer L-[1-13C]leucine. GH reduced whole-body leucine oxidation by 36% (P < 0.01) in the single injection study. There was no effect of GH on whole-body protein breakdown or synthesis, or on myofibrillar protein synthesis in the quadriceps, either acutely or after 3 months of treatment. GH treatment for 3 months increased lean body mass (3.3 +/- 0.7 kg, P < 0.01, as evaluated by 40K counting), muscle mass (3.3 +/- 1.1 kg, P < 0.02, as evaluated by urinary creatinine excretion), and thigh strength (14 +/- 5%, P < 0.05, as evaluated by isokinetic dynamometry). We conclude that GH can increase muscle mass and strength in healthy men over 60 yr old, but does not restore a youthful rate of myofibrillar protein synthesis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Giannoulis, N. Jackson, F. Shojaee-Moradie, K. S. Nair, P. H. Sonksen, F. C. Martin, and A. M. Umpleby The Effects of Growth Hormone and/or Testosterone on Whole Body Protein Kinetics and Skeletal Muscle Gene Expression in Healthy Elderly Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2008; 93(8): 3066 - 3074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Jourdan, L. Cynober, C. Moinard, M. C. Blanc, N. Neveux, J. P. De Bandt, and C. Aussel Splanchnic sequestration of amino acids in aged rats: in vivo and ex vivo experiments using a model of isolated perfused liver Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): R748 - R755. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Short, N. Moller, M. L. Bigelow, J. Coenen-Schimke, and K. S. Nair Enhancement of Muscle Mitochondrial Function by Growth Hormone J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2008; 93(2): 597 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Marzetti, L. Groban, S. E. Wohlgemuth, H. A. Lees, M. Lin, H. Jobe, S. Giovannini, C. Leeuwenburgh, and C. S. Carter Effects of short-term GH supplementation and treadmill exercise training on physical performance and skeletal muscle apoptosis in old rats Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): R558 - R567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Giannoulis, P. H. Sonksen, M. Umpleby, L. Breen, C. Pentecost, M. Whyte, C. V. McMillan, C. Bradley, and F. C. Martin The Effects of Growth Hormone and/or Testosterone in Healthy Elderly Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2006; 91(2): 477 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Veldhuis, J. N. Roemmich, E. J. Richmond, A. D. Rogol, J. C. Lovejoy, M. Sheffield-Moore, N. Mauras, and C. Y. Bowers Endocrine Control of Body Composition in Infancy, Childhood, and Puberty Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2005; 26(1): 114 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Irving, J. T. Patrie, S. M. Anderson, D. D. Watson-Winfield, K. I. Frick, W. S. Evans, J. D. Veldhuis, and A. Weltman The Effects of Time following Acute Growth Hormone Administration on Metabolic and Power Output Measures during Acute Exercise J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2004; 89(9): 4298 - 4305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hameed, K. H. W. Lange, J. L. Andersen, P. Schjerling, M. Kjaer, S. D. R. Harridge, and G. Goldspink The effect of recombinant human growth hormone and resistance training on IGF-I mRNA expression in the muscles of elderly men J. Physiol., February 15, 2004; 555(1): 231 - 240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. T. Brill, A. L. Weltman, A. Gentili, J. T. Patrie, D. A. Fryburg, J. B. Hanks, R. J. Urban, and J. D. Veldhuis Single and Combined Effects of Growth Hormone and Testosterone Administration on Measures of Body Composition, Physical Performance, Mood, Sexual Function, Bone Turnover, and Muscle Gene Expression in Healthy Older Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5649 - 5657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. H. W. Lange, J. L. Andersen, N. Beyer, F. Isaksson, B. Larsson, M. H. Rasmussen, A. Juul, J. Bulow, and M. Kjar GH Administration Changes Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms in Skeletal Muscle But Does Not Augment Muscle Strength or Hypertrophy, Either Alone or Combined with Resistance Exercise Training in Healthy Elderly Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 513 - 523. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Cappola, K. Bandeen-Roche, G. S. Wand, S. Volpato, and L. P. Fried Association of IGF-I Levels with Muscle Strength and Mobility in Older Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2001; 86(9): 4139 - 4146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-W. Chu, K. S. L. Lam, S. C. F. Tam, W. J. H. C. Hu, S.-L. Hui, A. Chiu, K.-C. Chiu, and P. Ng A Randomized Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in the Treatment of Malnourished Elderly Medical Patients J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 1913 - 1920. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				V. Y. Hayes, R. J. Urban, J. Jiang, T. J. Marcell, K. Helgeson, and N. Mauras Recombinant Human Growth Hormone and Recombinant Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Diminish the Catabolic Effects of Hypogonadism in Man: Metabolic and Molecular Effects J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 2211 - 2219. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. J Zachwieja and K. E Yarasheski Does Growth Hormone Therapy in Conjunction With Resistance Exercise Increase Muscle Force Production and Muscle Mass in Men and Women Aged 60 Years or Older? Physical Therapy, January 1, 1999; 79(1): 76 - 82. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Giustina and J. D. Veldhuis Pathophysiology of the Neuroregulation of Growth Hormone Secretion in Experimental Animals and the Human Endocr. Rev., December 1, 1998; 19(6): 717 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. N. Proctor, P. Balagopal, and K. S. Nair Age-Related Sarcopenia in Humans Is Associated with Reduced Synthetic Rates of Specific Muscle Proteins J. Nutr., February 1, 1998; 128(2): 351 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. G. Smith, L. H. T. Van der Ploeg, A. D. Howard, S. D. Feighner, K. Cheng, G. J. Hickey, M. J. Wyvratt Jr., M. H. Fisher, R. P. Nargund, and A. A. Patchett Peptidomimetic Regulation of Growth Hormone Secretion Endocr. Rev., October 1, 1997; 18(5): 621 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. M. Chapman, M. L. Hartman, S. S. Pezzoli, F. E. Harrell Jr., R. L. Hintz, K. G. M. M. Alberti, and M. O. Thorner Effect of Aging on the Sensitivity of Growth Hormone Secretion to Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Negative Feedback J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1997; 82(9): 2996 - 3004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]