Growth Hormone and Sex Steroid Effects on Bone Metabolism and Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Aged Women and Men

Background. Aging is associated with concomitant declines in activity of the growth hormone (GH) and gonadal steroid axes, and in bone mineral density (BMD), in both sexes. Long-term estrogen replacement slows bone loss and prevents fractures in postmenopausal women, whereas the effects of supplementation of GH or testosterone on bone metabolism and BMD in aged individuals remains uncertain. Methods. Using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study design, we investigated the separate and interactive effects of 6 months of administration of recombinant human GH and/or gonadal steroids on bone biochemical markers and BMD in 125 healthy, older ( � 65 years) women ( n � 53) and men ( n � 72) with age-related reductions in GH and gonadal steroids.