Hormonal adaptive capacity in old age. Behavior of hormonal parameters after insulin hypoglycemia in young and old patients

: The insulin-hypoglycemia-test seems to be an appropriate instrument for the examination of the hormonal ability to adapt, even at old age, whereby especially accurate control is necessary. Although older patients of our policlinic show lower basic cortisol- and HGH-values, the increase of catecholamines, cortisol and HGH is not diminished, thus demonstrating a satisfying stress-adaptability. We relate the fact, that in literature the basic cortisol- and HGH-levels are also found to be mostly normal, to the different criteria in the selection of patients.