# GROWTH HORMONE AND PHYSICAL TRAINING IN OLDER PERSONS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 1992 · $230,246

## Abstract

Aging is associated with decreases in muscle and bone mass, an increased
proportion of body fat, and a redistribution of adipose tissue from
peripheral to central sites with marked increases in intra-abdominal
visceral fat depots.  These changes in body composition of older persons
adversely affect functional capacity through declines in muscle strength,
endurance, mobility, and increased fracture and cardiovascular risk.  Both
declining levels of growth hormone (GH) secretion and physical activity may
be partially responsible for these changes In body composition.  This
suggests that physical training alone or GH therapy alone or the two in
combination may reverse these changes.  Aerobic exercise may enhance the
lipolytic actions of GH and favorably modify body fat distribution while
strength training may promote a greater anabolic response to GH in the
muscle groups that are trained.  Increased physical activity may also
augment endogenous GH secretion towards levels observed in younger adults
which may make exogenous GH administration unnecessary.  Healthy older
subjects will be randomized to one of six treatment groups in which they
will receive either daily GH or placebo injections in a double-blind
fashion and either aerobic training, strength training or no training for
one year.  The following endpoints, relevant to the functional capacity and
cardiovascular risk factors of older persons will be assessed: 1) body
composition including bone density; 2) regional fat distribution including
intra-abdominal visceral fat; 3) exercise capacity; 4) isokinetic muscle
strength; 5) carbohydrate metabolism; 6) serum lipoprotein profile; 7)
resting metabolic rate; 8) 24-h profile of pulsable GH secretion; and 9)
sleep duration and architecture.  Specific aims of this project are: 1)
determine the specific effects of GH administration, physical training, and
combined GH and physical training for one year on body composition,
regional fat distribution (including intra-abdominal fat), exercise
capacity, and muscle strength in older subjects; 2) determine whether
physical training for one year will enhance endogenous GH secretion in
older subjects; and 3) determine whether there are gender differences in
the responses to GH administration and/or physical training.  This project
represents a unique collaboration between 3 established research groups at
the University of Virginia and Laval University, Quebec, Canada, with
expertise in the regulation of pulsatile GH secretion, the metabolic
effects of GH, exercise physiology and training, and regional fat
distribution.  The results of this clinical trial will determine whether GH
administration, in combination with exercise training, will improve the
functional capacity (muscle strength, exercise capacity), fracture fisk
(bone density), and cardiovascular risk factors (body fat distribution,
serum lipoproteins, glucose tolerance) of older persons, and whether some
(or all) of these effects may be achieved by...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122968
- **Project number:** 1R01AG010997-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JJG6HU8PA4S5
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK L HARTMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $230,246
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1992-09-01 → 1997-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122968, GROWTH HORMONE AND PHYSICAL TRAINING IN OLDER PERSONS (1R01AG010997-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122968. Licensed CC0.

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