Scientists have suggested a new physiological process, called somatopause, that occurs in the body due to the decreased production of growth hormone. Somatopause affects the entire body, including body composition, metabolism, bone mineral density, and cardiovascular density.

According to an internal medicine specialist and director of the Noor Clinic, Adrian Tovar, somatopause begins in the fourth decade of life, where the first signs of aging begin. Though the growth hormone determines the height of children, it also decides when growth is finished. Adrian Tovar explained that during somatopause, the quality of life decreases and adults who are deficient in growth hormone complain about discouragement, tiredness and lack of energy. Some may even experience depression and social isolation.

“By administering recombinant human growth hormone to adults (between 40 and 80 years of age) with GH deficiency, protein synthesis increases in almost all the cells of the body, coupled with the favored mobilization of fatty acids in Adipose tissue, which increases the amount of free fatty acids in blood and its use as an energy source. It also decreases the amount of glucose used throughout the body, resulting in an increase of lean body mass,” said Dr. Tovar. 

Carlos Tapia, Medical Manager at High Specialty Business Unit at Merck Serono in Mexico, suggests that the administration of growth hormone therapy has been shown to improve overall physical strength and sense of happiness, which translates into improved quality of life. However,  Tapia believes that recombinant human growth hormone should be measured and monitored by specialists in endocrinology.

Additional Resources:

Growth hormone linked to signs of aging