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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 52 · 1996

10 results

Growth hormone replacement in healthy older men improves body composition but not functional ability.

Papadakis MA, Grady D, Black D, Tierney MJ, Gooding GA, Schambelan M, Grunfeld C

Annals of internal medicine1 Apr 1996Cited by 274 (Europe PMC)

PMID8633830 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.7326/0003-4819-124-8-199604150-00002 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-08633830
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study10

10 results from studies that gave the peptide. 10 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, GH increased lean mass by 4.3% versus a 0.1% decrease with placebo, a 4.4-percentage-point difference.

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, GH increased lean mass more than placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseLean mass
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Body composition · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Lean mass change
    4.3%
    GH
    Lean mass change
    −0.1%
    placebo
    Between-group difference
    4.4 percentage points
    95% CI 2.1 to 6.8

    Source sentences

    Summary
    At 6 months, lean mass had increased on average by 4.3% in the growth hormone group and had decreased by 0.1% in the placebo group, a difference of 4.4 percentage points (95% CI, 2.1 to 6.8 percentage points).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, fat mass fell by 13.1% with GH and 0.3% with placebo, a 12.8-percentage-point difference.

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, GH reduced fat mass more than placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    DecreaseFat mass
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Body composition · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Fat mass decrease
    13.1%
    GH
    Fat mass decrease
    0.3%
    placebo
    Between-group difference
    12.8 percentage points
    CI 8.6 to 17.0

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Fat mass decreased by an average of 13.1% in the growth hormone group and by 0.3% in the placebo group, a difference of 12.8 percentage points (CI, 8.6 to 17.0 percentage points).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, knee strength did not differ significantly or clinically between GH and placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, knee strength did not differ significantly between GH and placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    No significant changeKnee strength
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No statistically or clinically significant differences were seen between the groups in knee or hand grip strength or in systemic endurance.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, hand grip strength did not differ significantly or clinically between GH and placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, hand grip strength did not differ significantly between GH and placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    No significant changeHand grip strength
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No statistically or clinically significant differences were seen between the groups in knee or hand grip strength or in systemic endurance.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, systemic endurance did not differ significantly or clinically between GH and placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, endurance did not differ significantly between GH and placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    No significant changeSystemic endurance
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No statistically or clinically significant differences were seen between the groups in knee or hand grip strength or in systemic endurance.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  6. 06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, Trails B time improved by 8.5 seconds with GH versus 5.0 seconds deterioration with placebo (P = 0.01).

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, GH improved Trails B performance compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    DecreaseTrails B score
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Trails B score improvement
    8.5 seconds
    GH group
    Trails B score deterioration
    5 seconds
    placebo group
    Between-group difference
    13.5 seconds
    CI 3.1 to 23.9

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The mean Trails B score in the growth hormone group improved by 8.5 seconds, whereas scores in the placebo group deteriorated by 5.0 seconds, a difference of 13.5 seconds (CI, 3.1 seconds to 23.9 seconds; P = 0.01).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  7. 07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, Mini-Mental Status Examination scores deteriorated by 0.4 with GH versus 0.2 improvement with placebo (P = 0.11).

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, Mini-Mental Status Examination scores did not differ significantly between GH and placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    No significant changeMini-Mental Status Examination score
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    MMSE score deterioration
    0.4 score
    GH group
    MMSE score improvement
    0.2 score
    placebo group
    Between-group difference
    0.6 score
    GH versus placebo

    Source sentences

    Summary
    However, the growth hormone group's score on the Mini-Mental Status Examination deteriorated by 0.4, whereas the placebo group's score improved by 0.2, a difference of 0.6 (P = 0.11).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  8. 08HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy older men, Digit Symbol Substitution Test scores were almost identical with GH and placebo (P > 0.2).

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, Digit Symbol Substitution Test scores were similar with GH and placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    No significant changeDigit Symbol Substitution Test score
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The two treatment groups had almost identical scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (P > 0.2).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  9. 09HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    In healthy older men, 26 GH recipients had 48 side-effect incidents versus 14 incidents in 26 placebo recipients (P = 0.002).

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, GH recipients reported more side-effect incidents than placebo recipients.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSide-effect incidents
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Side-effect incidents
    48 incidents
    26 GH recipients
    Side-effect incidents
    14 incidents
    26 placebo recipients

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Twenty-six men in the growth hormone group had 48 incidents of side effects, and 26 placebo recipients had 14 incidents of side effects (P = 0.002).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.
  10. 10HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    In healthy older men, dose reduction was required in 26% of GH recipients versus none with placebo (P < 0.001).

    In plain wordsIn healthy older men, GH required dose reduction more often than placebo.

    Peptide
    HGH (somatotropin)
    Outcome
    IncreaseDose reduction
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    0.03 mg/kg three times a week · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Dose reduction
    26%
    GH recipients

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Dose reduction was required in 26% of the growth hormone recipients and in none of the placebo recipients (P < 0.001).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
    Summary · context
    52 healthy men older than 69 years of age with well-preserved functional ability but low baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.
    Summary · context
    Growth hormone (0.03 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo given three times a week for 6 months.

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Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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