Another study recently concluded that low IGF-1 (the active metabolite of human growth hormone) was better than high IGF-1 and projected that death rates were more favorable for those with low IGF-1. However, this study was conducted with a small “N” of women in their 90s, a group in whom death projections are questionable, and again, the statistical methodology was not ideal. Another study evaluated a group of veterans and warned against human growth hormone therapy. However, the authors’ conclusions were directly contradictory to what the statistics demonstrated. Informed individuals understand that studies can be crafted and statistics manipulated to prove either side of an argument and that caution should be used prior to accepting anyone’s conclusions.

How to Approach HRT Discussions

Inaccurate information can lead doctors to minimize patients’ complaints of age-related symptoms and discourage them from considering HRT. Patients often present with the following complaints: “Doc, I just don’t feel as good as I used to. It’s becoming harder and harder to maintain my weight, and I’m losing fitness no matter how hard I work out. I just don’t have the energy or drive that I used to.” They are usually met with: “Why don’t you eat less and exercise more? If that doesn’t work, we can try an antidepressant,” or “You can’t expect to feel like you did when you were 25! Accept the fact you’re getting older; it’s better than the alternative.”

Physicians who respond in this manner are actually harming their patients by withholding an appropriate referral to an HRT specialist. Most physicians are familiar with menopause. They are less familiar with male-associated andropause and adult-onset human growth hormone deficiency, or somatopause. However, all three are recognized syndromes associated with hormonal shifts. These shifts contribute to a slow but steady decline in energy, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, weaker bones, loss of skin tone, lapses in memory, and diminished sex drive and activity.

Like diabetes, these syndromes can be successfully treated using appropriate nutrition, exercise, and HRT. Insulin is a hormone that can be lethal when dosed improperly, but no physician would deny a hyperglycemic diabetic insulin because giving insulin is “risky.” Physicians are experts at managing the risk-benefit ratio and administering beneficial treatments to patients in need while managing their associated risks.

Careful Planning Is Key

As with any successful medical treatment, a successful HRT program must be in the hands of a skilled physician who acknowledges patients’ symptoms and utilizes evidence-based objective measurements to develop a treatment plan that will minimize risk while providing benefit. Objective baseline measurements should include body composition, bone density, digital strength, cardiac fitness testing, and comprehensive metabolic and hormone laboratory testing. These results must be interpreted based on optimal levels rather than disease-based reference ranges published by the lab. It is common for patients to have labs interpreted by their doctor and be told everything is fine. When interpreting the same exact data from a health perspective, key tests may be missing or deficiencies overlooked. These measures are the basis for a personalized, safe, and effective treatment plan.