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REVIEW article
Front. Aging
Sec. Molecular Mechanisms of Aging
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1549453
This article is part of the Research Topic Unraveling the Complexity of Aging: An In-Depth Examination of its Hallmarks View all 4 articles
Growth Hormone and Aging: A Clinical Review
Provisionally accepted
Luis E. Fernández-Garza 1,2,3
Fernando Guillen-Silva 1,3
Marcos A. Sotelo-Ibarra 1,4
Andrés Ely Domínguez-Mendoza 1
Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña 1,3,4,5,6*- 1 Innbiogem SC, Vitaxentrum., Monterrey, Mexico
- 2 Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General de Zona No. 2, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Mexico
- 3 LANSEIDI-CONAHCyT, Monterrey, Mexico
- 4 Facultad Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León4, Mexico
- 5 Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
- 6 Dirección de Investigación Científica de Laboratorios Columbia, Houston, United States
Aging is a complex biological process characterized by functional decline, reduced quality of life, and increased vulnerability to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Advances in medical technology have introduced the concept of aging therapies, with growth hormone (GH) and its primary mediator, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), receiving considerable attention for their potential to counteract age-related physiological and metabolic changes.GH plays a multifaceted role in the human body, primarily influencing body composition by increasing muscle mass, reducing fat tissue, promoting bone formation, and regulating the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and glucose. Additional effects have been noted on endothelial function, cognitive performance, and circadian rhythms.This review examines the molecular mechanisms of GH in aging, its potential as an anti-aging therapy, and findings from clinical trials involving these hormones for this purpose. It also addresses the associated adverse effects, limitations, and controversies. While some studies report significant benefits, these therapies' long-term safety and efficacy in promoting healthy aging remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research.
Keywords: Human Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, human growth hormone deficiency, Anti-aging treatments, Aging
Received: 21 Dec 2024; Accepted: 18 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Fernández-Garza, Guillen-Silva, Sotelo-Ibarra, Domínguez-Mendoza and Barrera-Saldaña. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña, Innbiogem SC, Vitaxentrum., Monterrey, Mexico
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