The Protein-Retaining Effects of Growth Hormone During Fasting Involve Inhibition of Muscle-Protein Breakdown

Helene Nørrelund, K. Sreekumaran Nair, Jens Otto Lunde Jørgensen, Jens Sandahl Christiansen, and Niels Møller

From Medical Department M (Endocrinology and Diabetes) (H.N., J.O.L.J., J.S.C., N.M.), Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark; and the Endocrinology Division (K.S.N.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Helene Nørrelund, Medical Department M, Aarhus Kommunehospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: helenenorrelund@dadlnet.dk .

The metabolic response to fasting involves a series of hormonal and metabolic adaptations leading to protein conservation. An increase in the serum level of growth hormone (GH) during fasting has been well substantiated. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that GH may be a principal mediator of protein conservation during fasting and to assess the underlying mechanisms. Eight normal subjects were examined on four occasions: 1) in the basal postabsorptive state (basal), 2) after 40 h of fasting (fast), 3) after 40 h of fasting with somatostatin suppression of GH (fast-GH), and 4) after 40 h of fasting with suppression of GH and exogenous GH replacement (fast+GH). The two somatostatin experiments were identical in terms of hormone replacement (except for GH), meaning that somatostatin, insulin, glucagon and GH were administered for 28 h; during the last 4 h, substrate metabolism was investigated. Compared with the GH administration protocol, IGF-I and free IGF-I decreased 35 and 70%, respectively, during fasting without GH. Urinary urea excretion and serum urea increased when participants fasted without GH (urea excretion: basal 392 ± 44, fast 440 ± 32, fast-GH 609 ± 76, and fast+GH 408 ± 36 mmol/24 h, P < style="font-style: italic;">In summary, we find that suppression of GH during fasting leads to a 50% increase in urea-nitrogen excretion, together with an increased net release and appearance rate of phenylalanine across the forearm. These results demonstrate that GH—possibly by maintenance of circulating concentrations of free IGF-I—is a decisive component of protein conservation during fasting and provide evidence that the underlying mechanism involves a decrease in muscle protein breakdown.

Watched the DVD last night. Fantastic! Nothing better than terrorists being killed by the good guys.

Hormones are something men need to be aware of as they age. This study makes this very clear.
Relationship Between Low Levels of Anabolic Hormones and 6-Year Mortality in Older Men

The Aging in the Chianti Area (InCHIANTI) Study

Marcello Maggio, MD; Fulvio Lauretani, MD; Gian Paolo Ceda, MD; Stefania Bandinelli, MD; Shari M. Ling, MD; E. Jeffrey Metter, MD; Andrea Artoni, MD; Laura Carassale, MD; Anna Cazzato, MD; Graziano Ceresini, MD; Jack M. Guralnik, MD; Shehzad Basaria, MD; Giorgio Valenti, MD; Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD

Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(20):2249-2254.

Background Aging in men is characterized by a progressive decline in levels of anabolic hormones, such as testosterone, insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). We hypothesized that in older men a parallel age-associated decline in bioavailable testosterone, IGF-1, and DHEA-S secretion is associated with higher mortality independent of potential confounders.

Methods Testosterone, IGF-1, DHEA-S, and demographic features were evaluated in a representative sample of 410 men 65 years and older enrolled in the Aging in the Chianti Area (InCHIANTI) study. A total of 126 men died during the 6-year follow-up. Thresholds for lowest-quartile definitions were 70 ng/dL (to convert to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 0.0347) for bioavailable testosterone, 63.9 ng/mL (to convert to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 0.131) for total IGF-1, and 50 µg/dL (to convert to micromoles per liter, multiply by 0.027) for DHEA-S. Men were divided into 4 groups: no hormone in the lowest quartile (reference) and 1, 2, and 3 hormones in the lowest quartiles. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders were used in the analysis.

Results Compared with men with levels of all 3 hormones above the lowest quartiles, having 1, 2, and 3 dysregulated hormones was associated with hazard ratios for mortality of 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-2.44), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.04-3.30), and 2.29 (95% CI, 1.12-4.68), respectively (test for trend, P <.001). In the fully adjusted analysis, only men with 3 anabolic hormone deficiencies had a significant increase in mortality (hazard ratio, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.09-5.46 (test for trend, P <.001).

Conclusions Age-associated decline in anabolic hormone levels is a strong independent predictor of mortality in older men. Having multiple hormonal deficiencies rather than a deficiency in a single anabolic hormone is a robust biomarker of health status in older persons.

Here is a nice article on giant Crocodiles in India. We are talking about 23 feet long. Read the comments below the article as well. CROCS. The croc in the photo above was owned by the late Art Jones of Nautilus fame. It was around 18 feet. Imagine one 5 feet longer and heavier.

Serious arms from a the history of iron. Chuck Sipes on the left and Casey Viator on the right. These photo’s are from www.drdarden.com

Check this out. This article is for those who eat fast foods, “only occasionally”. FASTFOOD

I pulled this montage off of an old post on Sherdog.