Durability of the effects of testosterone and growth hormone supplementation in older community-dwelling men: the HORMA Trial

Summary Objectives To determine the durability of anabolic effects and adverse events (AEs) after stopping testosterone and growth hormone supplementation in older men. Design Secondary analysis of a double-masked, randomized controlled trial of testosterone gel (5 or 10 g/daily) plus rhGH (0, 3 or 5 μg/kg/day) with follow-up of outcomes 3 months later. Participants A total of 108 community-dwelling 65- to 90-year-old men. Measurements Testosterone and IGF-1 levels, body composition (DEXA), 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, stair-climbing power, quality-of-life (QOL) and activity questionnaires, AEs. Results Despite improvements in body composition during treatment, residual benefits 3 months later (week 28) were variable. For participants with improvements exceeding their week-17 median changes, benefits were sustained at week 28 for lean body mass (1·45 ± 1·63 kg, 45% of week-17 values, P