Anabolic decline in the aging male: a situation of unbalanced syncrinology.

摘要

Aging phenomena are generally felt to be related to the interaction between both genetic and environmental factors, and one of the most prominent alterations that occurs with aging is the reduced ability to appropriately respond or adapt to stress. Although the entire body is involved, many prominent aging theories concentrate on the endocrine system, because hormones play such an essential role in integrating, modulating and counter-regulating responses to both internal and environmental stresses. Among the hormonal changes that might be related to aging, a primary role is likely exerted by the aging-related deficit of anabolic hormones, promoting a milieu that favours catabolism. This aging-related deficiency in anabolic hormone milieu takes several different forms, being relatively sudden and dramatic in the case of estrogen (E2) in women, although being more gradual and steady for testosterone (Te) in men, and dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA) and growth hormone in both genders. This editorial will focus on age-related changes in overall anabolic status in the aging male and how it may be connected to complex and interacting abnormalities in the overall hormonal milieu.