Sarcopenia is characterized by a generalized, age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, leading to substantial impairments in activities of daily living. The cause of sarcopenia is still unclear and seems to be a multifactorial genesis. Growth hormone (GH) and its mediator, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), exert an anabolic effect on muscle during the entire lifespan. The decrease in late life could contribute to sarcopenia. A differentiated diagnostic procedure by endocrinological functional testing should define subgroups of sarcopenic patients who could profit from hormone replacement therapy in the future.

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