Testosterone Treatment in Older Men.

To the Editor: In 1990, the Journal published the results of a study involving 12 men who were 61 to 81 years of age and who had low levels of insulin-like growth factor 1. This study indicated that after 6 months of receiving injections of human growth hormone, the effects of 10 to 20 years of aging on lean muscle and fat mass were reversed.(1) The article led to hyped claims of a fountain of youth.(2) The Journal then published two cautionary opinion pieces(3),(4) stating that the study was too short to reveal adverse effects and to serve as . . . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]