Endocrine insufficiency and nutrition in aging.

Several endocrine insufficiencies develop with aging. These not only include the sex steroid hormones in both sexes, but probably also growth hormone. These hormonal systems apparently interact at central and peripheral levels. Deficiencies seem to result in altered body composition, with more body fat, particularly in central depots, combined with a decreased muscle mass. In addition, risk factors for cardiovascular disease and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus accumulate concomitantly. Intervention studies now begin to show that this is at least partly reversible with appropriate substitution. Nutritional deficiencies with aging may be coupled to these endocrine insufficiencies, perhaps mediated via psychological factors and loss of energy, which are also associated with the body alterations. If these deficiencies can be successfully corrected, then part of the nutritional problem of aging people may well develop into a more organizational, psychosocial and political type of problem.