Pharmacologic Approaches to the Aging Athlete

As America’s baby boomer population matures, there is an increasing interest in supplements that can delay or oppose the aging process. This antiaging movement has exploded over the past decade. While most supplements are not supported by scientific literature or government controls, a number of products have been the subject of significant scientific inquiry. Hormone replacement therapy, including testosterone and growth hormone, has mixed results, and antioxidative strategies are supported by basic science but lack clinical evidence-based outcomes. While the process of aging has become better understood leading to more rational approaches to combat its effects on health, the clinician is reminded to carefully discern between the science and marketing that is available in this area.