Effects of an oral mixture containing glycine, glutamine and niacin on memory, GH and IGF-I secretion in middle-aged and elderly subjects

L I Arwert, J B Deijen, M L Drent

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aging is associated with declining activity of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-I (GH-IGF-I) axis and with a decrease in cognitive function. The stimulatory effect of an orally administered nutritional supplement, mainly containing glycine, glutamine and niacin on the GH-IGF-I axis and on mood and cognition was investigated. Forty-two healthy subjects (14 men and 28 women, aged 40-76 years) were enrolled in a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. They received 5 g of a nutritional supplement or placebo, twice daily orally for a period of 3 weeks. At baseline and after 3 weeks, blood was collected for measurement of serum GH and IGF-I levels and mood and cognitive function were tested. The nutritional supplement ingestion for 3 weeks was found to increase serum GH levels with 70% relatively to placebo, whereas circulating IGF-I levels did not change. Mean GH (+/- SD) increased in this group from 3.23 (+/- 4.78) to 4.67 mU/l (+/- 5.27) (p = 0.03). GH increase was not associated with improvement in mood or memory. Correlation analyses, however, revealed that individual increases in IGF-I, but not GH, were associated with improved memory and vigour. It is concluded that an oral mixture of glycine, glutamine and niacin can enhance GH secretion in healthy middle-aged and elderly subjects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-75
Number of pages7
JournalNutritional neuroscience
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2003

Keywords

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Affect
  • Aged
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Glutamine/administration & dosage
  • Glycine/administration & dosage
  • Human Growth Hormone/blood
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/secretion
  • Memory/drug effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Niacin/administration & dosage
  • Placebos

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