Based on some recent work, it does appear as though aging affects the growth hormone (GH) response to exercise. A recent study has shown that younger men and women experience much higher GH responses to intense exercise compared to older men and women.
However, these studies didn’t utilize trained participants; all subjects had no prior history of performing regular exercise. This is important as no studies yet have examined the benefits of long-term training on hormone responses, particularly in anyone over 40. So don’t be discouraged by the results obtained from this small amount of research.
As far as nutritional strategies go, one supplement, in particular, is shown to be most effective at promoting a higher GH response from training. Supplementation with Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA); a neurotransmitter, is shown in research to significantly increase circulating GH levels in healthy people.
In an eye-opening study, athletes given a 2-3 gram dose of GABA before weight lifting exercise experienced a significantly higher GH response after the workout than those who did not take the supplement. This study quite clearly indicates that to ensure your GH response from every workout is optimal, be sure to take 2-3 grams of GABA 30 minutes before weight training.
Source: J. Applied Physiology, 100; 1647-1656, 2006.
