Hello cartsman and All, The following information generally does not consider the fact that the drugs being discussed are illegal for venues that subscribe to the rules promulgated by WADA and USADA and other organizations. It appears that it is too early to say what effect various drugs (such as testosterone, growth hormone, and EPO) will have on longevity and we will need to wait until the human 'early adopters' get sick, die, or survive ...... or perhaps get some clues from animal studies.
I find very little information about effects of EPO on longevity .... searching various PubMed articles.
Regarding EPO with renal and AIDS patients ...
"The overall-incidence of side effects occurring in either group of these two studies was of approximately 83% and 95%, respectively. In contrast to these results the data published for the dose finding/treatment studies is approximately 30% for development of arterial hypertension, approximately 5% for occurrence of cerebral convulsion/hypertensive encephalopathy, approximately 10% for thrombo-embolic complications/clotting of vascular access, approximately 50% for development of iron deficiency, and approximately 10% for symptoms summarized as influenza-like syndrome."
And a novel use for EPO ....
"Globally, greater than 30 million individuals are afflicted with disorders of the nervous system accompanied by tens of thousands of new cases annually with limited, if any, treatment options. Erythropoietin (EPO) offers an exciting and novel therapeutic strategy to address both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders." (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other nervous system diseases.)
Human Growth Hormone:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...articles/PMC2682398/
"Although advanced age or symptoms of aging are not among approved indications for growth hormone (GH) therapy, recombinant human GH (rhGH) and various GH-related products are aggressively promoted as anti-aging therapies. Well-controlled studies of the effects of rhGH treatment in endocrinologically normal elderly subjects report some improvements in body composition
and a number of undesirable side effects in sharp contrast to major benefits of GH therapy in patients with GH deficiency.
Controversies surrounding the potential utility of GH in treatment of a geriatric patient are fueled by increasing evidence linking GH and cancer and by remarkably increased lifespan of GH-resistant and GH-deficient mice. Conservation of cellular signaling mechanisms that influence aging in organisms ranging from worms to mammals suggests that at least some of the results obtained in mutant mice are applicable to the human.
We suggest that the normal, physiological functions of GH in promoting growth, sexual maturation and fecundity involve significant costs in terms of aging and life expectancy. Natural decline in GH levels during aging likely contributes to concomitant alterations in body composition and vigor but also may be offering important protection from cancer and other age-associated diseases." [emphasis added]
The effects of testosterone has several studies published (but not regarding longevity) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...articles/PMC3897047/ Excerpt:
"Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a widely used treatment for men with symptomatic hypogonadism. The benefits seen with TRT, such as increased libido and energy level, beneficial effects on bone density, strength and muscle as well as cardioprotective effects, have been well-documented. TRT is contraindicated in men with untreated prostate and breast cancer.
Men on TRT should be monitored for side-effects such as polycythemia, peripheral edema, cardiac and hepatic dysfunction."
(Testosterone and other androgens have an erythropoietic stimulating effect that can cause polycythemia, which manifests as an increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit, or red blood cell count. The incidence of polycythemia secondary to testosterone use ranges from 2.5% to 40% depending on the testosterone dose and formulation and is less common with transdermal vs injectable formulations.[2[/url],3[/url],4[/url]] Definitions in men vary, but polycythemia generally occurs when hemoglobin is above 18.5 g/dL or
hematocrit is above 52%.
Polycythemia is sometimes called erythrocytosis, but the terms are not synonymous because polycythemia refers to any increase in red blood cells, whereas erythrocytosis only refers to a documented increase of red cell mass. The increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit secondary to testosterone use is usually accompanied by an increase in the red blood cell count, which can lead to an increase in blood viscosity.
This increase in blood viscosity can reduce cerebral blood flow which could theoretically be a risk factor for thrombosis and stroke.[3[/url]
]) [emphasis added]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...articles/PMC4650486/ Excerpt:
"For several decades any diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) has been considered an absolute contraindication to the use of testosterone (T) therapy in men. Yet this prohibition against T therapy has undergone recent re-examination with refinement of our understanding of the biology of androgens and PCa, and increased appreciation of the benefits of T therapy. A reassuringly low rate of negative outcomes has been reported with T therapy after radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation treatments, and in men on active surveillance. "
https://breakingmuscle.com/...iving-everybody-else https://breakingmuscle.com/...-our-double-standard Excerpts:
"So when you look at a sport like cycling, which comes complete with crashes at high speeds wearing nothing other than Lycra and a history of prolific drug use, it’s hard to believe that top cyclists actually outlive their countrymen by an average of five years.
This is the conclusion researchers came to and shared in a recent
study published in the European Heart Journal.
What makes this study even more extraordinary is that the study was not just an examination of elite cyclists, but Tour de France cyclists who participated in the event during the years of 1947 to 2012. "I would also point out that the study on the Tour cyclists doesn’t really take into account riders who went through the
EPO and growth hormone era. These cyclists were included in the test, but most are not yet at an age where their previous lifestyle has come back to bite them. In the generation of older cyclists, such as those who raced during the steroid and amphetamine era, there have been suicides linked to depression. The most notable of these was Marco Pantani, himself a former Tour de France winner.
I’d suggest that the statistics might need to be revisited in a decade’s time when we can get a better look at the longer-term results.
Having said that, endurance athletes run a higher risk of having enlarged chambers of the heart, which can in turn
lead to atrial fibrillation.
In fact, I can name three high-level Australian triathletes (Greg Welch, Brad Bevan, and Emma Carney) who all suffered from this and had to retire because of it. So it’s not like elite endurance racers are immune to heart problems, just that they avoid the problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
The overall message of this new study is very positive, though.
Endurance activity, even extreme activity such as the Tour, is not bad for you. In fact, it may help you live longer than those who don’t engage in regular aerobic activity."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19574095 "It appears that elite endurance (aerobic) athletes and mixed-sports (aerobic and anaerobic) athletes survive longer than the general population, as indicated by lower mortality and higher longevity.
Lower cardiovascular disease mortality is likely the primary reason for their better survival rates. On the other hand, there are inconsistent results among studies of power (anaerobic) athletes. When elite athletes engaging in various sports are analysed together, their mortality is lower than that of the general population.
In conclusion, long-term vigorous exercise training is associated with increased survival rates of specific groups of athletes." [emphasis added]
Cheers, Neal
+1 mph Faster