Circadian rhythm parameters of endocrine functions in elderly subjects during the seventh to the ninth decade of life

The circadian rhythm of 17 endocrine parameters (ACTH, aldosterone, cortisol, C-peptide, DHEA-S, FSH, growth hormone, insulin, LH, 17-OH progesterone, prolactin, testosterone, total T3, total T4 and TSH and estradiol and progesterone in women only) were studied in 63 clinically apparently healthy men (124 profiles) and 86 women (154 profiles) during the 7th to 9th decade of life. The subjects lived under very uniform conditions in a home for the aged with their daily schedule standardized by institutional routine with rest at night on the average from 21:30 to 06:30 local time and 3 daily meals at 08:30, 13:00 and 18:30. Blood was drawn over a 24-h span at 4-h intervals. Circadian periodicity was ascertained and the rhythm parameters quantified by cosinor analysis. In clinically healthy elderly subjects, circadian periodicity persisted in most parameters studied well into the 9th decade of life. The timing of the circadian rhythm was comparable between subjects in their 7th decade and 9th decade of life with the exception of cortisol and DHEA-S, which showed a phase advance with advancing age. A decrease in circadian amplitude is limited during this part of the human life span to only a few of the functions investigated and with the exception of prolactin in the women, a decrease in amplitude did accompany a decrease in MESOR.