arc open ia , ▁and ▁seem ▁to ▁have ▁some ▁positive ▁effects ▁on ▁mus cle ▁strength ▁and ▁mass , ▁but ▁cause ▁several ▁side ▁effects ▁and ▁raise ▁concerns ▁of ▁pro state ▁cancer ▁in ▁men ▁and ▁vir il ization ▁in ▁women . ▁Additionally , ▁recent ▁studies ▁suggest ▁test oster one ▁treat ments ▁may ▁indu ce ▁ad verse ▁card i ov asc ular ▁events . ▁▁ ▁D HE A ▁and ▁human ▁growth ▁h orm one ▁have ▁been ▁shown ▁to ▁have ▁little ▁to ▁no ▁effect ▁in ▁this ▁setting . ▁G row th ▁h orm one ▁increases ▁mus cle ▁protein ▁synth esis ▁and ▁increases ▁mus cle ▁mass , ▁but ▁does ▁not ▁lead ▁to ▁g ains ▁in ▁strength ▁and ▁function ▁in ▁most ▁studies . ▁This , ▁and ▁the ▁similar ▁lack ▁of ▁effic acy ▁of ▁its ▁effect or ▁ins ul in - like ▁growth ▁factor ▁ 1 ▁( IG F - 1 ), ▁may ▁be ▁due ▁to ▁local ▁resistance ▁to ▁I G F - 1 ▁in ▁ag ing ▁mus cle , ▁resulting ▁from ▁infl amm ation ▁and ▁other ▁age ▁changes . ▁ ▁Other ▁medic ations ▁under ▁investigation ▁as ▁possible ▁treat ments ▁for ▁s arc open ia ▁include ▁g hre lin , ▁vit amin ▁D , ▁ang iot ens in ▁converting ▁en zym e ▁in hib itors , ▁and ▁e icos ap enta eno ic ▁acid . ▁ ▁N ut r ition ▁In take ▁of ▁cal ories ▁and ▁protein ▁are ▁important ▁stim uli ▁for ▁mus cle ▁protein ▁synth esis . ▁Old er ▁adult s ▁may ▁not ▁util ize ▁protein ▁as ▁efficiently ▁as