Effects of ChunDoSunBup Qi-training on growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and testosterone in young and elderly subjects

We observed the response of plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and testosterone (T) to an acute period of ChunDoSunBup (CDSB) Qi-training. Although the basal level of GH was not different between the two groups, after the portion of the training in which the subjects were physically active (the mid-training point), plasma GH levels increased by 7.26 fold (p < 0.05) in the elderly trainees and by 1.66 fold (p < 0.05) in the young. In response to CDSB Qi-training, IGF-I levels in the young increased significantly at mid-training point, but there were no increase in the elderly. Significant correlations existed between GH and IGF-I levels in the young subjects, but not in the elderly. The T level at the mid-training point increased significantly in elderly subjects but not in the young. These results suggest that CDSB Qi-training is a potential method for modulating of the secretion of growth factor in the young and the elderly, but that the elderly IGF-I response does not equal that of the young. In addition, our study suggests CDSB Qi-training may be one mode of therapy applicable to growth factor related disorders such as GH deficiency in children and osteoporosis in the elderly, especially women.