IGF1 and sarcopenia: IGF-1 has already been recognised as a key molecule in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in post-menopausal women: reduced serum concentrations of IGF-I correlate well with sarcopenia in geriatric patients, assuming an anabolic mechanism where IGF-I promotes myoblast proliferation, differentiation and stimulation of satellite cell proliferation and muscle protein synthesis.28 Moreover, experiments in animal models indicate that the systemic action of pro-inflammatory cytokines leads mainly to hepatic GH resistance and suppression of IGF-1 action in target tissues.