Moderate doses of hGH (0.64 mg/d) improve lipids but not cardiovascular function
in GH-deficient adults with normal baseline cardiac function.
Author(s): Newman CB, Frisch KA, Rosenzweig B, Roubenoff R, Rey M, Kidder T, Kong Y,
Pursnani A, Sedlis SP, Schwartzbard A, Kleinberg DL.
Affiliation(s): Division of Endocrinology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New
York 10016, USA.
Publication date & source: 2011, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. , 96(1):122-32
CONTEXT: Data regarding effects of lower-dose GH on cardiopulmonary function in
GH-deficient (GHD) adults are limited.
OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess effects of lower-dose GH on exercise
capacity and echocardiographic parameters in GHD adults.
DESIGN: The study was a 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized
trial.
SETTING: The study was conducted at the General Clinical Research Center.
PARTICIPANTS: Thirty hypopituitary adults with GHD were studied.
INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to recombinant human GH or placebo for 6
months, followed by open-label recombinant human GH for 12 months.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary endpoints were exercise duration, maximal oxygen
consumption, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Secondary endpoints were
echocardiographic indices of systolic and diastolic function, left ventricular
mass, lipids, and body composition.
RESULTS: In the 6-month double-blind phase, mean GH dose was 0.64 mg/d. Mean
IGF-I sd score increased from -4.5 to -1.0. Exercise duration, maximal oxygen
consumption, left ventricular ejection fraction, and other echocardiographic
parameters were normal at baseline and did not change. GH decreased total and
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 7.5% (P = 0.016) and 14.7% (P = 0.002) (P
= 0.04 vs. placebo). Mean lean body mass increased by 2.2 kg (P = 0.004), fat
mass decreased by 1.7 kg (P = 0.21), and percent body fat decreased by 2.5% (P =
0.018), although between-group changes were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Human GH did not improve exercise performance or echocardiographic
parameters or decrease fat mass but significantly decreased total and low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol, increased IGF-I, and increased lean body mass. These
results indicate that responses to human GH are variable and should be assessed
at baseline and during treatment.
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