EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) ADMINISTRATION ON TOTAL AND SEGMENTAL BODY COMPOSITION IN CHILDREN WITH GH DEFICIENCY

Abstract

To investigate the GH-induced changes in body composition we studied the lean and fat tissues, bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of GH-deficient children by DEXA (Lunar, WI), before and after they were 174±14 days on hGH (0.075 U/Kg/day). Eight pre-pubertal children (4 boys), aging 6.2-14.1 yr (bone ages: 2-9 yr), were enrolled. All had peak GH responses to clonidine and insulin <5 ng/ml. BEFORE GH was given, body fat (4.2±2.5 kg) was distributed as 31±15 % in arms, 25±10 % in legs and 20±10 % in abdomen (abdm), while body lean tissue (13.7±3.1 kg) was 47 ± 3 % in abdm, 24±2 % in legs and 10 ± 4 % in arms. Total BMC was 0.64±0.16 kg, of which 47±7 % was in the head, 25±4 % in legs and 9±1 % in arms. Total BMD (g/cm2) was 0.8±0.04; it was higher in the head (1.4 ± 0.1), followed by legs (0.6±0.074), pelvis (0.6±0.05), spine (0.6±0.01) and arms (0.5±0.03). GH treatment resulted in (i) height increase (4.6±1 cm; p>0.05) and no change in body weight (+0.9±1.4 Kg; p>0.05); (ii) decreased body fat (−32±16 %; p<0.05: −42±32 % in arms, −304.10 in abdm and −29±20 % in legs); (iii) increased lean body mass (+11±12 %; p<0.05: 4264.9 % in legs); (iv) increased BMC (7±6 %; p<0.05: −5±4 % in the head; + 21±21 % in arms; +18±9 % in legs); (v) decreased BMD (−2.3±2.9 %; p<0.05: −6.4±4.3 % in the head, +6.9±6.6 % in pelvis, +4.3 ± 3.1 % in arms, + 3.7±2.2 % in legs). In conclusion, GH treatment caused body fat to decrease and lean mass to increase; because BMC increased significantly, the lower BMD is probably related to increased bone surface.

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