Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy on Body Composition and Metabolic Indices in Patients with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone (GH) is important in the regulation of fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. These metabolic effects subsequently affect health risk factors, such as body composition, atherogenic risk factors, and glucose intolerance. GH deficiency is associated with obesity which reportedly responds to GH treatment. Children and adults with GH deficiency often have hypercholesterolemia and thus might be at increased risk of having atherosclerotic diseases in later life. In fact, adults with GH deficiency have been reported to have an increased mortality rate as a result of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, the results of GH treatment in relation to carbohydrate metabolism are inconsistent in GH-deficient children. We evaluated the changes in health risk factors during GH replacement therapy in 40 children, 31 boys and 9 girls, with GH deficiency and compared our results with those in adult patients. In conclusion, GH replacement therapy in children and adults with GH deficiency can reduce health risk factors without altering glucose metabolism. These beneficial effects are reportedly reversed after the discontinuation of GH therapy. It therefore seems prudent to continue life-long GH replacement therapy in these patients.