J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol.
2006 Jun;11(1):22-27.
Effects of Supraphysiological Growth Hormone on Body Composition in Children with Idiopathic Short Stature
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Pediatrics, Instituite of Endocrinology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. dhkim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract
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PURPOSE: Besides effects on growth, growth hormone (GH) has regulatory effects on body composition through its anabolic, lipolytic and antinatriuretic actions. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of supraphysiological GH on body composition in children with idiopathic short stature.
METHODS
The subjects were consisted of 45 children (26 males, 19 females) who visited to department of pediatrics, Severance hospital, Seoul, Korea because of short stature or height evaluation and diagnosed as idiopathic short stature. Height and weight were checked and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) concentration and body composition were measured before and 1 and 2 months after GH administration (30 microgram/kg/day).
RESULTS
The mean of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentation before GH treatment were 481.10+/-133.7 ng/mL and 4.98+/-0.82 microgram/mL. Serum IGF-1 concentration increased by 19.4%, height by 1.2%, body weight by 5.0%, free fat mass by 7.1%, total body water by 6.7% and extracelluar water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) ratio by 0.8%. Body fat decreased by 5.3% (baseline vs. after 2 months).
CONCLUSION
Supraphysiological doses of GH in children with idiopathic short stature has effects on body composition to decrease body fat and increase body water. The increase of body water is supposed to be mainly due to the increase of ECW. Further observation and studies about supraphysiological GH effects on body composition are needed.
