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HDL‐cholesterol reductions associated with adult growth hormone replacement
Author(s) -
Graham Leese,
M Wallymahmed,
C VanHeyningen,
Francis J. Tames,
Gilbert E Wieringa,
I. A. MacFarlane
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00597.x
Subject(s) - placebo , medicine , endocrinology , cholesterol , lipoprotein , high density lipoprotein , growth hormone , hormone , alternative medicine , pathology
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of human growth hormone (hGH) replacement on serum lipids and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) concentrations. DESIGN A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial for 6 months followed by an open trial where all patients were treated with hGH for a further 6 months. Treatment was with recombinant hGH given in a dose of 0.125U/kg/wk increasing to 0.25U/Kg/wk. PATIENTS Thirty two patients with growth hormone deficiency were recruited, but two withdrew because of side effects. Of the thirty patients (age 35.1 ± 11.8 year; mean ±SD) completing the study 13 of were assigned to the placebo group for six months and 17 to active treatment from the start. MEASUREMENTS Fasting serum samples were analysed for total cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol, HDL‐subfractions, triglycerides, lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and IGF‐1. LDL‐cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald formula. RESULTS Compared to placebo, 6 months treatment with hGH therapy resulted in increased IGF‐1 (37.6 ± 4.1 vs . 14.0 ± 2.2 nmol/l, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in any of the lipid parameters measured between placebo and active treatment groups at 6 months. hGH was associated with a decrease in HDL‐cholesterol concentration from baseline to 6 months (0.97 ± 0.08 to 0.76 ± 0.10 mmol/l P < 0.01), especially within the HDL 2 subfraction. This reduction was maintained at 12 months. There was no change in Lp(a) concentrations from 0 to 6 months (placebo −26 (−340 to 82), median and range, active −4 (−586 to 212) mg/l). There was no change in total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides or proportion of HDL subfractions. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with hGH can reduce serum HDL‐cholesterol concentrations. Further investigation of this is required.