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. 2014;2014(1):22.
doi: 10.1186/1687-9856-2014-22. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) administration on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescent girls

Meghan Slattery  1 , Miriam A Bredella  2 , Takara Stanley  3 , Martin Torriani  2 , Madhusmita Misra  4
Affiliations

Effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) administration on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescent girls

Meghan Slattery et al. Int J Pediatr Endocrinol. 2014.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is associated with a relative deficiency of growth hormone, which is predictive of greater visceral fat and markers of cardiovascular risk. The study's purpose was to use recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) as a physiologic probe to assess the effects of reversing obesity-related GH deficiency on body composition, cardiovascular risk markers, and insulin resistance.

Methods: 22 obese girls 13-21 years old were followed for a randomized 6-month trial of rhGH vs. placebo/no treatment. At baseline and 6-months, DXA was performed for body composition, MRI to measure visceral, subcutaneous and total adipose tissue (VAT, SAT and TAT), and fasting blood drawn for IGF-1, inflammatory cardiovascular risk markers [soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), high sensitivity CRP], lipids and HbA1C. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Twelve girls completed the 6-month visit. Baseline and mean 6-month change were compared between the groups using the Student t-test and the relationship between variables was determined through multiple regression analysis.

Results: After 6-months, the rhGH group maintained IGF-1 levels, and had decreases in total cholesterol (p = 0.03), sICAM-1 (p = 0.04) and HbA1C (p = 0.03) compared to placebo/no treatment. The rhGH group trended towards greater decreases in LDL and 2-hour OGTT glucose. Glucose tolerance did not worsen with rhGH administration.

Conclusions: Administering rhGH in small doses is able to stabilize IGF-1 levels in obesity. We have also shown that rhGH administration leads to an improvement in some markers of cardiovacular risk with without adversely affecting glucose tolerance.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT01169103.

Keywords: Adolescents; Body composition; Females; Growth hormone; Inflammatory markers; Visceral fat.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlation between 3-month changes in IGF-1 and body fat percentage within the rhGH treated group. 3-month increase in IGF-1 was associated with the 3-month decrease in % body fat.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation of 6-month change in IGF-1 with 6-month change in total cholesterol for all subjects. 6-month increase in IGF-1 was associated with the 6-month decrease in total cholesterol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change in soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM) levels in obese adolescent females. Change in sICAM levels in obese adolescent females after 6 months of recombinant human growth hormone therapy (rhGH +) (black bar) or placebo/no treatment (rhGH -) (gray bar).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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