Skeletal muscle performance in adults with growth hormone deficiency.
Skeletal muscle mass and function were assessed in 24 adults (16 males, 8 females) with severe, long-standing GH deficiency. Compared to 41 untrained controls (26 males, 15 females), adults with GH deficiency had reduced cross-sectional area of thigh muscle/body weight (p = 0.01), reduced quadriceps force/weight (males: p = 0.002; females: p less than 0.0001), and reduced quadriceps force/muscle area (males: p = 0.005). This suggests (a) that adults with GH deficiency have reduced skeletal muscle mass due, in part, to the absence of the anabolic effects of GH, and (b) that skeletal muscle force may be reduced due to altered muscle mass, contractile elements/muscle fibre, anaerobic energy supply, neural recruitment of fibres, or a combination of these.
Cuneo
R C
RC
Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Salomon
F
F
Wiles
C M
CM
Sönksen
P H
PH
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors
D013006:Growth Hormone