title: Low-dose GH improves exercise capacity in adults with GH deficiency: effects of a 22-month placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
abstract: Fifty-five patients with adult-onset GH deficiency (mean age, 49 years) were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, crossover study to investigate the effects of GH therapy on exercise capacity, body composition, and quality of life (QOL). GH and placebo were administered for 9 months each, separated by a 4-month washout period. GH therapy was individually dosed to obtain an IGF-I concentration within the normal range for age and sex. The final mean daily dose of GH was 1.2 IU/day for men and 1.8 IU/day for women. Mean IGF-I concentration at baseline was higher in men than in women (95+/-33 vs 68+/-41 microg/l respectively; P < 0.04) and increased to a similar level on GH therapy. Body fat mass was reduced by 1.9+/-2.9 kg and lean body mass was increased by 1.8+/-2.8 kg (P = 0.0001 for each) with GH treatment. Total and low-density cholesterol levels decreased. Absolute maximal oxygen uptake increased by 6% (P = 0.01), relative to body weight by 9% (P = 0.004), and there was a trend toward increased endurance performance by 7% (P = 0.07). There were no significant effects on QOL. In conclusion, treatment with a low, physiologic dose of GH produced positive effects on body composition and lipids and improved exercise capacity, likely to be of clinical relevance. No changes in QOL were seen, possibly because of a good QOL at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway. jens.bollerslev@klinmed.uio.no
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bollerslev
authors.forename: Jostein
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallén
authors.forename: Kristian J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Fougner
authors.forename: Anders Palmstrøm
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Cybele
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kristo
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fagertun
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gudmundsen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D002784:Cholesterol