Can growth hormone counteract the catabolic effects of steroids?
BACKGROUND
Chronic administration of glucocorticosteroids (GCs) can have significant catabolic effects in vivo in a host of metabolic systems, including amino acid metabolism, skeletal muscle, bone and linear growth. GCs inhibit protein synthesis and increase protein breakdown at the skeletal muscle and whole-body level and impair growth hormone (GH) secretion and action. Conversely, GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are potent protein-anabolic and growth-promoting agents in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes both the catabolic effects of GCs and the anabolic and metabolic effects of GH and IGF-I.


CONCLUSIONS
Both GH and IGF-I may decrease the catabolic effects of chronic steroid use in humans, particularly by enhancing lean body mass accrual and, in children, by increasing linear growth.
Mauras
Nelly
N
Division of Endocrinology, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32207, USA. nmauras@nemours.org
D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone